Proto-Sinaitic

Proto-Sinaitic is the name given to the earliest known form of alphabetic writing. It was used in the Sinai Peninsula, in Egypt, and dates from around the 15th century BCE. The Proto-Sinaitic script is thought to have developed from an earlier hieroglyphic script, and to have been influenced by the nearby Semitic languages. It is believed to be the first alphabet, and the first script to be used for writing a language other than Egyptian. The Proto-Sinaitic script consists of around 30 symbols, most of which represent consonants. These symbols were written on stone or clay tablets, or on pieces of papyrus. The script was used to write a Semitic language, most likely a form of Proto-Canaanite. This language is known from a small number of inscriptions found in the Sinai Peninsula, and was probably spoken by the nomadic tribes who inhabited the area. The Proto-Sinaitic script was used for a short period of time, and was then replaced by the more familiar Phoenician alphabet. However, it is thought to have influenced the development of later alphabets, such as the Greek and Latin alphabets.