Editing 2794: Alphabet Notes
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| date = June 26, 2023 | | date = June 26, 2023 | ||
| title = Alphabet Notes | | title = Alphabet Notes | ||
− | | image = alphabet notes | + | | image = alphabet notes.png |
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| titletext = Listen, you're very cute, but if you rearrange the alphabet to put U and I together it will RUIN the spacing! | | titletext = Listen, you're very cute, but if you rearrange the alphabet to put U and I together it will RUIN the spacing! | ||
}} | }} | ||
==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | This comic is Randall's "design notes" for the {{w|English alphabet}}. The comic lists the A-to-Z alphabet, in black block letters, from left to right | + | {{incomplete|Needs more on '''MN''', '''U''', and '''VWXYZ''! Do NOT remove this notice too soon.}} |
+ | This comic is Randall's "design notes" for the {{w|English alphabet}}. The comic lists the A-to-Z alphabet, in black block letters, from left to right. Forming these supposed design notes are many red annotations: | ||
− | + | At the top, Randall lists the vowels and appreciates how they are spaced. At the end of the list, he uses a question mark to indicate the ambiguous nature of '''Y''', which can function both as a vowel and a consonant depending on the context. | |
{| class="wikitable sortable" | {| class="wikitable sortable" | ||
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|- | |- | ||
!B | !B | ||
− | | rowspan=" | + | | rowspan="5" |"Decent consonants but no real heavy hitters here in the first third ("D" is solid, at least)" |
− | | rowspan=" | + | | rowspan="5" |Randall considers the five early consonants '''B''', '''C''', '''D''', '''F''', and '''G''' to be acceptable but nothing special, with the exception of '''D''' which he considers solid. It's not clear whether he specifically is referring to their appearance or what sound they represent. In English phonology, '''D''' is the {{w|voiced alveolar plosive}}. |
|- | |- | ||
!C | !C | ||
|- | |- | ||
!D | !D | ||
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− | |||
|- | |- | ||
!F | !F | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| rowspan="2" |"The dotted letters are friends!" | | rowspan="2" |"The dotted letters are friends!" | ||
− | | rowspan="2" |Randall notes and appreciates the shared | + | | rowspan="2" |Randall notes and appreciates the shared dot in the lowercase letters '''i''' and '''j''', calling them "friends". The separate dots and main strokes could also be interpreted as the heads and torsos of two reductionist character drawings. The two letters are the respective mathematical and electrical-engineering notations of the {{w|Imaginary unit|square root of -1}}, and so may be considered both professionally and personally in a close relationship, as well as neighbours. In the Netherlands, a {{w|digraph}}, or two letters representing one sound (such as "CH" and "SH" in English) is formed from '''I''' and '''J''', creating '''IJ'''; it is considered distinct from either '''I''' or '''J'''. It should be noted that '''J''' {{w|J#History|appeared sometime around the Middle Ages}} as a variant of '''I''', explaining why they look similar and are located together in the alphabet. |
|- | |- | ||
! rowspan="2" |J | ! rowspan="2" |J | ||
|- | |- | ||
| rowspan="2" |"Jk (lol)" | | rowspan="2" |"Jk (lol)" | ||
− | | rowspan="2" |Like "Hi", the letters '''J''' and '''K''' are next to each other in the English alphabet. "Jk" is an initialism for "just kidding", similar to "LOL" for " | + | | rowspan="2" |Like "Hi", the letters '''J''' and '''K''' are next to each other in the English alphabet. "Jk" is an initialism for "just kidding", similar to "LOL" for "laughing out loud". |
|- | |- | ||
!K | !K | ||
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| rowspan="2" |"Weird how the line between "M" and "N" is the halfway mark. | | rowspan="2" |"Weird how the line between "M" and "N" is the halfway mark. | ||
They're similar, but "MN" only shows up in fancy words like "mnemonic", "column", "amnesty", and "hymn". Significance??" | They're similar, but "MN" only shows up in fancy words like "mnemonic", "column", "amnesty", and "hymn". Significance??" | ||
− | | rowspan="2" |Randall finds it weird that the dividing line between the two halves of the alphabet would go between '''M''' and '''N'''. Indeed, it is a bit odd that the two letters, which look similar and represent similar sounds, are placed in such a way that they would be split apart when the alphabet is written out on two lines. He also lists several words that contain '''MN''' in sequence and speculates on the significance of this rare | + | | rowspan="2" |Randall finds it weird that the dividing line between the two halves of the alphabet would go between '''M''' and '''N'''. Indeed, it is a bit odd that the two letters, which look similar and represent similar sounds, are placed in such a way that they would be split apart when the alphabet is written out on two lines. He also lists several words that contain '''MN''' in sequence and speculates on the significance of this rare digram seemingly only being used for "fancy" words. |
|- | |- | ||
! rowspan="2" |N | ! rowspan="2" |N | ||
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!Q | !Q | ||
|"Why is this ''here''?" | |"Why is this ''here''?" | ||
− | |Randall considers '''Q''' strange, likely because the sound it denotes in English could be replaced with the sequence "KW | + | |Randall considers '''Q''' strange, likely because the sound it denotes in English could be replaced with the sequence "KW". The modern English alphabet evolved from the {{w|Phoenician alphabet}}. In the Phoenician alphabet, the letter '''Q''' represented a sound similar to '''K''' but with the tongue pushed back. Even though the Greeks, Latins, French, and eventually the English didn't have this sound in their languages, they kept the letter '''Q''' because Arabic numerals hadn't been adopted yet, and '''Q''' was needed to represent the number 90. Other letters can be replaced by a similar combination of letters, but they aren't mentioned by Randall. For example, '''C''' can be replaced with '''K''' or '''S''', and '''X''' can be spelt as "KS". |
− | |||
− | Other letters can be replaced by a similar combination of letters, but they aren't mentioned by Randall. For example, '''C''' | ||
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|- | |- | ||
!R | !R | ||
| rowspan="3" |"Strong cluster!" | | rowspan="3" |"Strong cluster!" | ||
− | | rowspan="3" |Randall considers '''RST''' a strong cluster of consonants, though again it is unclear whether he refers to their visual design or | + | | rowspan="3" |Randall considers '''RST''' a strong cluster of consonants, though again it is unclear whether he refers to their visual design or in the sounds they represent. The use of an {{w|R-S-T system|RST code}} is a traditional way of describing the reception quality of radio communications. Also, '''RST''' are part of the widely recognized five most common consonants in the English language, RSTLN. Three out of the five are listed together in the alphabet. |
|- | |- | ||
!S | !S | ||
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|"...Listen. | |"...Listen. | ||
Maybe we should've stopped at "T"." | Maybe we should've stopped at "T"." | ||
− | |The comment that the alphabet may have been better if it had stopped at '''T''' is | + | |The comment that the alphabet may have been better if it had stopped at '''T''' is potential a reference to the fact that the original Phoenician script, which is the ancestor of many modern scripts including English, had as its last letter {{w|Taw}}, which the modern letter '''T''' is derived from. It is still the last letter of the modern Hebrew alphabet, although the Greek alphabet added several letters after it, some of which persist into modern English. Randall seems to believe that the Phoenician script was fine as-is and that the letters U-Z are unnecessary or "haunted". |
|- | |- | ||
!U | !U | ||
|"Weirdest of the main 5 vowels by far" | |"Weirdest of the main 5 vowels by far" | ||
− | |Randall is not a fan of the letter '''U''' and thinks it is the weirdest of the five vowels | + | |Randall is not a fan of the letter '''U''' and thinks it is the weirdest of the five vowels. |
|- | |- | ||
!V to Z | !V to Z | ||
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!V | !V | ||
| rowspan="2" |"??" | | rowspan="2" |"??" | ||
− | | rowspan="2" |Randall seems to be confused about '''VW'''. Possible confusion stems from the fact that '''W''' is called "double ''' U'''" rather than "double '''V'''". Both '''{{w|W#History|W}}''' and '''{{w|U#History|U}}''' are derived from '''V''', which might explain a lot | + | | rowspan="2" |Randall seems to be confused about '''VW'''. Possible confusion stems from the fact that that '''W''' is called "double '''U'''" rather than "double '''V'''". Both '''{{w|W#History|W}}''' and '''{{w|U#History|U}}''' are derived from '''V''', which might explain a lot. |
|- | |- | ||
!W | !W | ||
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!X | !X | ||
|"Not sure this is even a letter. Did you include a number by mistake?" | |"Not sure this is even a letter. Did you include a number by mistake?" | ||
− | |Randall questions whether '''X''' is even a letter. As Randall is a physicist, it is likely he is referring to how the letter is likely encountered more often as a variable representing a number in mathematics and algebra than as a letter for scientists. Alternatively, he could be | + | |Randall questions whether '''X''' is even a letter. As Randall is a physicist, it is likely he is referring to how the letter is likely encountered more often as a variable representing a number in mathematics and algebra than as a letter for scientists. Alternatively, he could simply be talking about the appearance. |
− | |||
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|- | |- | ||
!Y | !Y | ||
|"?" | |"?" | ||
− | |At the end of the vowel list at the top, Randall uses a question mark to indicate the ambiguous nature of '''Y''', which can function both as a vowel and a consonant depending on the context | + | |At the end of the vowel list at the top, Randall uses a question mark to indicate the ambiguous nature of '''Y''', which can function both as a vowel and a consonant depending on the context. |
|- | |- | ||
!Z | !Z | ||
+ | | | ||
| | | | ||
|} | |} | ||
+ | |||
+ | The title text jokes about the pick-up line "If I could rearrange the alphabet, I'd put '''U''' and '''I''' together.", where the letters '''U''' and '''I''' are pronounced like the pronouns "you" and "I". It is such a corny act of flirtation that any recipient of it could easily have a rejection (or a flirty acceptance if they so wish) ready to respond with in an appropriate vein. As well as reflecting the diagram's noted preference for well-spaced vowels, it might be presumed that anyone (unironically) using the "'''U''' and '''I'''" line might be left dumbfounded at the rather technical nature of the riposte. This pickup line was also the subject of [[1069: Alphabet]]. The word "ruin" also contains the two letters next to each other. | ||
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
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:VW: ?? | :VW: ?? | ||
:X: Not sure this is even a letter. Did you include a number by mistake? | :X: Not sure this is even a letter. Did you include a number by mistake? | ||
− | : | + | ::...Listen. |
::Maybe we should've stopped at "T". | ::Maybe we should've stopped at "T". | ||