Episode
92. From Ox Heads to Silent Letters: The History of the Alphabet with Dr. Danny Bate, author of "Why Q Needs U"
- Published
- May 5, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 4454
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://www.michelleandthecolorfulclassroom.com/podcast/92
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Summary
Linguist and author, Dr. Danny Bate brilliantly shares the fascinating history of the alphabet, while also uncovering some of the logic behind English spelling. You’ll hear about the surprising origins of letters (yes, <A> was once an ox’s head!), that vowels weren’t originally part of the alphabet, how the Great Vowel Shift transformed pronunciation, and of course, “ Why Q Needs U ”. This episode is a must-listen for educators, language lovers, and anyone who has ever wondered: Why is English spelled this way? Key Takeaways: The earliest alphabet was built on the acrophonic principle (symbols representing the first sound of a word) Early alphabets represented consonants only (vowels were added later by the Greeks) English spelling reflects both: Sound change over time AND Historical and cultural influences (i.e. Norman Conquest, Latin influence) The Great Vowel Shift dramatically changed pronunciation, but spelling stayed mostly the same So-called “irregularities” often preserve morphological and etymological meaning connections Connect with Danny Bate Website: https://dannybate.com/ Podcast: A Language I Love Is… Book: Why Q Needs U: A history of our letters and how we use them This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the podcast! Connect with Michelle: Follow me on Instagram: @michelle_thecolorfulclassroom & @logosliteracyacademy Join our Facebook Community Sign up for my Newsletter Shop on TPT: The Colorful Classroom Visit: www.michelleandthecolorfulclassroom.com Join The COLORFUL Literacy Toolkit Membership Want to Support the Podcast? Make a Donation to Support Production Interested in Learning More about Morphology?…