"Writing" and "Alphabet"

Abstract

The two English words “writing” and “alphabet” are both linked to language. The notion of language is built into “writing,” and the notion of writing is built into “alphabet.” Different disciplines which use these words and technical terms, use them differently; and everyday usage is often imprecise. Linguistics, as the science of language, can contribute towards sorting these meanings out. A start is made in this direction, in the belief that related disciplines ought not to be “divided by a common terminology.”