History of roman alphabet dd2.12.10
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Transcript of History of roman alphabet dd2.12.10
• 7th century BC – adaption of Etruscan alphabet to Latin language
• Originally had 21 letters– A B C D E F _ Z H I _ K L M N O P Q R S T _ V _ X _
• 250 BC – 23 letters• replaced “Z” with “G”• “G” was made added a bar “C” • Put to “Y” and “Z” at the end
– A B C D E F G H I _ K L M N O P Q R S T _ V _ X Y Z
AlphabetAlphabet
• 3 new letters in Middle Ages• “W”• “J”• “U”• End of 15th century it is complete
• A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Zhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfyNShX-8vI
AlphabetAlphabet
A A A A A
What do these have in common?
Similarities• Common shapes
– Triangles– Rectangles
• Flat tops• Serif texts (4/5)
– One thinner leg– Asymmetrical
• Crossbars– Garamond is curved– All others are straight– Different heights
• Serifs– Thickness– Different curves– Edges
Differences
A A AA A A A A
GARAMONDGARAMOND• Claude
Garamond• Created in
1540s• Serifs are
without straight lines
• Extenders are curved
BASKERVILLEBASKERVILLE• John Baskerville• Created in 1757• Sharp serifs• Straight lines• Round letters are
symmetrical –ex. “O” • Curved strokes are
circular in shape
BODONIBODONI• Giambattista
Bodoni• Created in 1798• Slab Serif –
“Boxy”• “W” has a
interesting triangle
CENTURYCENTURY• Linn Boyd
Benton• Created in
1894• Large x-height • Curved “R”• Serif in the
middle of “W”
HELVETICAHELVETICA• Max Miedinger and Eduard
Hoffmann
• Created in 1957
• Sans-serif (without serif) font
• Easily read
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XgNrVfFq_E
Secret History of Fonts