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The evolution of the Gedeh script
A B Γ Γ` Δ Δ` E F Z H Θ Θ` I K K` Λ M N N` Ξ Ξ^ O Π И И^ Q Ρ Ш T
T`
A B Γ Γ` Δ Δ` E F Z H Θ Θ` I K X Λ M N N` Σ Σ^ O Π И И^ Q Ρ Ш T
T`
A Á B Γ Γ` Δ Δ` E É Y F Z H Θ Θ` I Í K X Λ M N N` Σ Σ^ O Ó Π И И^ Q Ρ Ш T
T`
A Á B C Č D Ď E É Y F Z H I J K X L M N Ň S Ś O Ó P U Ú Q R W T Ť
The shapes (but not the meaning) of the Old Gedeh letters were similar to
the letters of the South Greek alphabet, only with two exceptions:
mirrored-N-like samekh И was retained;
shin Ш was not rotated Σ.
The letters A E F I O were still only consonants:
A [?], E [h], F [w], I [j], O [?\].
Also the letters H Θ Ξ retained in Gedeh their meaning:
H [X\], Θ [t_?], Ξ [s].
The lateral pronunciation of Ξ^ and И^ was marked by circumflex-like small
superscript lambda.
The fricative pronunciation of Γ` Δ` Θ` K` T` was marked by a grave-like
sign.
The silent n, lengthening the next vowel in contracted plurals,
was written also with grave mark; for example:
MΛKN`M [melku:m < melkunum] pl. "kings";
MΛKN`TM [melka:tum < melkunatum] pl. f. "queens".
The old text were not vocalised, but the vocalisation was hinted by
grammatical determinants;
for example:
MΛKNTM|||♀ or MΛKN|||T♀M or MΛK|||N♀TM [melkunatum] pl. f. "queens";
WΔ`NNM|| or WΔ`NN|||M or WΔ`N|||NM [weDnanum] du. "(two) ears".
(The determinat of the female gender ♀ (♀)
should be displayed as female sign, Venus;
my browser shows it, but here in mail I see some weird shape instead.)
(There were surely also determinants for the cases,
but I cannot imagine how to express graphically such abstract ideas.)
Later, under the Greek influence,
Ξ was replaced by Σ,
K` was replaced by X.
The letters A E F I O were newly used also to denote vowels,
with a small modification of F contorted to Y:
A [a], E [e], Y [u], I [i], O [o].
When these letters were used in their original values as consonants,
they were marked by an acute-like diacritic,
only instead of Ý for [w] was usually used the old form F:
Á [?], É [h], F [w], Í [j], Ó [?\].
More later, under the Latin influence,
the shapes of Γ and Δ were rounded to C and D,
Λ was rotated to > L,
the beardless head P was changed to the bearded head R:
Γ > C
Δ > D
Λ > L
Σ > S
Π > Ρ
Ρ > R
Also the two non-Greek letters were slightly modified:
И > U (compare the identical form of Latin u and Cyrillic и in handwriting)
Ш > W
Diacritic for lateralization was shortened from circumflex-like shape to an
acute-like shape:
Ξ^ > Σ^ > S^ > Ś
И^ > U^ > Ú
Diacritic for fricativeness (and sillent n) was prolonged from grave-like
shape to an caron-like shape:
Γ` > C` > Č
Δ` > D` > Ď
T` > Ť
N` > Ň
The consonantal yod got its own letter without diacritic:
Í > J.
Only the destiny of the letter Θ remains yet an unresolved question.
P.A.