A Brief Introduction to the Arabic Alphabet

The Arabic alphabet has a fascinating history, one that is entwined with the development of culture and society in the Middle East. The authors trace the origins of the Arabic alphabet back to Aramaic, a descendant of Phoenecian, which itself gave rise to the Hebrew and Greek alphabets.

The third title in the series that offers a primer for both general readers and students alike, A Brief Introduction to the Arabic Alphabet is illustrated and contains glossaries, indices, and suggestions for further reading.

John Healey is a professor of Semitic studies at the University of Manchester.

Rex Smith is an Arabist, historian, and scholar of the medieval history of Yemen.

John Healey is Professor of Semitic Studies at the University of Manchester. Publications include The Early Alphabet (British Museum Press/University of California Press, London/Berkeley, 1990) and The Nabataean Tomb Inscriptions of Mada'in Salih (OUP, 1993). Rex Smith is an Arabist, historian, and scholar of the medieval history of the Yemen. Publications include New Arabian Studies (vols. 1-6; University of Exeter Press)