Friday, February 22, 2019

Did you know that William Shakespeare invented the word advertising? Google AdSense can thank William Shakespeare for his clever word. Here is the quote from Measure for Measure, the play written by playwright William Shakespeare, in which the word advertising appears:

VINCENTIO 

Come hither, Isabel.

Your friar is now your prince: as I was then
Advertising and holy to your business,

Not changing heart with habit, I am still

Attorney'd at your service. -Measure for Measure, Act 5, Scene 1, Line 410

Yes, William Shakespeare wrote ideal content for advertisers when he combined the ideas of advertising, holiness and business. What does holiness have to do with advertising and business? If products benefit the lives of various individuals, then there is a certain amount of holiness involved, and advertisers help to make people aware that these beneficial products exist.

Related Link

http://www.shakespeare-online.com/plays/measure_5_1.html

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

The Alphabet Starts with an A

Every child learns how to recite the alphabet prior to learning a language. However, no one really knows the name of the person in history who invented the alphabet. It is easy to imagine that the inventor was a clever person.

The Alphabet Introduced Literature to the World

Even though the creator of the alphabet remains anonymous, historians can identify certain civilizations that were responsible for producing the alphabet. Once people had access to the alphabet, they were able to use language for the purpose of writing poems, plays, novels, biographies and historical documents.

From Hieroglyphs to Letters

The first alphabet dates back to the Middle Bronze Age (1500–1200 B.C.). Egyptians were already using hieroglyphs. However, hieroglyphs consisted of pictures that represented letters. Hieroglyphs were commonly used in depicting aspects found in sacred writings. The Canaanites eventually created actual letters resulting in an alphabet.

Here are a few known facts about the alphabet:
  • Historians do not know who invented the alphabet.
  • Ancient civilizations eventually produced a universal alphabet.
  • Technology enables people to compile lists in alphabetical order.
Phonetics and the Phoenician Alphabet

Letters are not only written down on paper. They also have sounds when people pronounce words. In fact, the word phonetics, a word concerned with studying sounds, derives from the Phoenician alphabet. From 800 to 701 B.C., wise philosophers and writers living in the ancient civilization of Greece began to make use of the Phoenician alphabet.

A is the First Letter of All Known Alphabets

Throughout history, civilized people somehow understood that alphabets should start with the letter A. Alpha is the first letter in both the Phoenician and Greek alphabets. The Jewish people also created their own Hebrew alphabet. In the Hebrew alphabet, the first letter bears an uncanny resemblance known as alef or aleph.

Hebrew Words are Read from Right to Left

Unlike the Latin alphabet, Hebrew words are written from right to left. Additionally, books written using the Hebrew alphabet are read from right to left. The Hebrew alphabet resembles the Phoenician alphabet in that they both contain 22 letters. These 22 letters do not contain any vowels.

The Greeks Invented Vowels

In approximately 1000 B.C., the Greeks developed their own version of the alphabet incorporating Greek vowels. In fact, the ancient Greeks were the first scholars to invent vowels. Although the letter aleph sounds as though it is a vowel, it is technically classified as a consonant. After introducing vowels into the Phoenician alphabet, Greek scholars began to blend their own Greek alphabet with Latin letters.

Romans Invented the Latin Alphabet

The alphabet as known in contemporary society is largely based on the Latin version. Roman soldiers introduced the Latin alphabet to other areas. The Latin version of the alphabet became the cardinal example of a desirable and useful alphabet. Eventually, the Latin letters evolved into an English alphabet reflecting the particular nuances associated with English word spellings.

Alphabetization Introduced a Practical Purpose for the Alphabet

During the Middle Ages, people realized that they could make better use of the alphabet by way of alphabetization. Alphabetizing words became the key to organization and clarification. Instead of writing random words on a piece of paper, people began to understand that they could arrange words in alphabetical order.

Scholars had a Passion for Creating Alphabetized Lists

Imagine the excitement at being able to create lists and catalogs using an alphabet that began with the letter A and ended with the letter Z. The possibilities were endless. For instance, scholars could now make alphabetize lists composed of the latest scientific and archaeological findings.

Sorting and Reading Lists

Throughout history, books have always been esteemed by intellectuals. Consequently, sorting lists composed of past and present authors must have delighted people with scholarly minds. Besides the fact that these lists made more common sense, reading alphabetized listings were easier on the eyesight and, due to greater efficiency, afforded people more time for leisurely activities.

Lists Served Useful Purposes

Even though the creator of the alphabet is a mystery, historians know that the Roman author Varro compiled alphabetized lists sometime between 1 B.C. to 100 B.C. His lists consisted of the names of authors and book titles. From 101 to 200 A.D., Sextus Pompeius Festus alphabetized the works of Verrius Flaccus. In the year 1604, Robert Cawdrey compiled an alphabetical table instructing people how to find words in a dictionary.

Today, technology enables people to alphabetize lists by way of free online tools. Instead of spending hours compiling alphabetical lists, a person can insert the words in an online tool, click a web button and view a completely alphabetized list.


Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Republican Debate: 11 Right Candidates

Eleven right and hopeful candidates get ready for the second Republican presidential debate scheduled to take place at the conservative Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. The reason why I think all the Republican candidates are, in a certain sense of the word, right is because none of the candidates are Democrats. In my mind, a Republican is sure to win in the 2016 United States presidential election. Many Americans are hoping for a U.S. President who swings the Barack Obama Administration's leftist politics back to the right.

I am personally acquainted with Simi Valley. Hosting the second Republican presidential debate in the predominantly conservative town of Simi Valley makes perfect sense to me. Frankly, I wish I could attend the debate in person, but according to an article posted on the Ronald Reagan Library website, "Due to the limited size of the seating area, tickets are not available to the general public and cannot be purchased."

Here is the official Republican presidential candidate debate lineup on September 16, 2015:

Jeb Bush, Ben Carson, Chris Christie, Ted Cruz, Carly Fiorina, John Kasich, Lindsey Graham,  Mike Huckabee, Bobby Jindal,  George Pataki,  Rand Paul,  Rick Perry,  Marco Rubio,  Rick Santorum,  Donald Trump, and Scott Walker. The second Republican debate will air on CNN at 8 p.m Eastern and 5 p.m. Pacific time. The debate is scheduled to end at 11 p.m. Eastern and 8 p.m. Pacific time.

Four other Republican candidates who did not qualify for the official time slot will hash it out two hours before the scheduled debate. The earlier, non-official debate will air at 6 p.m. Eastern and 3 p.m. Pacific time. 

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