Page 12 - Hobe Sound Reflections - February '24

Page 12, Hobe Sound

Book Review

Letter Perfect: The Marvelous I agree with that in its own chapter. You can jump to any place in the book;

History Of Our Alphabet From reviewer’s enthusiastic there is no need to read them in sequence. For example, I
comment, but in all fairness
decided to turn first to the chapters about the initials of my
A To Z to the readers of my column own name, NAS – my middle name is Allen. I suspect you
must add a note of caution may want to do the same with your name.
By Nils A. Shapiro to my description of this I found the histories so intriguing that I continued until
As one whose entire book’s content and purpose. I finished the entire book in one more week of sittings. I
personal and business life To begin with, I can pointed out to my wife, Linda, to her delight, that her initial
has been intimately involved promise that every one “L” has traditionally been considered the most soothing and
with the written word – of the 367 pages of this relaxing of all the characters in the alphabet. I read to her the
from a love of reading that book will offer a bounty explanatory text, which included the following phrase: “The
began in early childhood of fascinating facts you L’s calming effect is heard in ‘lull,’ ‘lullaby,’ ‘lollipop,’ ‘lotus
to my career as a magazine had not previously known. land’ and ‘la-la land.’”
publisher and book and (That doesn’t include Perhaps I can best illustrate the depth and diversity of
newspaper editor, as well the reference section – knowledge you will derive from this book by sharing several
as the more than 200 book bibliography, index and list examples from Sacks’s research excerpted here. (Some of the
reviews to date – I cannot of more than 100 helpful illustrations, photographs and charts text, including entire paragraphs, have been deleted for lack of
recall a title ever attracting my attention more than the that accompany the text.) space and have been replaced by three dots.)
subject of this month’s column when I came across it in a The author begins with a preface and opening chapter, “One-quarter of Earth’s population, 1.4 billion people,
local bookstore. “Little Letters, Big Idea,” which together total 51 pages that use nonalphabetic writing. Basically, this means China,
And what a fortuitous discovery it was! introduce the concept and beginnings of a written alphabet in including Taiwan, and Japan. The Japanese system comes
What surprises me is that this book, now in paperback, Egypt in 2000 B.C., then trace it throughout many evolutions from an adaptation of the Chinese that dates back to the
was originally published, unknown to me, as long ago as to the Modern Roman alphabet of 1840 we basically use today. 600s A.D. … In Chinese script, each symbol denotes a
2003 – the work of author David Sacks, an expert in written The one caution I referred to above is that this evolution, whole word of the Mandarin Chinese language. We call
language who studied Greek and Latin at Swarthmore because of its complex nature, is treated in a rather scholarly such symbols ‘logograms’ (from
College and Oxford University, and who is the author of way that requires your fullest attention – perhaps requiring two Greek roots meaning ‘word
an earlier book, Encyclopedia of the Ancient Greek World. you to sometimes go back over the same text more than once letter’) … It does not operate
On publication it was received with international in order to absorb so much information. Indeed, throughout by conveying sound; it conveys
acclaim. The New York Times reviewer wrote, “As fun to this book you will be presented with at least 100 times as the idea behind the word. …
read as it is enlightening … Sacks’s obsession is contagious, much knowledge as you can remember after one reading. If it Example: See the Chinese
and I can imagine few readers whose lives would not be is possible to have too much knowledge placed before you all symbol for the word “Middle”
enriched by what he calls his ‘voyage of discovery.’” at once, at least you will have it to turn to later for reference in the logogram on this page.
fundraisinG from time to time. Provided this subject is of interest to you, advantage over any other writing system: It needs fewer
“An alphabet enjoys one huge
it will be well worth it.
Along the way you will learn the very interesting

reasons why the five vowels – a, e, i, o, u – were added symbols. No other system can get away with so few. This makes
an alphabet easier to learn. Students need memorize only
evenT to the original characters to make up the 26 in our present two dozen or so letters to begin building toward literacy …
Compare our 26 letters to the Chinese system, which involves
alphabet, as well as what most of us have long forgotten
about the “consonants” and “sibilants” we may or may not at least 2,000 symbols for educated daily reading and writing,
Hibiscus Children’s Center have learned in elementary school grammar classes. out of an inventory of about 60,000 symbols overall.”
At that point David Sacks begins his extraordinarily

Celebrates Children At informative history of the 26 letters of our alphabet, each Book Review on page 13

The 31st Annual Jo Covelli
Luncheon

Hibiscus Children’s
Center invites you to “Follow
the Yellow Brick Road” to
the 31st Annual Jo Covelli
Luncheon on Monday,
March 4. Held annually at
the prestigious Sailfish Point
Country Club, the festivities
will begin at 11 a.m. with
a cocktail reception while
guests peruse terrific silent
auction items including
original artwork by local
artists, raffle baskets and
vendors displaying clothing,
jewelry and more. Cochairs Sally Batz and
Guests will enjoy a Diana Baker
delicious gourmet luncheon
and creative hat contest! The highlight of the afternoon will
be a special musical performance by Daryl Magill. Daryl is an
energetic local and national performer who brings his amazing
talent to Hibiscus Children’s Center. Daryl performed at the
previous Jo Covelli Luncheon and the ladies enjoyed the
fabulous entertainment, some were even on their feet dancing!
This year’s affair will no doubt be just as fun and exciting!
Special thanks to cochairs Diana Baker and Sally Batz
and the entire committee for their hard work in planning
this lovely event. As always, Hibiscus is honored to host
this signature event with heartfelt gratitude to our Grand
Benefactor, Mrs. Jo Covelli and the Albert M. Covelli
Foundation, who continue to be a beacon of light and love
for children in our community.
All proceeds directly benefit children living at the Tilton
Family Children’s Shelter in Jensen Beach. Children receive
life-changing services including educational, medical and
literacy services, and professional counseling to help them
heal and overcome the trauma they have endured. Your
support is helping change the lives of traumatized children
and replace abuse and fear with love, support and guidance.
Tickets are $175 per person. Please contact us for more
information and to purchase your tickets by Feb. 17. Don’t
miss this exciting event and support children! Please contact
Lori Swift at lswift@hcc4kids.org or (772) 634-1312 or visit
us at HibiscusChildrensCenter.org.