The Vniversall Alphabet was created by Thomas Harriot (c. 1560-1621), an English mathematician, astronomer, linguist and experimental scientist. The alphabet was created specifically to write the Carolina Algonquian language, and also as a universal alphabet for any language. Carolina Algonquian is an Eastern Algonuian language that was spoken in what is now North Carolina in the USA until the late 18th century.
In the 1580s, Harriot helped Walter Raleigh prepare for his expedition to establish English colonies in North America, particularly with navigation in the open ocean, which Harriot had to teach himself first. Raleigh sent a reconnaissance mission to Roanoke Island in 1584, which returned to England with two Algonquian natives, Manteo and Wanchese. Harriot learnt their language and created his Vniversall Alphabet to record its sounds phonetically. He also wrote an English-Algonquian dictionary, which is now lost.
Harriot published details of his alphabet in 1585 in a book entitled An vniversall Alphabet conteyninge six & thirty letters, whereby may be expressed the lively image of mans voyce in what language soeuer; first devised vpon occasion to seeke for fit letters to expresse the Virginian speche.
Download an alphabet chart for Vniversall Alphabet (Excel)
Font made by Ian James: https://skyknowledge.com/harriot.htm
Our father which art in heav’n :
hallow’d be thy name : thy kingdom come
Source: Univerſall Alphabet of Thomas Harriot
Information about Thomas Harriot and his alphabet
https://skyknowledge.com/harriot.htm
https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/hariot-thomas-ca-1560-1621/
https://leme.library.utoronto.ca/lexicons/713/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Harriot
https://coastalreview.org/2022/04/historians-reveal-thomas-harriot-during-obx-event/
Information about Carolina Algonquian
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carolina_Algonquian_language
https://www.ncgenweb.us/hyde/ethnic/algonqin/algonqin.htm
https://www.native-languages.org/lumbee.htm
International Phonetic Alphabet, Visible Speech, Vniverall Alphabet
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