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|letter=Ɑ ɑ
|letter=Ɑ ɑ
|variations=
|variations=
|image=Latin script a.svg
|image=Latin_letter_Alpha.svg
|imagesize=200px
|imagesize=200px
|imagealt=The letter Latin alpha with a script-a shape, as in the International phonetic alphabet
|imagealt=The letter Latin alpha with a script-a shape, as in the International phonetic alphabet
|script=[[Latin script]]
|script=[[Latin script]]
|type=alphabet
|type=alphabet
|language=[[International Phonetic Alphabet]], [[General Alphabet of Cameroon Languages]]
|language=
|phonemes=[{{IPAlink|ɑ}}]
|phonemes=[{{IPAlink|ɑ}}]
|unicode=U+2C6D, U+0251
|unicode=U+2C6D, U+0251
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[[File:Latin alpha in GACL.svg|thumb|right|The letter Latin alpha with a lowercase Greek alpha shape, as in the [[African reference alphabet]] or the [[General Alphabet of Cameroon Languages]]]]
[[File:Latin alpha in GACL.svg|thumb|right|The letter Latin alpha with a lowercase Greek alpha shape, as in the [[African reference alphabet]] or the [[General Alphabet of Cameroon Languages]]]]


'''Latin alpha''' ([[majuscule]]: '''Ɑ''', [[minuscule]]: '''ɑ''') or '''script a''' is a letter of the [[Latin alphabet]] based on one lowercase form of [[a]], or on the [[Greek alphabet|Greek]] lowercase [[alpha]] (α).
'''Latin alpha''' ([[majuscule]]: '''Ɑ''', [[minuscule]]: '''ɑ'''), '''script a''', or '''single-story a''' is a letter of the [[Latin alphabet]] based on one lowercase form of [[a]], or on the [[Greek alphabet|Greek]] lowercase [[alpha]] (α).


==Usage==
==Usage==
Although {{angbr|ɑ}} is normally just an [[allograph]] of {{angbr|a}}, there are instances in which the two letters must be carefully distinguished:
Although {{gph|ɑ}} is normally just an [[allograph]] of {{angbr|a}}, there are instances in which the two letters are distinguished:
* In the [[International Phonetic Alphabet]], {{angbr IPA|ɑ}} represents an [[open back unrounded vowel]], while {{angbr IPA|a}} represents an [[open front unrounded vowel]]. It has the shape of a script-a.
* In the [[International Phonetic Alphabet]], {{angbr IPA|ɑ}} represents an [[open back unrounded vowel]], while {{angbr IPA|a}} represents an [[open front unrounded vowel]]. It has the shape of a script-a.
* Also in the [[General Alphabet of Cameroon Languages]], {{angbr|Ɑ ɑ}} usually represents an [[open back unrounded vowel]], while {{angbr|A a}} represents an [[open front unrounded vowel]]. The former is used in the orthographies of several languages of Cameroon, including:
* Also in the [[General Alphabet of Cameroon Languages]], {{angbr|Ɑ ɑ}} usually represents an [[open back unrounded vowel]], while {{angbr|A a}} represents an [[open front unrounded vowel]]. The former is used in the orthographies of several languages of Cameroon, including:
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** [[Mbo language (Cameroon)|Mbo]] (?): but not Akoose, though it does have phonemes /aa/ and /ɑɑ/;<ref>{{cite web | author=HEDINGER, Robert | year=2011 | title=Akoose | quote=Among the short vowels the two '''a'''-sounds and the two '''o'''-sounds are in complementary distribution and therefore do not have to be distinguished in the orthography. However, there is a problem in the long vowels where the two pairs of sounds distinguish between distinct words. Up to now they have not been distinguished and it seems this doesn’t cause any problem to readers. <!-- | missing-parameter-name=Orthography Guide --> | url=http://www.silcam.org/languages/languagepage.php?languageid=63 | accessdate=March 17, 2013 }}</ref> nor Bakaka.<ref>{{cite web | author=SPIELMANN, Kent | year=1998 | title=Mkaa' Orthography Review (Bakaka) | url=http://www.silcam.org/languages/languagepage.php?languageid=305 | accessdate=March 17, 2013 }}</ref>
** [[Mbo language (Cameroon)|Mbo]] (?): but not Akoose, though it does have phonemes /aa/ and /ɑɑ/;<ref>{{cite web | author=HEDINGER, Robert | year=2011 | title=Akoose | quote=Among the short vowels the two '''a'''-sounds and the two '''o'''-sounds are in complementary distribution and therefore do not have to be distinguished in the orthography. However, there is a problem in the long vowels where the two pairs of sounds distinguish between distinct words. Up to now they have not been distinguished and it seems this doesn’t cause any problem to readers. <!-- | missing-parameter-name=Orthography Guide --> | url=http://www.silcam.org/languages/languagepage.php?languageid=63 | accessdate=March 17, 2013 }}</ref> nor Bakaka.<ref>{{cite web | author=SPIELMANN, Kent | year=1998 | title=Mkaa' Orthography Review (Bakaka) | url=http://www.silcam.org/languages/languagepage.php?languageid=305 | accessdate=March 17, 2013 }}</ref>
** in some languages, the script-a form (also called literacy form) of the letter {{angbr|A&nbsp;a}}, with the lowercase much like the IPA {{angbr|ɑ}}, is used and should not be confused with the Latin alpha {{angbr|Ɑ&nbsp;ɑ}} of the GACL; for example, in [[Muyang language|Muyang]], the literacy {{angbr|A&nbsp;a}} represents an [[open-mid central unrounded vowel]] but it is not {{angbr|Ɑ&nbsp;ɑ}}; the Latin alpha is not used.<ref>{{cite web | author=SMITH, Tony | year=2001 | title=Alphabet et orthographe Muyang | language=French | url=http://www.silcam.org/languages/languagepage.php?languageid=200 | accessdate=March 17, 2013 }}</ref>
** in some languages, the script-a form (also called literacy form) of the letter {{angbr|A&nbsp;a}}, with the lowercase much like the IPA {{angbr|ɑ}}, is used and should not be confused with the Latin alpha {{angbr|Ɑ&nbsp;ɑ}} of the GACL; for example, in [[Muyang language|Muyang]], the literacy {{angbr|A&nbsp;a}} represents an [[open-mid central unrounded vowel]] but it is not {{angbr|Ɑ&nbsp;ɑ}}; the Latin alpha is not used.<ref>{{cite web | author=SMITH, Tony | year=2001 | title=Alphabet et orthographe Muyang | language=French | url=http://www.silcam.org/languages/languagepage.php?languageid=200 | accessdate=March 17, 2013 }}</ref>
*In typography, it is sometimes referred to as the [[A#Typographic variants|single-story a]], to distinguish it from double-story a.


In Cameroon languages, {{angbr|Ɑ&nbsp;ɑ}} must look like the classical lowercase Greek alpha to better differentiate it from the letter a in script form.
In Cameroon languages, {{angbr|Ɑ&nbsp;ɑ}} must look like the classical lowercase Greek alpha to better differentiate it from the letter a in script form.
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==See also==
==See also==
⚫
{{Spoken Wikipedia|En-Latin alpha-article.ogg|date=2023-06-25}}
*[[Latin turned alpha]]
*[[Latin turned alpha]]
*[[G]], which also has two distinct minuscule forms
*[[G]], which also has two distinct minuscule forms
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[[Category:Phonetic transcription symbols]]
[[Category:Phonetic transcription symbols]]
[[Category:Vowel letters]]
[[Category:Vowel letters]]

⚫
{{Spoken Wikipedia|En-Latin alpha-article.ogg|date=2023-06-25}}
{{Latin-script-stub}}
{{Latin-script-stub}}
{{phonetics-stub}}
{{phonetics-stub}}

Latest revision as of 14:35, 13 October 2024

Latin alpha
Ɑ ɑ
The letter Latin alpha with a script-a shape, as in the International phonetic alphabet
Usage
Writing systemLatin script
Typealphabetic
Language of originInternational Phonetic Alphabet, General Alphabet of Cameroon Languages
Sound values[ɑ]
In UnicodeU+2C6D, U+0251
History
Development
A a/Α α
  • Ɑ ɑ
Time period1890s to present
SistersA, Ɒ
Other
Writing directionLeft-to-Right
This article contains phonetic transcriptions in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see Help:IPA. For the distinction between [ ], / / and ⟨ ⟩, see IPA § Brackets and transcription delimiters.
The letter Latin alpha with a lowercase Greek alpha shape, as in the African reference alphabet or the General Alphabet of Cameroon Languages

Latin alpha (majuscule: Ɑ, minuscule: ɑ), script a, or single-story a is a letter of the Latin alphabet based on one lowercase form of a, or on the Greek lowercase alpha (α).

Usage

[edit]

Although |ɑ| is normally just an allograph of ⟨a⟩, there are instances in which the two letters are distinguished:

In Cameroon languages, ⟨Ɑ ɑ⟩ must look like the classical lowercase Greek alpha to better differentiate it from the letter a in script form.

U+1D45 ᵅ MODIFIER LETTER SMALL ALPHA is used in the Uralic Phonetic Alphabet.[7]

U+AB30 ꬰ LATIN SMALL LETTER BARRED ALPHA is used in the Teuthonista phonetic transcription system.[8]

U+AB64 ꭤ LATIN SMALL LETTER INVERTED ALPHA is used in Americanist phonetic notation.[9]

Typography

[edit]
Latin a, Latin alpha, and Greek alpha, using the fonts: Arial, Times New Roman, Gentium, Doulos SIL, Cambria, Linux Libertine, Andron Mega Corpus, Courier New, and Consolas. Second row: italics, using the same fonts.

Encoding and forms

[edit]

In Unicode, "Latin alpha" () and "Latin script a" () are considered to be the same character, which has an uppercase and a lowercase form and is referred to as "Latin letter alpha".


Character information
Preview Ɑ ɑ
Unicode name LATIN CAPITAL LETTER ALPHA LATIN SMALL LETTER ALPHA
Encodings decimal hex dec hex
Unicode 11373 U+2C6D 593 U+0251
UTF-8 226 177 173 E2 B1 AD 201 145 C9 91
Numeric character reference &#11373; &#x2C6D; &#593; &#x251;

See also

[edit]
Listen to this article (3 minutes)
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This audio file was created from a revision of this article dated 25 June 2023 (2023-06-25), and does not reflect subsequent edits.
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References

[edit]
  1. ^ Priest, Lorna A.; Constable, Peter G. (2005). "Proposal to Encode Additional Latin Phonetic and Orthographic Characters" (PDF). Retrieved March 17, 2013.
  2. ^ "L'alphabet camerounais leçon 1.2" (in French). Retrieved March 17, 2013.
  3. ^ EYOH, Julius A.; Echebi Emmanuel SANDAMU (2009). "Mbembe Orthography Guide". Retrieved March 17, 2013.
  4. ^ HEDINGER, Robert (2011). "Akoose". Retrieved March 17, 2013. Among the short vowels the two a-sounds and the two o-sounds are in complementary distribution and therefore do not have to be distinguished in the orthography. However, there is a problem in the long vowels where the two pairs of sounds distinguish between distinct words. Up to now they have not been distinguished and it seems this doesn't cause any problem to readers.
  5. ^ SPIELMANN, Kent (1998). "Mkaa' Orthography Review (Bakaka)". Retrieved March 17, 2013.
  6. ^ SMITH, Tony (2001). "Alphabet et orthographe Muyang" (in French). Retrieved March 17, 2013.
  7. ^ Everson, Michael; et al. (2002-03-20). "L2/02-141: Uralic Phonetic Alphabet characters for the UCS" (PDF).
  8. ^ Everson, Michael; Dicklberger, Alois; Pentzlin, Karl; Wandl-Vogt, Eveline (2011-06-02). "L2/11-202: Revised proposal to encode "Teuthonista" phonetic characters in the UCS" (PDF).
  9. ^ Schneidemesser, Luanne von; et al. (2012-07-31). "L2/12-266: Proposal for Two Phonetic Characters" (PDF).
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