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[QUICK THREAD: PUNCTUATION]
1/24
At first, there was nothing. Not even space. That's because ancient scripts like Chinese and Sumerian were all logographic, i.e. a single glyph or "letter" represented an entire word. This made spacing between them redundant. They manage without.
1/24
At first, there was nothing. Not even space. That's because ancient scripts like Chinese and Sumerian were all logographic, i.e. a single glyph or "letter" represented an entire word. This made spacing between them redundant. They manage without.
2/24
The first time a punctuation was used was only around 9th century BC and it wasn't space, it was period. And it wasn't in Europe or India but in the Middle East. The language was most likely Phoenician although some argue it's Old Hebrew.
The first time a punctuation was used was only around 9th century BC and it wasn't space, it was period. And it wasn't in Europe or India but in the Middle East. The language was most likely Phoenician although some argue it's Old Hebrew.
3/24
The Chinese also started with periods shortly. But it terminated a chapter, not sentence. So basically you'd write sheets upon sheets of papyrus (no paper, that'd take another thousand years) without a single space or full stop, and put one only at the very end.
The Chinese also started with periods shortly. But it terminated a chapter, not sentence. So basically you'd write sheets upon sheets of papyrus (no paper, that'd take another thousand years) without a single space or full stop, and put one only at the very end.
4/24
Punctuations entered Europe much later and it was with the Greeks. In fact, it can all be traced down to a single specific source, an Athenian playwright named Aristophanes. He used periods as visual aids for his actors so they knew where to pause.
Punctuations entered Europe much later and it was with the Greeks. In fact, it can all be traced down to a single specific source, an Athenian playwright named Aristophanes. He used periods as visual aids for his actors so they knew where to pause.
5/24
A couple of centuries later, these marks were further formalized by another Aristophanes, a Homeric scholar and grammarian from Byzantium. He's best known as the head of the fabled Library of Alexandria. What few know though, is his role in bringing punctuations to Europe.
A couple of centuries later, these marks were further formalized by another Aristophanes, a Homeric scholar and grammarian from Byzantium. He's best known as the head of the fabled Library of Alexandria. What few know though, is his role in bringing punctuations to Europe.
6/24
Aristophanes of Byzantium defined 3 kinds of expressions:
1. A partial sentence or komma
2. A clause or kōlon
3. A complete sentence or periodos
The komma was the smallest unit of expression, followed by kōlon and periodos.
Aristophanes of Byzantium defined 3 kinds of expressions:
1. A partial sentence or komma
2. A clause or kōlon
3. A complete sentence or periodos
The komma was the smallest unit of expression, followed by kōlon and periodos.
7/24
Aristophanes' idea was that each of these units ought to be followed by a pause of appropriate length, shortest for a komma and longest for a periodos. So he came up with 3 punctuation marks to represent these pauses. These were all single dots or punctus.
Aristophanes' idea was that each of these units ought to be followed by a pause of appropriate length, shortest for a komma and longest for a periodos. So he came up with 3 punctuation marks to represent these pauses. These were all single dots or punctus.
8/24
Where these dots appeared vertically indicated the kind of pause they represented. A dot on the baseline, or hypostigmḗ, terminated a komma. One in the middle, or stigmḕ mésē, terminated a kōlon. And finally one on top, or stigmḕ teleía, terminated a periodos.
Where these dots appeared vertically indicated the kind of pause they represented. A dot on the baseline, or hypostigmḗ, terminated a komma. One in the middle, or stigmḕ mésē, terminated a kōlon. And finally one on top, or stigmḕ teleía, terminated a periodos.
9/24
By the 1st century BC, punctuations entered Latin. But not everyone in Rome accepted them with open arms. One notable example is Cicero, famous statesman, orator, and friend of Julius Caesar. Those days, writers and orators were often different individuals.
By the 1st century BC, punctuations entered Latin. But not everyone in Rome accepted them with open arms. One notable example is Cicero, famous statesman, orator, and friend of Julius Caesar. Those days, writers and orators were often different individuals.
10/24
Resenting these marks as a personal insult and a writer's overreach, the celebrated orator once quipped:
"When and how long to pause ought to be determined not by a strike interposed by a copyist, but by the constraint of the rhythm."
Resenting these marks as a personal insult and a writer's overreach, the celebrated orator once quipped:
"When and how long to pause ought to be determined not by a strike interposed by a copyist, but by the constraint of the rhythm."
11/24
Do note that even as there were these primitive punctuation marks, words still team together without spaces. Spaces only appeared around 600 AD and the credit goes to Anglo-Saxon and Irish monks who needed some visual cue to identify separate words.
Do note that even as there were these primitive punctuation marks, words still team together without spaces. Spaces only appeared around 600 AD and the credit goes to Anglo-Saxon and Irish monks who needed some visual cue to identify separate words.
12/24
These visual cues were a new necessity because they were translating works from Latin, a language foreign to them. In their own languages, they didn't need such cues because words were all too familiar anyway. This state of affairs continued for another 2 centuries.
These visual cues were a new necessity because they were translating works from Latin, a language foreign to them. In their own languages, they didn't need such cues because words were all too familiar anyway. This state of affairs continued for another 2 centuries.
13/24
The next big change came in the 8th-century France under the Carolingian dynasty. The dynasty is known for its most famous monarch who took the throne in 800 AD and whose death led to the founding of the Holy Roman Empire, Emperor Charlemagne.
The next big change came in the 8th-century France under the Carolingian dynasty. The dynasty is known for its most famous monarch who took the throne in 800 AD and whose death led to the founding of the Holy Roman Empire, Emperor Charlemagne.
14/24
Under this dynasty, the marks of punctuation were further evolved to better represent more kinds of pauses. This was necessitated by the need to accurately render liturgical chants and standardize intonation.
Charlemagne, by the way, also invented the "small letters."
Under this dynasty, the marks of punctuation were further evolved to better represent more kinds of pauses. This was necessitated by the need to accurately render liturgical chants and standardize intonation.
Charlemagne, by the way, also invented the "small letters."
15/24
Initially, these marks were only used in texts that were meant to be read aloud, mostly religious chants and plays. With time, though, they started appearing in non-religious, non-theatrical manuscripts too. At this point, there were 4 different signs of punctuation.
Initially, these marks were only used in texts that were meant to be read aloud, mostly religious chants and plays. With time, though, they started appearing in non-religious, non-theatrical manuscripts too. At this point, there were 4 different signs of punctuation.
16/24
The 3 Greek dots corresponded to the 3 Roman marks — punctus, punctus elevatus, and punctus versus. A 4th that the Romans had added was punctus interrogativus. As the name suggests, the latter indicated a question. This one was a Roman invention.
The 3 Greek dots corresponded to the 3 Roman marks — punctus, punctus elevatus, and punctus versus. A 4th that the Romans had added was punctus interrogativus. As the name suggests, the latter indicated a question. This one was a Roman invention.
17/24
By the 10th century AD, punctuation has entered England with the Norman conquest. No major changes would appear for another 300-odd years although minor evolutionary improvements continued. In the interim, some signs disappeared, others changed.
By the 10th century AD, punctuation has entered England with the Norman conquest. No major changes would appear for another 300-odd years although minor evolutionary improvements continued. In the interim, some signs disappeared, others changed.
18/24
The next big spur in the standardization of punctuation came with the invention of printing press around the 14th century AD. With printed books, a need to aid rapid reading was felt. People no longer wanted to spend time analyzing pauses and syntax.
The next big spur in the standardization of punctuation came with the invention of printing press around the 14th century AD. With printed books, a need to aid rapid reading was felt. People no longer wanted to spend time analyzing pauses and syntax.
19/24
The big breakthrough in this era came from one man in Venice, then an independent nation state as there was no country called Italy. This man was Aldus Pius Manutius, a Roman scholar, Greek enthusiast, father of modern paperback, and inventor of semicolon and modern comma.
The big breakthrough in this era came from one man in Venice, then an independent nation state as there was no country called Italy. This man was Aldus Pius Manutius, a Roman scholar, Greek enthusiast, father of modern paperback, and inventor of semicolon and modern comma.
20/24
At this point, let's recap what Aristophanes had standardized:
1. Partial sentence or komma, terminated by a bottom dot
2. Clause or kōlon, terminated by a middle dot
3. Full sentence or periodos, terminated by a top dot
By Aldus' time, this had somewhat changed.
At this point, let's recap what Aristophanes had standardized:
1. Partial sentence or komma, terminated by a bottom dot
2. Clause or kōlon, terminated by a middle dot
3. Full sentence or periodos, terminated by a top dot
By Aldus' time, this had somewhat changed.
21/24
By now, komma was no longer a partial sentence, but the punctuation ending it. The name was comma (Latin doesn't have the letter k). Aldus even changed it from a bottom dot to a bottom dot with a tail. The comma as we know it was born.
By now, komma was no longer a partial sentence, but the punctuation ending it. The name was comma (Latin doesn't have the letter k). Aldus even changed it from a bottom dot to a bottom dot with a tail. The comma as we know it was born.
22/24
The kōlon was also a more familiar colon because, again, Latin has no k. Also, the word no longer represented a clause but the mark that ended one. Aldus changed it from a middle dot to 2 vertical dots as we know it today.
The kōlon was also a more familiar colon because, again, Latin has no k. Also, the word no longer represented a clause but the mark that ended one. Aldus changed it from a middle dot to 2 vertical dots as we know it today.
23/24
Finally, the periodos was no longer a sentence, but the symbol that signified the end of one. Aldus changed it from a top dot to a baseline dot, exactly the way we use it today. The period was born. Yes, it was originally called this and not full-stop.
Finally, the periodos was no longer a sentence, but the symbol that signified the end of one. Aldus changed it from a top dot to a baseline dot, exactly the way we use it today. The period was born. Yes, it was originally called this and not full-stop.
24/24
Outside of printed works, however, punctuation still remained a matter of personal preference and convenience. Until as recently as the 1800s.
In short, if you can read well today, thank 3 men from antiquity for making it possible — A scholar, an emperor, and a printer.
Outside of printed works, however, punctuation still remained a matter of personal preference and convenience. Until as recently as the 1800s.
In short, if you can read well today, thank 3 men from antiquity for making it possible — A scholar, an emperor, and a printer.
