WORLD HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -It is thought that Phoenician had the short vowels /a/, /i/, /u/ and the long vowels /aː/, /iː/, /uː/, /eː/, /oː/. The Proto-Semitic diphthongs /aj/ and /aw/ are realized as /eː/ and /oː/.

Detailed explanation-2: -However, not all of the sounds in the language are actually represented. Phoenician is a consonantal alphabet, which means that it only has letters to represent the consonants. There are no vowels in the Phoenician written language.

Detailed explanation-3: -"Phoenician proper” consists of 22 consonant letters (leaving vowel sounds implicit) – in other words, it is an abjad – although certain late varieties use matres lectionis for some vowels.

Detailed explanation-4: -The alphabet remained, however, essentially a Semitic alphabet of 22 letters, written from right to left, with only consonants represented and phonetic values unchanged from the North Semitic script.

Detailed explanation-5: -By this point in time, Greek had lost its [j] sound, so Phoenician yōdh was used only for its vocalic value, becoming the Greek vowel letter iota [i].