An A-Z history of the English alphabet
HistoryExtra podcast
06/30/26
•47m
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Which letter of the English alphabet did Benjamin Franklin think we'd be better off without? Why must the letter U (almost) always follow the letter Q? And what is the point of silent letters? From the first scratches carved into stone to the maddening mysteries of modern English spelling, the alphabet has had a long and extraordinary journey. In this episode, Emily Briffett is joined by linguist, writer and broadcaster Danny Bate to explore the history of the English alphabet, and the strange story behind the letters we use every day.
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Curious to find out more about the ancient civilisations who greatly influenced the alphabet's trajectory? Leanr more about the Phoenicians with Josephine Quinn here: https://bit.ly/42nZ5iC
And check out this episode on the Etruscans with Lucy Shipley here: https://bit.ly/48O2T0g
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Abigail Adams: life of the week
June 29
•39m
As the wife of a founding figure in early American history, Abigail Adams was able to push beyond the restrictions of many of her sex in the 18th century, influencing policy and advocating for those in society who often didn't have a voice. These actions have sometimes seen her remembered as a proto-feminist in the story of the US. But how true is this reputation? And what other strides was she able to make?
Historian and writer Laura Kamoie speaks to Elinor Evans about Adams's life – the subject of Laura's new historical novel co-authored with Stephanie Dray, A Founding Mother.
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To find out more about the American Revolution, including key figures, the experiences of women, and the people who forged the early United States, head to our curated list, which includes archive podcast episodes and videos, all available in the HistoryExtra app: https://bit.ly/42OYGpt
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As the United States marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, Americans are taking a fresh look at their nation's past. But what if the story of the US isn't best told through presidents, wars and famous speeches? In this episode, Roman Mars – host of new series The History of the United States in 100 Objects – tells Emily Briffett about what some of those items tell us about the nation's extraordinary past.
The History of the United States in 100 Objects is a BBC Studios and 99% Invisible co-production for SiriusXM and is available to listen to weekly on BBC Sounds and wherever you get your podcasts.
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