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3. Germanic alphabets
Through the history of their development GLs used 3

different alphabets.

3.1 Runic alphabet
The runes were used as letters, each symbol indicated a

separate sound. It is supposed that the runic ABC is based on the

Latin or some other Italic alphabet, close to Latin in writing. But
the material and technique of writing used by Germanic tribes in

their early times caused considerable modifications of Latin in

the Runic ABC.
It is supposed that the Runic ABC originated in the 2-3 AD

on the banks of the Rhine or the Danube where Germanic tribes
could come into contact with the Roman culture. Since the

Runic ABC was used by different Germanic tribes (Goths,
Anglo-Saxons, Scandinavians) it was adopted to the needs of

each of language. New letters were added into it, some of the

original fell out.

3.2 Ulphila
Ulphila’s Gothic ABC originated in the 4th century. It is

based on the Greek ABC but has some Latin and Runic letters.
This is the ABC of Ulphila’s gothic translation of the Bible. But

in modern editions of Gothic texts a Latin transcription of the

Gothic ABC is used.

3.3 Latin alphabet

It began to be used when a new technique of writing was
introduced, i.e. spreading of colour, paint on the surface instead

of cutting and engraving the letters. Introduction of the Latin
ABC was stimulated by the spread of Christianity, as Christian

religious texts were written in Latin. The Latin ABC was also
modified to the peculiar needs of the separate GLs.

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