Arabic Script

The Arabic script seems to have originated towards the end of the fourth, and during the fifth century AD, from the script of the Nabataeans, originally Aramaic speaking tribes living in the north, east and south of Sinai. Only a few examples of pre-Islamic writing have so far been discovered; the Arabs, though a language-conscious and poetically gifted people, preferred oral traditions to the use of writing.

In the second half of the seventh century the creation of Islam dramatically changed this attitude. The text of the Qu'ran, revealed to Muhammad through the agency of the Archangel Gabriel, had to be preserved and handed down as accurately as possible; within a short period the Arabic script was reformed and calligraphy became a highly prized skill.

The Arabic script consists of 29 letter signs, made up of the original 22 Semitic consonant signs plus seven more designed to represent pronunciation required by the Arabic language.

The system of vocalisation is relatively simple, consisting of three vowel marks which are written above or below the consonant preceding the vowel, and a sign indicative of the absence of a vowel.