--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How had it come about that these…" description: "\"“How had it come about that these particular designs were chosen as our letters? Who decreed what sound would accompany each shape? And how was it deci..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99c/theresa-breslin-23100_alphabets_how-had-it-come-about-that-these-particu_2271064.jpg" --- # How had it come about that these particular designs were… ![“How had it come about that these particular designs were chosen as our letters? Who decreed what sound would accompany each shape? And how was it decided the manner they would come together to form a word? 'Why is this so?' I demanded to know.” quote by Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99c/theresa-breslin-23100_alphabets_how-had-it-come-about-that-these-particu_2271064.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99c/theresa-breslin-23100_alphabets_how-had-it-come-about-that-these-particu_2271064.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/99c/theresa-breslin-23100_alphabets_how-had-it-come-about-that-these-particu_2271064.jpg) > ““How had it come about that these particular designs were chosen as our letters? Who decreed what sound would accompany each shape? And how was it decided the manner they would come together to form a word? 'Why is this so?' I demanded to know.”” [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It questions the arbitrary nature of alphabetic design, highlighting how language symbols are socially decided rather than natural. **In simple terms:** Language symbols are socially chosen. Key Takeaway Recognize the constructed nature of language. Themes language design arbitrariness Mood inquisitive reflective Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - teaching literacy - designing scripts - studying linguistics Key Concepts semiotics phonetics cultural convention Questions to Reflect On - Who decides which sounds become letters? - How do design choices affect communication? A Different Perspective Language systems can be limiting or exclusionary. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Alphabets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alphabets/) [Chosen Letters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chosen-letters-5263208/) [Designs Chosen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/designs-chosen-5263210/) [Inquisition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inquisition/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Letters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letters/) [Letters Decreed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letters-decreed-5263211/) [Matteo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matteo/) [Reading](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reading/) [Shape Decided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shape-decided-5263209/) [Sinistro-scribe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sinistro-scribe-171008/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“Ho there, scribe. I see that you write well enough. Can you also read?' 'Obviously you cannot, boy,' he replied. 'For if you were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/ho-there-scribe-i-see-that-you-write-well-enough-can-you-also-read/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) > [“The scribe was a strict teacher and he did not accept anything less than perfect... Like a mother sensing the baby quickening within her,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/the-scribe-was-a-strict-teacher-and-he-did-not-accept-anything-less/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) > [“The Maestro spoke again. "When we are not, at what point do we become?" I could not reply. For I had grasped no shape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/the-maestro-spoke-again-when-we-are-not-at-what-point-do-we-become-i/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) > [“She looked... She looked young, and- and--" I glanced down at Rossana gazing up at me, lips parted, eyes shining, her hair loose around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/she-looked-she-looked-young-and-and-i-glanced-down-at-rossana-gazing/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) > [“I am not a doctor,' I replied, 'I only help those who come to me in desperation. When a man is brought to me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/i-am-not-a-doctor-i-replied-i-only-help-those-who-come-to-me-in/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) > [“They spoke politely and with deference to the adults, whereas it went against my nature not to speak plainly. To many people speaking plainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/they-spoke-politely-and-with-deference-to-the-adults-whereas-it-went/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) > [“Being illegitimate is a technicality. It does not mean that there is anything wrong with you. Men use "bastard" as a curse. But to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/being-illegitimate-is-a-technicality-it-does-not-mean-that-there-is/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) > [“This was not completely true. I had run so fast that I still had a stitch in my side, but I did not want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/this-was-not-completely-true-i-had-run-so-fast-that-i-still-had-a/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) > [“I peered at his writing, but I could make nothing of it. Then I saw why, and my soul chilled like marble. His writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/i-peered-at-his-writing-but-i-could-make-nothing-of-it-then-i-saw-why/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) > [“He could quite quickly become detached from the nuances of common human emotion. Particularly if he was engaged in some aspect of a scientific…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/he-could-quite-quickly-become-detached-from-the-nuances-of-common/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) > [“Listen, that girl is my world, and I can’t stand the thought of anyone hurting her. I’d handle this myself if I could play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-sterling/listen-that-girl-is-my-world-and-i-can-t-stand-the-thought-of-anyone/) [J. Sterling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-sterling/) ## More by Theresa Breslin > [“The Maestro spoke again. "When we are not, at what point do we become?" I could not reply. For I had grasped no shape…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/the-maestro-spoke-again-when-we-are-not-at-what-point-do-we-become-i/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) > [In addition to being a writer, I'm a librarian - professionally trained and everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/in-addition-to-being-a-writer-i-m-a-librarian-professionally-trained/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) > [“What makes a human being want to kill another who has done him no personal harm? Patriotism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/what-makes-a-human-being-want-to-kill-another-who-has-done-him-no/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) > [“I peered at his writing, but I could make nothing of it. Then I saw why, and my soul chilled like marble. His writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/i-peered-at-his-writing-but-i-could-make-nothing-of-it-then-i-saw-why/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) > [“I must tell you this, Maggie. Your letters are my lifeline. Your threat to stop them terrified me. Never stop writing to me, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/i-must-tell-you-this-maggie-your-letters-are-my-lifeline-your-threat/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) > [“If you are not a Conchie, what are you man?' demanded the Major. After some moments' thought, Francis said, 'I am a human being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/if-you-are-not-a-conchie-what-are-you-man-demanded-the-major-after/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) > [“This was not completely true. I had run so fast that I still had a stitch in my side, but I did not want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/this-was-not-completely-true-i-had-run-so-fast-that-i-still-had-a/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) > [“Being illegitimate is a technicality. It does not mean that there is anything wrong with you. Men use "bastard" as a curse. But to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/being-illegitimate-is-a-technicality-it-does-not-mean-that-there-is/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) > [“The scribe was a strict teacher and he did not accept anything less than perfect... Like a mother sensing the baby quickening within her,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/the-scribe-was-a-strict-teacher-and-he-did-not-accept-anything-less/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) > [One of the reasons I began to write was because I wanted stories for my children where the characters spoke as they did and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/one-of-the-reasons-i-began-to-write-was-because-i-wanted-stories-for/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) > [In order to deliver the emotional truth in the story, you have to include some of the literal truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/in-order-to-deliver-the-emotional-truth-in-the-story-you-have-to/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) > [My hope is for a literature that raises the language above the ordinary, makes words both functional and emotional, and to resonate at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/my-hope-is-for-a-literature-that-raises-the-language-above-the/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) > [When I was young, I read everything I could lay my hands on, but the Scots in my storybooks spent their time fighting glorious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/when-i-was-young-i-read-everything-i-could-lay-my-hands-on-but-the/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) > [What I try to do - and I think this is the former librarian in me - is to get primary source material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/what-i-try-to-do-and-i-think-this-is-the-former-librarian-in-me-is-to/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) > [In addition to exploring imaginative worlds, I believe that young people should have access to reading material that validates their life, that gives them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/in-addition-to-exploring-imaginative-worlds-i-believe-that-young/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) [Explore all 26 Theresa Breslin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) ## More Alphabets quotes > [Any combination of 26 alphabets can never explain my MOTHER..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fenil-patel/any-combination-of-26-alphabets-can-never-explain-my-mother/) [Fenil Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fenil-patel/) > [They should change the alphabets babe because U and I should be together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reverb-mpumelelo/they-should-change-the-alphabets-babe-because-u-and-i-should-be/) [Reverb Mpumelelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reverb-mpumelelo/) > [Last time I couldn't read my own handwritting,i had to just pretend that I know the alphabets.i remember just knowing 1 alphabet at a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianasofi/last-time-i-couldn-t-read-my-own-handwritting-i-had-to-just-pretend/) [Dianasofi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianasofi/) > [“Many modern alphabets, including ours, retain with minor modifications that original sequence (and, in the case of Greek, even the letters’ original names: alpha,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-diamond/many-modern-alphabets-including-ours-retain-with-minor-modifications/) [Jared Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-diamond/) > [“The letters of the alphabet, a, b, c, etc., have no meaning whatever. They are but artificial signs, but when spelt they can express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/the-letters-of-the-alphabet-a-b-c-etc-have-no-meaning-whatever-they/) [Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/) > [“THE CHRISTIAN ALPHABETS A = AMEN B = BAPTISM C = CHRISTIAN D = DISCIPLE F = FELLOWSHIP G = GOD H = HOLY…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osunsakin-adewale/the-christian-alphabets-a-amen-b-baptism-c-christian-d-disciple-f/) [Osunsakin Adewale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osunsakin-adewale/) > [“The main factor that makes leadership potentials to become abused often is ignorance. Many people can merely spell their names in alphabets, but cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/the-main-factor-that-makes-leadership-potentials-to-become-abused/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Beautiful Qutoes ever… Do you agree that we have 26 alphabets in English..-- . . A = 1 ; B = 2 ; C…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tinku-razoria/beautiful-qutoes-ever-do-you-agree-that-we-have-26-alphabets-in/) [Tinku Razoria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tinku-razoria/) > [If it were up to me to rearrange the alphabets, I would keep U & I together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azgraybebly-josland/if-it-were-up-to-me-to-rearrange-the-alphabets-i-would-keep-u-i/) [Azgraybebly Josland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azgraybebly-josland/) > [If plan A never worked ni\*\*\* there be 25 more alphabets so keep calm\*](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-khalifa/if-plan-a-never-worked-ni-there-be-25-more-alphabets-so-keep-calm/) [Jay Khalifa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-khalifa/) > [“Build a name. Personal branding is all about name building. I don’t just mean alphabetical name, but a name that can be spelt in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/build-a-name-personal-branding-is-all-about-name-building-i-don-t/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“Writing barely differs from Talking and Reading. It appoints your hand while they engage your mouth and eyes respectively. The trio need the mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olaotan-fawehinmi/writing-barely-differs-from-talking-and-reading-it-appoints-your-hand/) [Olaotan Fawehinmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olaotan-fawehinmi/) > [“S-U-C-I-D-E Do You want to end everything with only six alphabets?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laksh-kishore/s-u-c-i-d-e-do-you-want-to-end-everything-with-only-six-alphabets/) [Laksh Kishore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laksh-kishore/) [Browse all 14 Alphabets quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/alphabets/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“How had it come about that these particular designs were chosen as our letters? Who decreed what sound would accompany each shape? And how was it decided the manner they would come together to form a word? 'Why is this so?' 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