Sorry. Was that a Question?

[Paul Younan]

Thanks for posting this, son_of_lite, very interesting article. I've posted a link to the full article below.

http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-07-ridd...liest.html

Question marks in Greek and Latin script emerged later than in Syriac, with the earliest examples dating from the eighth century. It is likely that these symbols developed independently from each other and from Syriac. Hebrew and Arabic, close neighbours of Syriac, have nothing comparable. Armenian, another neighbour, has a similar mark, but it seems to be later.

Last month Dr. Coakley presented his theory that the question mark is a Syriac invention ?rather nervously? at a conference in the United States. But so far none of his fellow scholars has come up with an earlier question mark in any other ancient language.

Dr. Coakley is quietly thrilled by his finding. ?I?d describe it as a significant footnote in the history of writing,? he said. ?And it?s satisfying to have made sense of some of those weird dots.?

Wow, if he's nervous about the primacy of the question mark ...

+Shamasha