In the context of historical writing systems, which of the following is considered the first to represent sounds?

The Phoenician script is recognized as one of the first writing systems to accurately represent sounds, specifically consonantal sounds, through a limited set of symbols. This script emerged around 1200 BCE and is significant because it moved away from earlier pictographic systems, where symbols pictorially represented objects or ideas, to a more abstract representation of sounds.

The importance of the Phoenician script lies in its simplicity and efficiency. It contained only 22 letters, which were primarily consonants, allowing for greater versatility in writing various words. This phonetic approach laid the groundwork for many subsequent alphabets, including Greek and Latin, contributing significantly to the development of written language as we understand it today.

In contrast, other systems mentioned, such as the Latin alphabet, Runic script, and Hieroglyphics, either came later or utilized different methods of representation. For instance, the Latin alphabet, while highly influential, evolved from earlier alphabets that originated after the Phoenician script. Similarly, Runic script, which was developed later by Germanic tribes, has its roots in a mixture of existing scripts, including influences from the Phoenician. Hieroglyphics, on the other hand, primarily used ideograms and symbols that often represented whole