cuneiform - LingoDigest

The Shape of Nothing: How the Invention of ‘Zero’ Was a Linguistic and Mathematical Revolution

6 min read

The concept of zero is more than just a number; it’s a profound linguistic and philosophical idea that had to be invented. This journey traces the word and symbol for zero from its origins as *śūnya* (“void”) in ancient India, through its translation to *ṣifr* in the Arab world, and into Europe where it became both “zero” and “cipher.” By giving a name and a shape to nothingness, we revolutionized mathematics and the very way we talk about absence and potential.

Languages Writing History Linguistics

From Chisel to Stylus: How the Tools of Writing Forged Our Alphabets

7 min read

Have you ever wondered why an ‘A’ looks the way it does? The answer lies not in linguistics, but in the physical tools that shaped it. This article explores how the chisel on stone created majestic capitals, how the reed in clay formed abstract cuneiform, and how the flow of ink from a quill pen gave birth to the lowercase letters we use every day.