ABSTRACT
A writing system for Greek needed to find symbols to represent vowels; but in writing Arabic and Hebrew there was continuity in not representing vowels. For these languages, it is only the consonants that are obligatorily shown in the writing systems. Moreover, both languages follow Phoenician in being written from right to left. Modern Hebrew, also known as Israeli Hebrew, is one of the official languages of Israel along with Modern Standard Arabic and is in theory overseen by the Academy of the Hebrew Language, although in practice its discussions and recommendations on spelling have regularly been marked by acrimony and indecision. The modern Arabic written language is based on classical Arabic and is pronounced in a way assumed to be close to the original pronunciation of classical Arabic. Writing is from right to left and there is no distinction between upper and lower case.
