A History of Our Letters and How We Use Them with Dr Danny Bate
Join Dr Danny Bate, linguist and bestselling author of Why Q Needs U, on a journey into the history and science of writing things down.
Over millennia, we humans have learned to love our letters. But how? And what if you invented writing from scratch? Join Dr Danny Bate, linguist and bestselling author of Why Q Needs U, on a journey into the history and science of writing things down.
In Why Q Needs U, he takes readers on a fascinating odyssey through the English alphabet, diving into history, archaeology, politics and linguistics to discover where we get our writing from. Sharing fun facts and revealing the alphabet’s hidden mechanisms, he explains where we get our letters from and why the English language uses them so strangely.
Programmed by National Centre for Writing for Norwich Science Festival
Dr Danny Bate
Dr Danny Bate is a linguist and writer. Since earning a PhD in 2024, he has committed himself to public linguistics – sharing his field with the public, such as through his bestselling debut book Why Q Needs U. He lives in Prague, but is originally a Norfolk boy.
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National Centre for Writing is located in the heart of Norwich city centre by the river, and is easily accessible by foot and by public transport. Plan your visit with our guide to the local area, including transport and nearby attractions, as well as full details on accessibility on site.
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