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There is no difference: an alphabet is a kind of phonetic writing, in which the signs stand for sounds. Another kind of phonetic writing is called a syllabary. Both are utterly unlike hieroglyphics and ideograms, which may contain phonetic elements. Some alphabetic languages, English and French, for example, may have changed the way words are pronounced while retaining their old spelling, in which case a truly phonetic spelling would differ from the received spelling (see the International Phonetic Alphabet, or IPA). But that does not make the alphabet any less a phonetic writing system. (责任编辑：) |