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The Letter J (A Dash of Info)
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“There was a time when Jesus didn’t start with J.
A time when Jesus Christ was written as Iesus.
When Julius Caesar carved his name as IVLIVS.
When the alphabet itself didn’t even include the letter J.”
We think of the alphabet as ancient—fixed, untouchable, permanent. But one of its most common letters is surprisingly young. For more than 1,500 years, J didn’t exist at all. It was simply the overworked letter I, pulling double duty as both vowel and consonant in the Roman world.
In this episode, we rewind to ancient Rome, trace a scribal flourish in the Middle Ages, and step into the chaos of the Renaissance printing revolution—where a tiny tail on an I sparked a quiet identity crisis. From stone inscriptions to the 1611 King James Version, we explore how J slowly broke away, claimed its own sound, and reshaped the alphabet we thought we’d always known.
How did a decorative stroke become a full-fledged letter?
Why did it take centuries to separate from I?
And what does J’s late arrival reveal about the living, evolving nature of language itself?
The alphabet isn’t frozen in time.
It’s still rewriting its own story—one letter at a time.
Irwin Farms
Georgia's #1 Bulk Wheat Straw Supplier
Cozy Earth
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Harpoon Brewery
The shop at Harpoon Brewery is packed with exclusive apparel, cozy hoodies, stylish accessories, and
Savorista Coffee
(find them at SAVORISTA DOT COM) crafts premium decaf and half-caf coffee with full, rich flavor—wit
Old Glory
Use Code INFOGO to get 15% off at checkout
Patreon
Support the show by becoming Patreon . Listen AD free and a week early. Have some one on one time wi
Cozy Earth
Use Code INFOGO to get 41% OFF
Strong Coffee Company
Get 20% OFF at che
Support the show
Thank You for listening and Stay curious,
Kat & William
Email [email protected]
If you would like to support Info On The Go click the link below
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By William and KatSend us Fan Mail
“There was a time when Jesus didn’t start with J.
A time when Jesus Christ was written as Iesus.
When Julius Caesar carved his name as IVLIVS.
When the alphabet itself didn’t even include the letter J.”
We think of the alphabet as ancient—fixed, untouchable, permanent. But one of its most common letters is surprisingly young. For more than 1,500 years, J didn’t exist at all. It was simply the overworked letter I, pulling double duty as both vowel and consonant in the Roman world.
In this episode, we rewind to ancient Rome, trace a scribal flourish in the Middle Ages, and step into the chaos of the Renaissance printing revolution—where a tiny tail on an I sparked a quiet identity crisis. From stone inscriptions to the 1611 King James Version, we explore how J slowly broke away, claimed its own sound, and reshaped the alphabet we thought we’d always known.
How did a decorative stroke become a full-fledged letter?
Why did it take centuries to separate from I?
And what does J’s late arrival reveal about the living, evolving nature of language itself?
The alphabet isn’t frozen in time.
It’s still rewriting its own story—one letter at a time.
Irwin Farms
Georgia's #1 Bulk Wheat Straw Supplier
Cozy Earth
Use Code INFOGO to get 21% OFF
Harpoon Brewery
The shop at Harpoon Brewery is packed with exclusive apparel, cozy hoodies, stylish accessories, and
Savorista Coffee
(find them at SAVORISTA DOT COM) crafts premium decaf and half-caf coffee with full, rich flavor—wit
Old Glory
Use Code INFOGO to get 15% off at checkout
Patreon
Support the show by becoming Patreon . Listen AD free and a week early. Have some one on one time wi
Cozy Earth
Use Code INFOGO to get 41% OFF
Strong Coffee Company
Get 20% OFF at che
Support the show
Thank You for listening and Stay curious,
Kat & William
Email [email protected]
If you would like to support Info On The Go click the link below
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2434258/support
Follow us wherever you listen to podcasts and leave us a review.
Follow us on Facebook at Info on the Go!
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/159DdiptQh/?mibextid=wwXIfr
https://infoonthego.buzzsprout.com