Theories of origin
Egypt theory
According to one of the most popular theories, the alphabetical letter originated in Egypt. This theory was proposed by Francois Lenormanom and described Emmanuilom de Rouge in 1874. Typically, Egyptian supporters of the theory are divided into three groups. The first group is inclined to the theory that the alphabetical letter originates from the hieroglyphic writing, advocates of this theory are Jean-Francois Shampolon, Francois Lennorman and other scientists. The second group of scholars was inclined to release the origin of alphabetic writing from ieraticheskogo letter, supporters of this version are Isaac Taylor, Pierre Monte, etc. The third theory, respectively, suggests the origin of alphabetic writing from demotic writing, but this theory is unacceptable because the alphabetical letter appeared earlier demotic. Advocates of this theory is Hans Bauer.
However, the Egyptian theory has been criticized as subject to the availability of so many different forms of characters (over 700) overlap with the individual characters Phoenician letters inevitable. In addition, it should be noted that the Egyptian hieroglyphs letter originally was used for special characters odnosoglasnyh dvusoglasnyh and parts of speech, but then signs odnosoglasnye flocks used much less ideographic characters, with their own odnosoglasnye sounds almost never used. It should also be noted that in the alphabet to denote a sound, there is a sign whose meaning does not change, while the Egyptian letter of the same sound may be marked by various signs. If the script is indeed occurred in Egypt, the Egyptians would not have been grounds for several more centuries of use is much more complex hieroglyphic writing system, and, after a few centuries after the invention of the alphabet, to simplify and ieraticheskuyu hieroglyphic writing.
Sinai theory
In 1916, Alan Gardiner and Kurt Zete in studies on drevnesinayskih inscriptions discovered in 1904 - 1905 biennium. Flindersom Pitre (total saved some 50 inscriptions, some of котрых were found between 1927 and 1935 years) came to the conclusion that writing Sinai is an intermediate link between the Egyptian ieroglifikoy and alphabetical letter. However, in the Sinai deciphering inscriptions, more or less sure you can talk about the data decryption only one inscription, identification of the goddess Ba'alat (sinaysk.). Nevertheless, reasonable proof of origin of the alphabet from the letter is not the Sinai, and the Sinai reasonable to regard the letter as one of the earliest attempts to create an alphabetical letter.