Why does Linear B's syllabic writing system require more symbols than the later Greek alphabet, even though it represents an earlier stage of the same language?

💡 Explanation

Linear B represents entire syllables, which are far more numerous than the individual phonemes represented by alphabets; because each syllable requires a unique symbol, a syllabary needs significantly more symbols than an alphabet. Therefore, Linear B used more symbols, rather than being limited by scribal practices or loanword resistance.

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