Please look at the attached graphic. There you see three proposals for the form of the Antiqua-Eszett from 1879. For me, it's obvious that all three forms are variations on the same theme: they are all modelled after the Fraktur Eszett, but vary in the way the Fraktur z is connected to the long s.
It seems you can't believe a z can look like a three (two bowl form). But this form is found in the Fraktur, too (I will look for an example, if you want). And you can see this form in the Kurrent as well (German script): look at the attached graphic's bottom. Another thing you see here is that in this case the z is connected at the top of the s. This three-like, two-bowl form is influenced by medieval abbreviation signs, which combined a long s with one or two bowls. Such signs (they are called "pseudo ligatures") were used in competition with the real sz ligature. If you understand German, I highly suggest you to read the article from Prof. Dr. Brekle I mentioned above. It covers not only the origins of the Eszett but also the transformation into an Antiqua character. ** Attachment added: "proposals.png" https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu-font-family/+bug/650498/+attachment/1741623/+files/proposals.png -- Expansion: 'ẞ' LATIN CAPTIAL LETTER SHARP S (U+1E9E) https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/650498 You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list [email protected] https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs
