The letter 'q' has a minimal presence in the Romanian language, prompting questions about its existence, the words that contain it, and its retention in the alphabet.
Despite its marginal frequency, the presence of 'q' can be explained through a combination of historical influences and practical needs. Most words containing this letter are recent borrowings or proper nouns. Nevertheless, 'q' remains in the alphabet due to Romania's integration into the international linguistic and cultural context.
The origin of the letter 'q' traces back to the Phoenician alphabet, one of the oldest known writing systems. In this alphabet, the letter 'qoph' represented a specific guttural sound, which was later adapted by the Greeks and Romans. The Greeks transformed 'qoph' into 'koppa', using it infrequently, while the Romans simplified its form, leading to its contemporary usage. In the Latin alphabet, 'q' was primarily used in conjunction with 'u' to represent the sound 'kw', as seen in Latin words such as 'quattuor' (four) or 'qui' (who).
Romanian evolved from vulgar Latin, but over time, many Latin sounds were simplified. Thus, the 'qu' combination in Latin was replaced in Romanian with 'c' or 'ch' (e.g., 'quadratus' became 'pătrat'). However, the Latin alphabet, including the letter 'q', was retained as the basis for Romanian writing.
External influences have played a significant role in reintroducing the letter 'q', particularly through borrowings from modern languages such as French, English, or Italian. Words like 'quasar' or 'quantum' are examples of technical or scientific terms that have entered Romanian without phonetic adaptation. This retention of original forms aids in the international recognition of these terms.
The letter 'q' continues to be preserved in the Romanian alphabet for practical and symbolic reasons. International standards, such as those imposed by the European Union or other global organizations, require the complete retention of the Latin alphabet, including less frequently used letters like 'q' and 'w'. Additionally, these letters are necessary for representing foreign proper names or technical terms that cannot be transliterated without losing meaning or clarity. For instance, names like 'Qatar' or 'Quebec' cannot be written otherwise without causing confusion.
Another reason 'q' is not replaced with other symbols in Romanian is the preservation of the integrity of the Latin alphabet. Any attempt to simplify this system would create difficulties in international communication, especially in the modern era, where technology and science demand a uniform language.
Although rarely used, the letter 'q' serves an important function in maintaining precise technical language and in connecting Romanian with other internationally circulated languages, despite the limited number of words containing this letter in Romanian.