The Phoenician script was probably the first phonemic script, and it contained only about two dozen distinct letters, making it a script simple enough for traders to learn.
ðə foʊnˈɪʃən skɹˈɪpt wʌz pɹˈɑːbəbli ðə fˈɜːst fɑːnˈɛmɪk skɹˈɪpt, ænd ɪt kəntˈeɪnd ˈoʊnli ɐbˌaʊt tˈuː dˈʌzən dɪstˈɪŋkt lˈɛɾɚz, mˌeɪkɪŋ ɪɾ ɐ skɹˈɪpt sˈɪmpəl ɪnˈʌf fɔːɹ tɹˈeɪdɚz tə lˈɜːn.