High Galactic alphabet

"Does the weapon begin with the letter A?"

- Weequay bodyguard, speaking to his quay

The alternate Basic alphabet was a form of writing in the Galaxy. Not as common as Aurebesh, its origins and relationship to it were unknown. This alphabet was frequently used in signatures.

It may even have been a fairly commonly used alphabet, as Obi-Wan Kenobi asked Anakin Skywalker whether he had a "plan B" when they became trapped by ray shields during their attempt to rescue Supreme Chancellor Palpatine.

Also suggesting the widespread use of the alternate Basic alphabet is the naming of the so-called Rebel Alliance and New Republic -wing starfighters, all of which bore some resemblance to their namesake letters in this alphabet.

This alphabet seemed to have some similarities, and even some common heritage with an even more mysterious and obscure Secondary alternate alphabet

Texts written in this alphabet
Although the usage of this alphabet was less common than Aurebesh, there is indication that whole (although few) texts were written in it.
 * CSA Logo
 * Trade Federation logo
 * Sienar Fleet Systems logo
 * Declaration of a New Republic
 * Jedi code
 * Technical Specifications: Spacecraft of the Imperium and the Rebel Alliance
 * COMPNOR logo

Droid names examples
Droid names often derived from letters in this alphabet:
 * Atedeeate
 * Artoo Deetoo
 * See Threepio
 * Emtrey
 * Emkay
 * Fourex
 * Geenine
 * Ninebeedee

Behind the scenes
This article describes the occurrences of the Latin alphabet in the Star Wars universe; it is a form of writing in the real world and is the most common alphabet of Western nations, usually containing about twenty-six letters. Although canon has established the fictitious writing system of Aurebesh, it is somewhat unsurprising that this alphabet, especially its American English variant, make their appearance in the Star Wars universe, as the Star Wars movies and most Expanded Universe materials are of American origin.

Canonicity
"Well, actually, they do use the Roman alphabet in the Star Wars universe."

- Pablo Hidalgo

Unlike Aurebesh, neither the term "Latin alphabet" nor the existence of the Alphabet itself is ever mentioned or taken into consideration by in-universe or out-of-universe terminology or references. Roman labels in A New Hope were edited into Aurebesh in the DVD release, indicating that George Lucas had some reasons to believe that real-world Roman letters don't belong in the Star Wars universe.

It is possible that all occurrences therefore should be ignored from our mind as artistic license, and be considered as 'translated' Aurebesh; indeed letters Aurek and Besh have been used where A or B would be used (see for example "Unit Aurek-Three" instead of "Unit A3", or "HK-58 Aurek" and "HK-58 Besh" and not "HK-58A and B").

On the other hand, Roman letters can be seen alongside Aurebesh in some sources and logos, or are very meaningful, more than if replaced by Aurebesh, as in the case of the -wing ships names. Indeed an X-wing is named as such because of its resemblance with the letter X, while it has no relation to the letter Xesh. The text seen on viewscreens in The Star Wars Holiday Special is in English, rather than Aurebesh, due to the fact that Aurebesh had yet to be invented at the time in the real world. Aurebesh was introduced five years later in Return of the Jedi.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
 * ''The Star Wars Holiday Special
 * Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
 * Star Wars Droids 4: Lost in Time
 * Star Wars Droids 5: Separated
 * The Great God Quay: The Tale of Barada and the Weequays
 * Numerous places in Star Wars Expanded Universe media.