Here's why:
* Evolution of Writing: Punctuation developed alongside writing systems. Different languages developed their writing systems and punctuation conventions independently, leading to variations.
* Language Structure: Punctuation can be influenced by language structure. For example, some languages use different punctuation for questions than others.
* Cultural Differences: Punctuation can also reflect cultural preferences. Some languages might have a more concise or elaborate use of punctuation than others.
* Specific Language Needs: Some languages have specific punctuation marks that don't exist in others, like the Japanese "ga" particle marker.
* Influence of Other Languages: Languages can borrow punctuation marks from others through historical contact or language standardization efforts.
Here are some examples of punctuation differences:
* Quotation Marks: English uses double quotes (""), while German uses single quotes ('') for direct speech.
* Ellipsis: English uses three dots (...). French uses four dots (...).
* Apostrophes: English uses apostrophes for contractions, but some languages use them for different purposes.
* Dash: The dash can have different lengths and functions in different languages.
* Diacritics: Many languages use diacritics (marks above or below letters) to modify pronunciation, which are not present in English.
Conclusion: While some punctuation marks are shared across languages, there is a lot of variation in punctuation use. Each language has its own rules and conventions that reflect its history, structure, and culture.