Runes are the letters in a set of related alphabets, known as runic rows, runic alphabets or futharks, native to the Germanic peoples. Runes were primarily used to represent a sound value but they were also used to represent the concepts after which they are named. Runology is the academic study of the runic alphabets, runic inscriptions, runestones, and their history. Runology forms a specialised branch of Germanic philology.