For some people there is no way of recording thoughts, knowledge, or wisdom in their native tongue. There is no way to pass on unique technological skills through writing. Other than the oral traditions, they have no way of accessing their ancient culture. Years from now, no one will be able precisely know what type of people they were. The Western or Latin alphabet is not the oldest method of writing.
Chinese writing is a complex system of thousands of pictographic and ideographic characters.
It is the oldest system and has changed little in 4,000 years. The alphabet has not been the only method of record keeping. The cursive letters of the Arabic language were designed for the swift copying by the Muslim scribes. The Arabic style numerals advanced mathematics beyond anything the Romans knew or understood. The Arabic letters were used to preserve the classic works of Greece and Rome when Europe settled into the thousand year funk known as the Dark Ages.