An essay towards a real character, and a philosophical language by John Wilkins ...

CHAP. XIV. Of the Accidents of Letters. 1. Their Names. 2. Their Or∣der. 3. Their Affinities and Opposition. 4. Their Fi∣gure, with a twofold Instance of a more regular Character for the Letters, the latter of which may be stiled Natural. 5. Of Pronunciation. 6. Of the several letters disused by several Nations.

SOmething ought briefly to be added concerning the Accidents of Letters, viz. their 1. Names. 2. Order. 3. Affinity. 4. Fi∣gure. 5. Pronunciation.

1. Of their Names. Letters being of themselves the most simple Elements of Speech,* 1.1 ought therefore to be expressed by the most sim∣ple names,* 1.2 and such as do signifie their several Powers: In which re∣spect, the Roman Alphabet used in these Western parts of the world, hath an advantage above other learned Languages, wherein the Vow∣els are no otherwise named than by their own sounds, as A, not Aleph or Alpha; much less have they distinct names for long and short Vow∣els, as Kamets, Kametscatuph, &c. And those which they reckon as the two kinds of Consonants, Semi-vowels and Mutes, are likewise di∣stinguished in their very Names. The Vowels being preposed in those which they call Semi-vowels, el, em, en, ar, and subjoyned in the Mutes, be, ce, de, ge, pe, te.

As for the other Letters before mentioned, which have a Right to be put in the Alphabet, they may be thus named: The sonorous ones, Eng, EV, Edh, Egh, EZ, EZh. The Mute ones, Hme, Hne, Hnge, Fe, The, Che, HLE, HRE, SE, She.

* 1.32. The most proper and natural Order of the Letters, I conceive to be the same in which they have been before treated of. Vowels should be reckoned up by themselves,* 1.4 as being a distinct kind, and first, both for their priority in Nature, Necessity, and Dignity. If the order of these were to be regulated from the Instruments of speech, then u, o, {ou}, should be first, as being Labial, and α, a, e, i, next, as Lingual, or Lin∣guapalatal,* 1.5 and ƴ last, as being Guttural. Scaliger would have A and O to be acknowledged for the first Vowels, as being Soni amplissimi, The next E, I, as being of a middle sound, and the last U, as being soni obscurissimi. That which to me seems the most proper Method, is to reckon them up according to their degrees of Apertion: Only in con∣formity with the common Alphabets, I begin with the Linguals, α, a, e, i, o, {ou}, u, ƴ.

Amongst the Consonants, the Sonorous should precede, as approach∣ing nearest to the nature of Vowels. And amongst them, if those that are breathed through the Nose do precede, M must be the first, as be∣ing Labial; N next, as being Dental; and then NG, as being Lingua-palatal. Next, those that are breathed through the Mouth, accord∣ing to this order, V, Dh, Gh, L, R, Z, Zh. The first being Labial, the next Dental, the others Lingua-dental, or Lingua-palatal. Next

should follow the Spiritous Consonants that are Mutes; and first those pronounced through the Nose, HM, HN, HNG, then those pronoun∣ced through the Mouth, F, TH, CH, hl, hr, S, Sh. Then the semi-spiritous Consonants, B, D, G. And lastly, the non-spiritous, or breathless Consonants, P, T, C.

3. The Affinity of Vowels each to other is not difficul to determine, α and a of a middle sound, e and i of a more acute,* 1.6 o and {ou} of a more grave tone. If they were to be opposed to one another,* 1.7 this distribu∣tion would be most natural, (αi) (ao) (e{ou}) (vu) and so vice versa, (iχ) (••a) ({ou}e) (uv.)

The Affinity amongst the Consonants most obvious is this, (M, HM) (N, HN,) (NG, HNG,) (V, F,) (Dh, Th,) (Gh, Ch,) (L, HL,) (R, HR,) (Z, S,) (Zh, Sh,) (BP) (DT) (GC.)

4. Though all Nations do or should agree in the same power and sound of the Letters,* 1.8 yet they differ very much in those Figures and Characters,* 1.9 whereby they represent them in writing according to those divers Alphabets that are received in the world: Amongst which, though some are much more convenient than others, yet none of them seem contrived upon a Philosophical ground. In the framing of such a Literal Character, these Conditions ought to be observed.

1. They should be the most simple and facil, and yet elegant and comely as to the shape of them.

2. They must be sufficiently distinguished from one another.

3. There should be some kind of sutableness, or correspondency of the figure to the nature and kind of the Letters which they express.

It is not either necessary or convenient in the framing of a Language; to make use of all the Letters belonging to the Alphabet; but 'tis suffi∣cient that such only be made choice of, as are most easie and pleasant in the pronunciation and sound of them. But though it be not need∣ful to introduce all the Letters into the common use of a Language▪ yet it is most necessary that some way should be provided for represent∣ing the powers of all the simple Letters, because without this, there can be no way to express the proper names used in several Languages, whether of Places, or Persons, &c. as England, London, Oxford, Iohn, Mary, &c. There being frequent occasion in discourse to mention the names of such Individuals: And these being nothing else but such words or sounds as men have agreed upon to signifie such particular places or persons, must therefore be expressed by such Letters as make up these sounds. And though this real Character here treated of (as it is made effable) may serve for most of them, yet because there are several others not this way provided for, therefore may it be proper to offer some distinct Alphabet of Letters. Of which, I had provided several Instances and Examples agreeable to the Rules above mention∣ed. But I shall at present (because I would not too much digress) set down only two; which to me seem considerable in their several kinds. The former being more facil and simple, the other more complicate; but with this advantage, that it hath in the shape of it some resemblance to that Configuration which there is in the Organs of speech upon the framing of several Letters. Upon which account it may deserve the name of a Natural Character of the Letters.

The Letters according to the first design, are represented in the fol∣lowing Table, consisting of 31 Ranks and 15 Columnes.

[illustration]

The first Rank doth contain the Characters for the six more sim∣ple Vowels, both preposed and subjoyned according to a threefold place, at the top, the middle, and the bottom of the Character, the former three being meer Rounds, the other Hooks. Those of a mid∣dle power, because they are necessary Ingredients to the making of all the usual Dipthongs, therefore have they a larger Character assigned to them, to which any of the other Vowels may be affixed, when they are to coalesce into Dipthongs. And though the Letter Y, be proper∣ly (as it is reckoned) one of those that are mediae potestatis, and may be compounded into a Dipthong with any of the other Vowels, yet because it is not now (for ought I know) made use of to this purpose, in any of those Languages that are commonly known and used amongst us; therefore is it at present reckoned only amongst the Vowels.

The second Columne (besides the marks for those three Letters H, {ou}, i,) doth contain likewise the Characters for all the Consonants, according to their several affinities; where the Non spiritous Con∣sonants are expressed by straight lines, the Spiritous Consonants of affi∣nity to them being distinguished by a little hook affixed at one end. The other Consonants by curve lines, with the like distinction for their correspondent Mutes. The rest of the Ranks and Columnes consisting of mixed Letters, either the mixtures of the Vowels with H, {ou}, or I, or else the incorporating the Character for each of the six Vowels with that of the Consonant, the Vowel being preposed in the 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Columnes, and subjoined in the other.

As for the Characters that serve for Interpunction, the Comma may be expressed by a small, streight, oblique line (,) The Semicolon, Colon and Period, may continue as they are now used by most of the Europeans; there being nothing in their figure, of any such near resem∣blance to the other Characters, as may make them liable to mistake. And so likewise may those other Notes, which serve to distinguish the various manners of Pronuntiation, whether Explication [] Interroga∣tion? Wonder! Irony ¡ only the two curve Lines for Parenthesis () being here used for the Letters L, and R, may be supplied by these []

At the bottom of this Table there is an Instance of the Lords Prayer, being lettered sutably to our present pronuntiation of it.

The Letters according to the second design may be thus contrived;

[illustration]

The first Columne doth contain the Vowels, as they are distinguish∣ed into

• Labial; being framed by an emission of the Breath through the Lips, whether
  • Less contracted; O.
  • More contracted, and somewhat compressed
    • Downwards, {ou}.
    • Vpwards, U.
• Lingual; the Tongue being put into a posture
  • More concave; and removed, at some distance from the Palate, α.
  • Less concave; or plain, and brought nearer to the Palate, a.
  • Somewhat convex, towards the Palate, e.
  • More convex, ι.
• Guttural, Ƴ.

The other Columnes do contain the Consonants, as they are distin∣guished into

• Labial; whether such as are
  • ...Breathless;
    • Sonorous B.
    • Mute P.
  • Breathing; through the
    • ...Mouth;
      • Sonorous V.
      • Mute F.
    • ...Nose;
      • Sonorous M.
      • Mute HM
• Lingual; either in respect of the
  • Top of the Tongue, whether such as are
    • ...Breathless;
      • Sonorous D
      • Mute T
    • Breathing, through the
      • Mouth; by
        • Appulse, of the top of the Tongue to the
          • Top of the Teeth, the breath being emitted through the midst of the mouth,
            • Sonorous Dh
            • Mute Th
          • Foremost part of the Palate, the breath being emitted through the corners of the mouth
            • Sonorous L
            • Mute HL.
        • Trepidation or Vibration, against the inward part of the Palate,
          • Sonorous R.
          • Mute HR.
        • Percolation of the Breath betwixt the top of the Tongue and the roots of the Teeth, whether more
          • ...Subtle,
            • Sonorous Z.
            • Mute S.
          • ...Dense,
            • Sonorous Zh.
            • Mute Sh.
      • Nose; by appulse of the top of the Tongue to the Root of the

• ...
  • ...
    • ...
      • ...
        • Teeth,
          • Sonorous N.
          • Mute HN.
  • Root or middle of the Tongue appulsed to the Inward Palate, whe∣ther such as are
    • ...Breathless;
      • Sonorous G.
      • Mute C.
    • Breathing; through the
      • ...Mouth,
        • Sonorous GH.
        • Mute CH.
      • ...Nose,
        • Sonorous NG.
        • Mute HNG.

Unto each of the Letters represented by a Face, there is adjoyned a lesser Figure, consisting only of the chief out-lines representing the Organs of speech.

The Labials are represented by two curve Figures for the Lips. The Linguals by the Figure of the Tongue, according to its various applications; either of the Top or Root, to the several parts of the Palate, or of the Teeth.

The Sonorous Consonants, of each kind, are distinguished from the Mutes, by the addition of (̄) to represent the motion of the Epiglot∣tis, by which sound is made.

The Breathing or Spiritous Consonants are represented by a longer undulated Line, passing through the Mouth in some of them, either betwixt the Lips, in F, V. or between the Tongue and Palate, in Dh, Th, Gh, Ch, R, HR. In the two last of which, the top of the Tongue is divided, to represent that Trepidation or Vibration, in the framing of these Letters. Or by the sides of the Tongue in L, HL. Or betwixt the Top of the Tongue and the Teeth, in Z, S, Zh, Sh. In the two last of which, the undulated Line is doubled, to represent that more dense Percolation of breath, used in the framing of those Letters.

Those that are breathed through the Nose, have this undulated line above the Palate, as in M, HM, N, HN, NG, HNG.

I propose these only as being natural Pictures of the Letters, with∣out any Design of common use, for which they are less fit, by reason of their being so complicated.

5. Though each of the Letters have their distinct powers naturally fixed, yet that difference which there is in the various manner of Pro∣nunciation,* 1.10 doth somewhat alter the Sound of them. And there are no two Nations in the world that do exactly agree in the same way of pronouncing any one Language (suppose the Latin) Amongst per∣sons of the same Nation,* 1.11 some pronounce more fully and strongly, o∣thers more slightly, some more flatly, others more broadly, others more mincingly. And in the hearing of forreign Languages, we are apt to think, that none of the Letters we are acquainted with, can frame such strange sounds as they seem to make: But this doth prin∣cipally proceed from the several modes of Pronunciation; the variety of which may well enough consist with the distinct power of the Let∣ters. 'Tis obvious to any one to observe, what great difference there will be in the same words, when spoken slowly and treatably, and when tumbled out in a rapid precipitate manner. And this is one kind of difference in the pronunciation of several Nations; The Spaniards and

Italians pronouncing more slowly and Majestically, the French more volubly and hastily, the English in a middle way betwixt both. Another different mode of Pronunciation betwixt several Nations, may be in regard of strength and distinctness of pronouncing, which will special∣ly appear in those kind of Letters which do most abound in a Lan∣guage. Some pronounce more deeply Guttural, as the Welsh, and the Eastern people, the Hebrews, and Arabians, &c. Others seem to thrust their words more forwards, towards the outward parts of the mouth, as the English; others more inward towards the palate, as the French;* 1.12 some speak with stronger collisions, and more vehement aspirations, as the Northern people generally, by reason of their abundance of spi∣rits and inward heat; others more lightly and softly, as the Southern Nations, their internal spirits being more weak, by reason of the out∣ward heat.

One principal Reason of the various sounds in the pronunciation of several Languages doth depend upon the nature of those Letters, of which they do chiefly consist and are ••ramed. Upon which account, the Greek, which abounds in Vowels and Dipthongs, is more smooth. And though the Latin have fewer Vowels, yet it is so equally mixed with them, as to be rendred facil and pleasant; whereas the Hebrew doth abound in some harsh Consonants, Aspirations and Gutturals.

I cannot here omit the Censure which an ingenious person gives con∣cerning the difference of many of our European Languages,* 1.13 in respect of their pronunciation. The Italian (saith he) is in pronunciation, pleasant, but without Sinews, as a still flowing water; the French delicate, but inward and nice, like a woman that dares scarce open her mouth, for fear of marring her Countenance. The Spanish, Ma∣jestical, but withal somewhat terrible and fulsom, by the too much affectation of the Letter O. The Dutch manly, but withal harsh and quarrelsom. Whereas our English (saith he) hath what is comely and Euphonical in each of these, without any of their Inconveniences. 'Tis usual for men to be most favourable towards the Language unto which they have been most accustomed. 'Tis likely that Forreigners may be as apt to complain of several Defects in our Language as we are of theirs.

That which doth generally seem most difficult to Strangers in our English Tongue, is the pronouncing of certain Aspirations (as they are stiled) very frequently and familiarly used amongst us, but hardly imitable by others, though these are but few; these five words (as it is said) comprehending all of them. What think the chosen Iudges? Which a little practise might overcome.

It were desirable in a new invented Language, to make use chiefly of such Letters and Syllables, as are of general practise,* 1.14 and universal∣ly facil in Pronunciation: But the custom of several Nations is so ex∣ceeding various in this respect, that 'tis very difficult to find out what these are; most of the Letters being disused, and not acknowledged for Letters, in several Countries.

(α) is frequently used by other Nations, but not owned with a di∣stinct Character by the English.

(a) is frequently used by us Englishmen, but not so much by other Nations.

(e) is generally received, but very ambiguously pronounced.

(i) is not owned by us for a distinct Vowel, though we frequently use the power of it.* 1.15 And the Mexicans are said not to use the Letter (y) which is the same with this (as was shewed before.)

* 1.16(o) is not in the Armenian Alphabet, nor do the Syrians own it, but use (u) or (aw) instead of it. Some of the Ancient Cities in Italy, those of the Vmbri and Tusci did not use this Vowel,* 1.17 but u instead of it, (saith Priscian.)

({ou}) according to the true power of it, is not owned by us, nor by many other Nations with a distinct Character.

(ƴ) is scarce acknowledged by any Nation except the Welsh.

(u) is (I think) proper to the French, and used by none else.

(M and N) are so general, that I have not yet met with an Account of any Nation by whom they are not used.

(NG) is not owned for a Letter by any, except perhaps the He∣brews.

(V) is not pronounced by the Mexicans, Arabians, Persians, Sax∣ons.

(Dh) seems difficult to most Nations, though frequently used by us Englishmen.

(Gh) is not any where, except amongst the Irish.

(L) is not used by the * 1.18 Brasileans, nor the men of † 1.19 Iapan. Many of the Italians, especially the Florentines, do seem to dislike this Let∣ter, though others stile it the sweetest of all the rest, saith ‖ 1.20 Sir Thomas Smith.

(R) is not used by the Mexicans, Brasileans, or the men of China, (say several of the same Authors) The Americans near New-England, pronounce neither L, nor R; but use N instead of both, pronouncing Nobstan for Lobstan.

* 1.21(Z) is not owned for a Letter by the Inhabitants of CochinChina.

(Zh) is not owned for a distinct Letter, either by us English, or al∣most any other,

(HM, HN, HNG) are not, for ought I know) owned by any, ex∣cepting only the Welsh and Irish, and the last perhaps by the Iews.

(F) is not pronounced by the Brasileans.

(Th) seems difficult to many Nations, and is owned by very few, to be a distinct Letter.

(Ch) is not used by any (for ought I can find) except the Greci∣ans and the Welsh.

(HL) is almost proper to the Welsh, and scarce used by others.

(HR) though frequent amongst the Grecians, yet is rarely used by others.

* 1.22(S) is not used by the Mexicans.

(Sh) That this was not universal among the Iews, may appear by the Scripture Story of Shiboleth, nor is it either in the Greek or La∣tin.

* 1.23(B) is not pronounced by the men of China or Iapan.

(D) is not used amongst the Inhabitants of China.

(G) is not pronounced by the Mexicans.

(P) is not acknowleded in the Arabick, nor was this used amongst the Iews before the Invention of Points.

(T) is not used by the Inhabitants of Iapan.

(C) as restrained to the power of K, is for ought I know, of gene∣ral use.

'Tis not improbable but that there may be a difficulty and disuse of every one of these Letters in several Nations of the world; upon which account it is excusable, if in the framing of a Language, it be proposed to make use of all the Letters, without any particular choice of some, and seclusion of others. Or if any be excluded, they ought in reason to be such, as seem most difficult to those, amongst whom this Language hath its first Rise and Original. And such others should be most frequently used, as are generally esteemed most easie and pleasant.

These 34 Letters before enumerated, will suffice to express all those articulate sounds, which are commonly known and used in these parts of the World. I dare not be over-peremptory in asserting that these are all the Articulate Sounds, which either are, or can be in Nature; it being perhaps as impossible to reckon up all such, as to determine the just number of Colours or Tasts: But I think that these are all the principal Heads of them, and that as much may be done by these (if not ••••re) as by any other Alphabet now known.

Notes

• * 1.1

  § I.
• * 1.2

  Names
• * 1.3

  § II.
• * 1.4

  Order.
• * 1.5

  De causis Ling. Lat. cap. 38.
• * 1.6

  § 3.
• * 1.7

  Affinity.
• * 1.8

  § 4.
• * 1.9

  Figure.
• * 1.10

  § 5.
• * 1.11

  Pronunci∣ation.
• * 1.12

  Prolegomena in Biblia Polyglot.
• * 1.13

  R. C. of Antho∣ny in Cambd. Remains.
• * 1.14

  § 6.
• * 1.15

  Purchas. lib. 5. Chap. 9.
• * 1.16

  B^p Walton In∣troduction.
• * 1.17

  Idem Proleg. 13.5.
• * 1.18

  Vincent le Blanc. Part 3.16.
• † 1.19

  Alex. Rhodes Diction. Anim. cap. 1.
• ‖ 1.20

  De recta scri∣ptione Linguae Anglicanae.
• * 1.21

  Alex. Rhodes ibid.
• * 1.22

  Purchas. lib. 5. cap. 9.
• * 1.23

  Idem l. 10. c. 3. Item. vol. 5. c. 18. Sect. 6. Vossius de Gr. cap. 27.