Monosyllabic Languages of Asia [pp. 87-109]

Monosyllabic Languages of.sia.
it is not now a mere unmodified vowel-sound, for nothing remains of this first rude attempt except some simple words in all
languages; but it possesses the highest degree of simplicity
which is possible after this; and it is this which has induced me
to place it at the head of all others. For its monosyllabic words
consist of a vowel preceded by a single consonant. Here it
should be remarked, however, that when these words are expressed by European alphabets, the two or three vowels which
they then acquire do not destroy their monosyllabic character,
nor does the prefixed or suffixed nasal, n or ng of many words
preclude the idea of a vowel or simple consonant. The former
are mere aids in writing, being necessary to imitate the undefined monosyllabic vowel of the Chinese, Liao, Siao, Kiun,
and blend in pronunciation into a single syllable, and sound
almost as Lo, So, Kyun. The nasal sound is a merely incidental appendage of the organs of speech: Kyun, Kyang, Lyung,
Nge, Ngo. As the Chinese language is altogether destitute of
the consonants b, d, r, x, and z, it is of course very much limited
in the number of simple consonants to be prefixed to the vowels.
Instead of b and d, the hard mutes of the same class, p and t
are used; I is put for r, and s for x and z. Two consonants
together cannot be pronounced; ts and tsch must be considered simple consonants, as they are in utterance. Hence when
such a concurrence takes place in foreign words, they add
a vowel to each consonant. From these peculiarities foreign
words acquire commonly a most curious form. The Chinese
pronounce Crux, Cu-lu-su. For Cardinalis, he says Kya-ulJi-na-li-su; for Spiritus, Su-pi-li-tu-su; for Christus, Ki-lisu-tu-su; and for Hoc est corpus meum, Ho-ke-nge-su-tu-esul-pu-su-me-vum.
Of such radicals, simplified to the highest degree, and rather
sounds than words, the Chinese have now three hundred and
twenty-eight, or, according to others three hundred and fifty.
To multiply these, they possess no means, but one appropriate
to the childhood of human understanding, that of tone or accent. There are, specially, five such principal tones: 1. The
uniform, answering to the natural utterance of a syllable, as we
pronounce the numerals, one, two, three. 2. The grave uniform,
and this is aspirated in such syllables as allow it. 3. The high,
which begins on a high pitch and suddenly descends, as when
one in anger says, No! 4. The ascending, which begins rather
low, but rises, and is longer continued than another tone, as
when one says in surprise,./h! 5. The abrupt, as when one
from alarm fails to complete a syllable. Besides these, there
occur, perhaps only in singular cases, other compound intona
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