1*3 K-yèn kh-ee k-yon y-ce 1 K-wa khwa 4 K-oong khoong wa TABLE THE INITIALS UNITED WITH T-wan t'h-òu t-ing n-ee Ch-ce chh-ych ch-ing n-yang F-wy fh-00 fwah fhwǎh fwang fhwang foong fhoong chwa chhwá chwá náh ngoo waí too t'hoo too noo ngoong toong thoong toúng noong | choong chhoong choóng noong chooh tfoo fhoo chwai + The 5th final has also the p series, poo, phoo, poo, moo. *The 2d final has only three sounds; chyeh, chhyeh, nuh. this table. Or kwon, &c. § The 11th final has only two sounds, fou, fhou. The 6th final is wanting in *The 5th final has the ch series, chyu, chhyu, chyu, nyu, † The 6th final is wanting here; and the 7th has but three sounds; tchwai, tchhwai, shwai. The 11th final is wanting here. tchyŏh tchhyŏh On inspecting these four Tables, which are copied from the first volume. of the Imperial Dictionary, the reader will find that the Initials are placed across the head of the page, and the Finals on the left margin. The finals form each a horizontal line; and on the right, at the angle formed by the perpendicular line proceeding from the initial and th's horizontal line, may be found the monosyllable arising from the union of both. Thus, in Table I, underneath the initial m, (m-ing) and opposite the final a, will be found ma, a horse, &c. underneath the initial t, and opposite the final ao, will be found tao, a way, &c. and at the angle formed by the lines proceeding from the initial ts, and the final o, the verb tso, to sit, &c. The First of these Tables exhibits the union of the Open Primary finals with the initials; which, it will be seen, refuse to unite either with the fifth series of initials, f, fh, &c. or with the seventh series, tch, tchh, &c. The Second of them exhibits the union of the Open Secondary finals with the initials, which, in the same manner, refuse to coalesce either with the third series of initials, ch, chh, &c. or with the soft labials, f, fh, &c. but they admit of union with tch, tehh, &c. the seventh series. The Third Table contains the Close Primary finals; which, on the other hand, admit both the ch, and the f series; but exclude the fourth series, p, ph, &c. and the seventh series, tch, tchh, &c. The Fourth Table includes the Close Secondary finals, which unite with only six series of the initials, excluding entirely the third series ch, chh, and both the labial series, p, ph, and f, fh, &c. These omissions of whole series of initials in each table, occasioned by such combinations not being found in the language, may enable those who wish thoroughly to examine the subject, to form an idea of the nature of these respective classes of sounds. They plainly discover in the Chinese an acquaintance with the nature of enunciation, and of the various organs employed therein, which might do credit to orthoepists familiar with the alphabetic system. The number of sounds or monosyllabic words produced by the combination of the final with the initial powers, stands as follows: Table I. The Initials united with the Open Primary finals, produce - 248 253 195 150 846 These Monosyllables, provincial variations excepted, are all the words by which the Chinese have conveyed their ideas to each other from time... immemorial; and all the sounds which they have used to express the multitude of characters contained in their written medium. With a system before us so curious in its formation, and so singular in its application, it were almost unpardonable not to make some enquiry respecting its origin, and its probable connection with the alphabetic systems of other nations. That the Chinese have ever used this system for the legitimate purposes of an alphabetic system, or that they have any just idea of the nature of an alphabet, few will be disposed to affirm. But that they really possess a colloquial medium which contains the consonant, vowel, and nasal sounds found in other alphabets, as well as some found in scarcely any other system, will be doubted by few who thoroughly consider the subject. Relative to this, two questions seem to form proper subjects of enquiry: First, What likeness does this system bear to any alphabetic system now existing? and secondly, Did it originate with the Chinese themselves, or was it borrowed by them from some other nation? A due investigation of the former of these questions, will go far towards solving the latter. The CHINESE SYSTEM compared with the HEBREW and THOSE of the WEST. Although the languages which have an alphabetic origin, are almost too numerous to be recounted, the alphabetic systems with which they are connected, may be reduced to a very small number. The principal of these are, I. The HEBREW alphabetic system. This either includes or gives birth to the Samaritan, if that be not itself the original Hebrew; the Chaldaic, the Syriac, the Ethiopic, and the Arabic. From this last the Persian alphabet has been formed. II. The GREEK alphabetic system, which is allowed to be the parent of the Roman, now used with certain variations throughout Europe. The Armenian, and the Coptic, spring from the same source. It is generally understood, however, that the Greek alphabetic system is derived from * Relative to the Armenian alphabet, (which has 30 consonants, and 9 vowels,) it is difficult to say with precision, whether it originated in the Arabic or Persian alphabet, or whether it borrowed from both as well as from the Greek. It is pretty certain however, that it is comparatively modern, the Armenians being said formerly to have used the Syriac letters. See Ancient Universal History, vol. IX. |