Page:A plea for phonotypy and phonography - or, speech-printing and speech-writing (IA pleaforphonotypy00elliiala).pdf/19

15 (11.) These words belong to a class, and should evidently have No. 12, which all orthoepists give them; it is, however, very common in the neighbourhood of London, and we believe other parts of England, to use No. 8 instead.

(12.) "⸮Doctur Jonsun, dɯ ꝡ s 'nur,' r ' nur'?" "'Nur,' Sur." 'Nur' is now quite out of fashion; but 'nur' and 'nur' are used indiscriminately. Similarly for either.

(13.) The following words are very instructive: ewe, you, yew, use, ewes, yews, hew, Hugh, hews, Hughes.

(14.) People are now beginning, in spite of all etymology, (!) to spell this word phonetically, thus, "hiccup."? Why not follow out this happy thought in the orthography of the remaining o-u-ge-aitches?"

(15.) The Italian word is mezzotinto, and the Italian pronunciation is 'meddztint,' so that we are quite justified in citing this as an instance of English anomaly, in which there is not even the excuse of the original foreign sound.

(16.) "Pronounced Grinitche," says Viscount D'Arlincourt; he should have said "Grinidge," at any rate. He adds, as a note, "We know that English words are not pronounced as they are written. 'Thus,' said a wag, 'in London, when they set down Solomon, they pronounce it Nebuchadnezzar.'" We cite from Chambers's Journal, the editor of which adds to this remark, "This jest comes with an ill grace from a Frenchman. In no language are words pronounced so unlike their orthography as in his own." We are sorry that there is an ambiguity in the expression "unlike their orthography." If the editor means "unlike the orthographical or alphabet names of the letters," the remark is, perhaps, just; but in no language is the same sound more regularly and consistently given to the same combination of letters, whenever it occurs, than in French, although this combination may be passing strange. Hence there is hardly any language in which a foreigner may be more sure of the pronunciation from a mere inspection of the word; while there is none in which he will be so uncertain as the English.

(17.) Mr. Smart, in his Pronouncing Dictionary, makes the substantive 'sɑcrfs,' and the verb 'sɑcrɩfįz,' and, similarly, distinguishes rise, into 'rs,' 'rz.' We do not recollect ever having heard these distinctions made in conversation by persons of education, however agreeable it may be to the fancied analogy. But, in fact, it will be found that English orthoepy sets all observations of analogy at defiance. As "none but itself can be its parallel," we sincerely hope that "we ne'er shall look upon its like again."

(18.) Used by Dryden and Chaucer. As it is not to be found in French dictionaries, although manifestly of French origin, we presume it must be French, "after the scole of Stratford atte Bowe." We follow Smart in giving a thorough English pronunciation of French.

(19.) To this we may add the part which h plays in the combinations ch, sh, th.

(20.) As we cite psalm for an example of al representing a, it may seem incorrect to cite it for lm meaning m, as both cannot be right. But when we look at the word, and are told it is pronounced "sam," it is clear that we may either suppose p mute, or ps to be a means of representing s; l to be mute, or lm a means of representing m; or al a means of representing a. In fact, as psam would be pronounced 'sɑm,' and not 'sam,' the latter is, perhaps, as we should afterwards find, the most correct supposition; but it is clear that all the others are, at first sight, as good. We have, therefore, cited this word for all these cases, and have treated many other combinations in a similar manner, and for a similar reason, although we have not noticed the fact at length, except in this place.

(21.) Also called "ʃɑm."

(22.) ⸮Brm, Brum, Brfum? All three pronunciations may be heard, and Brm most commonly. We have not the advantage of knowing his Lordship's own pronunciation.

(23.) To which we may add the use of w in the combinations ow, ew, aw, &c.