Page:A plea for phonotypy and phonography - or, speech-printing and speech-writing (IA pleaforphonotypy00elliiala).pdf/44

40 15. ARABIC. ''Koran; Opening Lesson. Learned pronunciation.''

16. HEBREW. Zeph., 3, 8. Conjectural pronunciation on the model of the learned Arabic, with the Masoretic punctuation.(4)

Imperfect as may be the execution of these specimens, they are yet enough to show that it is not impossible to invent a universal alphabet, which shall present no great mechanical difficulty to the printer. If, as the Author is inspirited by the great success of Phonography to hope, the introduction of so much of this alphabet as suffices to represent the English language, can be effected, the day on which the rest of the scheme will be adopted is not far distant. There is no country in which the necessity of a Phonetic alphabet is more felt than in England, and we may therefore hope that the speakers of the English language, in whatever part of the world they may be found; whether in England, America, Asia, or Australia, will be the first to raise this railway for the advance of knowledge.

(3.) Words connected by a hyphen are really distinct, but are pronounced almost as one; hence if a word begins with two consonants, the first ends the last syllable of the preceding word. It was thought that it would be best to separate the words, instead of running them all into one. In making this use of the hyphen, the Arabic heterotypy has been followed.

(4.) It is usual to substitute 'k, ts, c, t' for 'x, ç, k, t' respectively, and omit ɔ.

Bath: Printed by John and James Keene, 7, Kingsmead-street.