Page:Notes on Indian Affairs (Vol. II).djvu/12

Rh intercourse of the country has been carried on for ages; its perfect adaptation to the language which it is intended to express being universally allowed.

To what purpose is this innovation to be made? The reply resolves itself into its possibility, practicability, and expediency.

As to the possibility: this does not admit of doubt. The Roman alphabet, with the invention of new letters, and the application of dots and other marks to supply its deficiencies, may be rendered capable of representing any sound in the oriental, or, indeed, any language. This was demonstrated many years ago by and Sir. Letters are but mere arbitrary signs, or pictures, to denote certain sounds. What one set of letters can be made to express, can be equally well conveyed by another, provided we have an interpreter to explain their signification. An entirely new character, or several, may be invented for the same purpose.

The practicability of the plan may also be admitted, if sufficient means be employed to enforce it; for it will never be adopted voluntarily by the mass of the people. I have already alluded to the causes which favoured the adoption of the Roman character, in the countries which became subject to that power. Its introduction among the Gauls, and many other nations whom they subdued, was the natural consequence of knowledge and civilisation, over barbarism and ignorance. The existence of letters among the far greater proportion of their foreign subjects, is, of itself, a matter of doubt; and the little learning they possessed was confined to an inconceivable few. The Romans established schools, and favoured the study of their own language. They taught their own letters naturally in their own character; and these, having among the mass of the people nothing to supplant, were adopted by all who hoped for promotion or advancement at their hands. Every instance of a change of the written character of a people, has taken place from one or other of these powerful causes. 2