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| 0184 |
Results of a Scientific Mission to India and High Asia : vol.3 |
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distinct vowel, or an imperfect modification only. We wrote the latter when we had
reason to believe, from careful observation of the natives, that this materially contri-
buted to facilitate the understanding of the word. Many an open "u" employed in
Gilchrist's transcription we also found to coincide with such cases, particularly where
the phonetic accent, by resting upon it, marked it more distinctly; the limits, however,
will always remain somewhat arbitrary, unless the sign ˘ be employed over every
vowel not separately written in the native transcription, which again would often
interfere with the present mode of pronunciation. A complete omission of the vowels¹
would prove too alien to European writing and would besides interfere too much with
the fluency of reading; in many cases it would even leave it undecided where to in-
sert the imperfect vowel, if more than two consonants came together. Imperfect
vowels may be followed by more than one consonant, since position makes the
syllable, though not the vowel, long.
The introduction of a sign for imperfect vocal formation being unusual,² I decided
for it very reluctantly; after examining, however, many of the modifications which
presented themselves, I considered it might, in many instances, facilitate the under-
standing of the native word, though the assistance derived from it is far inferior to
that experienced from the use of phonetic accents; and if, for practical purposes, any
reduction in the number of the signs should become desirable, this sign of imperfect
formation (ˇ) is the one I propose to drop first.
Diphthongs.
The diphthongs, though limited in number in the classical languages, present them-
selves with many modifications in the more recent tongues, and more particularly in
the various dialects of the latter, as they are represented in geographical names.
In a physical point of view, nearly any two vowels brought together may form
a diphthong, if not separated by an increase or interruption of the continuous ex-
piration. We often found it no easy matter to distinguish the two vowels of which
the diphthong was composed. In such cases we had the diphthong pronounced very
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