MODIFICATIONS IN THE DIFFERENT LINGUISTIC GROUPS. 267
only occur according to the grammatical rules as terminal letters. But in Tibetan, as spoken at present, it is not unfrequent to hear exceptions ; it is particularly common to hear the tenues k, p, t, which ought to be excluded, at the end of the words; and this is so generally done, that we see these letters actually used already on the maps of previous travellers who have been very careful in their orthography of geographical names, as Cunningham, the Stracheys, &c. We too distinctly heard these letters in many instances. But in all such cases, if the words 2 are written in Tibetan characters, we find the corresponding media employed instead of the tenues.
Finally I may draw attention to the general fact so well pointed out and detailed by Max Miller in his " Science of language," that the number of words actually used in conversation, and even in literature, is considerably smaller than at first might be expected. Perhaps this may be quoted too for apologizing for the limited extent of the essay here presented, particularly if it is kindly taken into consideration how numerous are the obstacles met with, as well from absolete or unexpected forms as from a mis-understanding of the meaning by the present generation.
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