An Essay towards a Real Character, and a Philosophical Language/Chapter 28

by John Wilkins

CHAP. XI.

Of Vowels.

Those Letters are called Vocales, Vowels, in pronouncing of which by the Instruments of speech, the breath is freely emitted; and they are therefore stiled Apert or open Letters. These may be distin­guished either, 1. Formally, by their several Apertions, and the man­ner of configuration in the instruments of speech required to the fra­ming of them, which constitutes the distinct species of Vowels; or 2. Accidentally, by the quantity of time required to their prolation, by which the same Vowel is made either long or short.

There are (I conceive) eight simple different species of Vowels, easily distinguishable, whose powers are commonly used. I cannot deny, but that some other intermediate sounds might be found; but they would, by reason of their proximity to those others, prove of so difficult distinction, as would render them useless; these eight seem­ing to be the principal and most remarkable periods, amongst the de­grees of Apert sounds.

As for the third of the Labials, the u Gallicum, or whistling u, though it cannot be denied to be a distinct simple vowel; yet it is of so laborious and difficult pronunciation to all those Nations amongst whom it is not used (as to the English) especially in the distinction of long and short, and framing of Dipthongs, that though I have enumerated it with the rest, and shall make provision for the expression of it, yet shall I make less use of it, than of the others; and for that reason, not proceed to any further explication of it.

It will be difficult to express the several powers of these Vowels by writing; Pronuntiation being such a thing, quae nec scribitur, nec pin­gitur, nec hauriri eam fas est, nisi vivâ voce.Lipsius de rect. Pronuntiatione L. Lat. cap. 3. And therefore the best way for the explaining of them, is by such known words as may be given for the instance of each of them. And as for the figure or wri­ting of those four, which are not commonly esteemed to be distinct species of Vowels, I shall make choice to represent them by such Cha­racters, as may seem least strange. What kind of power or sound that is, which is peculiar to each of these seven Vowels, may be easily understood by these following Instances:

α $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right.}$	Short	Bot-tom	Fol-ly	Fot	Mot	Pol	Rod
	Long	Bought	Fall	Fought		Paule	Rawd
a $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right.}$	Short	Batt	Val-ley	Fatt	Mat	Pal	Rad-nor
	Long	Bate	Vale	Fate	Mate	Pale	TRade
e $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right.}$	Short	Bett	Fell	Fet	Met	Pell	Red
	Long	Beate	Veale	Feate	Meate	Peale	Reade
i $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right.}$	Short	Bitt	Fill	Fitt	Mit-ten	Pill	Rid
	Long	Beete	Feele	Feete	Meete	Peele	Reede
o $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right.}$	Short
	Long	Bote	Foale	Vote	Mote	Pole	Rode
ȣ $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right.}$	Short		Full	Fut		Pul
	Long	Boote	Foole	Foote	Moote	Poole	Roode
ỿ $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right.}$	Short	But	Full	Futt	Mutt-on	Pull	Rudd-er
	Long

Amongst these, the Vowels not commonly owned by us in writing, are these four, ɑ, ɩ, ȣ, ỿ. But that they are distinct species of Vowels, and have peculiar powers of their own, not expressible by any other Letters, (supposing every Letter (as it ought) to be determined to one particular sound) may sufficiently appear from the above mentioned, and several other Instances. And that those two which are commonly used with us for distinct Vowels; namely, the third and the fifth, I, and U; as in the words Light, Lute, are not simple Vowels, but Dipthongs, I shall shew afterwards.

Though the Vowel (O) do not admit of any instance in our Language, wherein it is used Short, nor the Vowel (ỿ) wherein it is used Long; yet there are naturally such differences of these Vowels, as well as of the rest. Suppose a long Vowel to be divided into two parts; as Bo-ote, pronounce it then with half the time, and it must make the short Vowel Bote. And thus on the contrary, doubling the time of a short Vowel, as Bỿ-ỿt, will render it Long: which may serve to explain how these Vowels naturally are capable of being made both long and short; Though by reason of general disuse amongst us, such differences would at first seem somewhat difficult, and not easily distinguishable.

The Vowel (ɑ) is placed first; partly partly in conformity with other Alphabets, and because 'tis the most Apert amongst the Lingua-palatal Vowels. 'Tis expressed by this Character, because being one of the Greek Letters, 'tis more commonly known. 'Tis framed by an emission of the Breath, betwixt the Tongue and the Palate; the tongue being put into a more concave posture, and removed further off from the palate.

The Vowel (a) is framed by an emission of the Breath, betwixt the tongue and the concave of the palate; the upper superficies of the tongue being rendered less concave, and at a less distance from the palate.

The Vowel (e) is framed by an emission of the Breath, betwixt the tongue and the concave of the palate, the upper superficies of the tongue being brought to some small degree of convexity.

The Vowel (ɩ) is expressed by this Character, because 'tis the most simple figure; and therefore doth best suit with the most acute Letter; as likewise, because this Letter, amongst many other Nations is already used and pronounced according to the sound which is here intended. 'Tis framed by an emission of the Breath betwixt the tongue and the concave of the palate, the upper superficies of the tongue being put into a more convex posture, and thrust up near the palate.

The Vowel (o) is the first, and most apert of the Labials; being framed by an emission of the Breath, betwixt the Lips, a little drawn together and contracted.

The Vowel (ȣ) is the second of the Labials, requiring a greater contraction of the Lips. 'Tis expressed by this Character, which is used in Greek for ου Dipthong; because commonly that Dipthong, as also the French ou is pronounced in the sound of this simple Vowel.

The Vowel (ỿ) is wholly Guttural, being an emission of the breath from the throat, without any particular motion of the tongue or lips. 'Tis expressed by this Character which is alraedy appropriated by the Welsh for the picture of this sound. The difference betwixt long and short Vowels, should alwaies be written as well as pronounced, that is, there should be some Note or Mark to express when a Vowel is to be used long.

These eight Letters before enumerated, I conceive to be so many distinct species of Vowels, formally different in respect of their Powers; and though I cannot at present think of any other besides, yet having formerly, upon new considerations, and suggestions, so often changed my thoughts upon this enquiry, I dare not be dogmatical about it, or assert confidently, that there neither are, nor can be any more: For who knows how many other minute differences of Apertion may be now used, or hereafter found out, by others, which practise and custom may make as easie and distinguishable to them, as these are to us? Be­sides that the measure of Apertion (as is well observed) must be like continued quantity, divisibilis in infinitum. Only this (I think) may be safely affirmed, that the establishment of Vowels here mentioned, will serve much better to express all articulate sounds, than can be done by any of the ordinary Alphabets now in use.

I cannot but animadvert here on the by, upon that Argument which Capellus, and others do much insist upon,De Antiquitate Punctorum, l. 1. against the Antiquity of the Hebrew Points, or Vowels; Because (say they) the making of so many, is an injudicious, and irrational invention, for which there is no real ground; there being in nature, and amongst other Languages, but five distinct Vowels, and not fourteen: And therefore they conclude the Invention of them to be new, and not of any great Antiqui­ty.

To speak freely in this case (without interposing as to the main state of the Question) This Reason doth not seem to be of any force. Though the Conclusion they infer should be true, yet this Argument urged for it, is false, both as to the Consequence, and Antecedent. The Imperfections and Defects of any Invention, do rather argue the Anti­quity, than the Novelty of it; there being much time and experience required to the perfecting any invention: And it would rather fol­low, that because they are imperfect, therefore are they more like to be Ancient. But besides, the Hebrew Vowels will upon considerati­on, be found to be a contrivance full of more than ordinary Accurate­ness, founded upon the Philosophy of Articulate sounds, and may without any force be applied to the number here established: Except­ing the French (u).

ɑ$\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right.}$	Long אָ	a$\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right.}$	Long אַ	e$\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right.}$	Long אֶ	ɩ$\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right.}$	Long אֵ
	Short אֳ		Short אֲ		Short אֱ		Short אִ
o$\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right.}$	Long ו	ȣ$\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right.}$	Long וּ	ỿ$\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right.}$	Long
	Short א		Short		Short אֻ

And though there be no distinct Character for ȣ short, and ỿ long, perhaps that Language as well as the English seldom using such distin­ction in those sounds; yet is (וּ) sometimes in that Language used in stead of a short Vowel, and (אֻ) for a long Vowel.

The use of Scheva in the Hebrew, is to direct the joyning of such Consonants together, as would otherwise be of very difficult, pronun­ciation, and not easily unite, as in the words לְמוד and מְלְוך which should be pronounced lmodh and mloch, but because LM and ML, will not of themselves coalesce, therefore is Schevah interposed, which being rapidly pronounced (and that probably as our short ỿ) does not seem to make any distinct Syllable.

So that it seems much more colourable to infer the Novelty of the Hebrew Points, from the Accurateness, than from the injudiciousness of their contrivance.

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