Sanscrit Writing and Language. TJ 



and Dr. Castell's representations, chiefly in consequence of the latter author 

 having taken into account the effect produced by the position of syllables in 

 words, the first and penultimate syllables being generally read long, and the 

 remaining ones short. There is a difference also between them as to the vocal 

 part of the powers in the sixth column, which is represented by Dr. Castell as a j/. 

 But as this part, except when in the first or penultimate syllable of a word, is 

 pronounced rapidly, and in consequence indistinctly. It is very immaterial whether 

 it be denoted by a short e or short y. These differences may possibly have been 

 in some measure occasioned by want of uniformity in the practice of a people, 

 who could not be expected to have very exact notions on the subject, as it 

 appears they were unable to disengage consonants from syllables. But from 

 whatever causes they may have arisen, they have no relation to the inquiry before 

 us ; they may perhaps affect the certainty as to the length of the powers, and as 

 to the sound of the vocal part of those in the sixth column ; but they do not in the 

 remotest degree bear against their general nature as syllabic. The only powers 

 about which there can be any question under this head, are those belonging to 

 Halph and Hayin, which are usually represented by series of vowels ; but it is 

 evident that both sets of powers could not at first have been merely vocal, as in 

 that case they would have been exactly the same, and one of the letters, as super- 

 fluous, would never have been introduced into the alphabet; nor is it at all likely 

 that either set were formerly such, since to a certainty neither of the Hebrew 

 characters which are called by the same names was originally a vowel-letter. But 

 if any doubt on the subject should remain upon the reader's mind, it will, I trust, 

 be entirely removed by inspection of some specimens of this writing which shall 

 be immediately laid before him, one of them having a strong bearing on this very 

 point. Admitting, however, that in later times when this systsm was printed, 

 both letters were used to denote vowels, still even thenceforward by far the 

 greater number of the powers remain syllabic. In order to make use of the 

 foregoing table it is necessary to observe, that, when a character drops the vocal 

 part of its own power to share that of a preceding character in the formation of a 

 compound syllable, it is the variety of shape that occurs in the sixth column whicli 

 is employed ; and also that the letters are read from left to right, in the same 

 direction as in European legends, the Ethiopic writing differing in this respect 

 from the graphic systems of all the other Shemitic languages. 



