Tafel.l 3]^ 2 [October. 



gradually pass over into the other by means of intermediate links, 

 we see at once tliat the diphthongs are really nothing else but segments 

 of the vowel-line. These segments may extend from one general 

 vowel-sound to another, or still farther from a particular to a general 

 vowel-sound; but, in no case do they include any other but two con- 

 secutive vowel-sounds. Furthermore, all diphthongs tend from those 

 vowel-sounds which are pronounced with the tongue comparatively 

 at rest, to those where the tongue is raised ; consequently, the first 

 members of all the diphthongs are either a, (-i°, or a. From a and 

 a°, there is a transition either to c or o as their second members, and 

 from the primitive vowel 9 to i or u. The reason why the diphthongs 

 never tend from i or u downwards, is because when the vowels i or 

 It are pronounced before any other vowels, their consonant nature is 

 developed, and they are for this reason rendered unfit for the produc- 

 tion of pure diphthongs. However, the vowel-sounds i and n form a 

 sort of diphthong among themselves, by the vowel-sound i being pro- 

 nounced quickly before tt, as in cue and/e«o. But this diphthong 

 difi'ers from the rest in this particular, that its second and not its first 

 member is emphasized. Moreover, its first member is liable to be 

 converted into a sibilant when preceded by t or cl, thus proving that 

 i is no longer a pure vowel, but a vowel consonant. 



Before specifying the particular diphthongs formed in the manner 

 aforesaid, I would observe that the term " diphthong,'' which, accord- 

 ing to its general acceptation, signifies two vowels pronounced in such 

 a manner as to form but one syllable, is misapplied by most English 

 orthoepists and lexicographers in their calling every combination of 

 two vowels a diphthong, whether it is used to express one simple 

 vowel-sound or two. So ai in mailj ea in head, &c., are called 

 diphthongs, but they are no more diphthongs than a in 7nale, or e in 

 Bede, 



[Rem. — Fowler in his English Grrammar, § 04, indeed, says : 

 " Compound sounds, formed by means of two vowel-sounds, are 

 called diphthongs;" and afterwards he remarks : " Some of the vowel- 

 sounds do not readily combine, as those of e and a in heat. Only 

 one of the elements is sounded. When two vowel letters are thus 

 brought together in a written word, and the sounds which they repre- 

 sent will not combine, they are called a di(jrapliJ' I shall make 

 use of this term of Professor Fowler in all cases where two vowels 

 are employed in the English language to represent single sounds, 

 and I shall not only use it in such cases where, according to Prof. 

 Fowler, the two vowel-sounds do not readily combine, but also where 

 they might combine and yet only represent single sounds, as ai in 



