10 GEOGRAPHIC NAMES IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. 



Such is not the case, however, with the Coast Survey atlas, which con- 

 tains accents and is preceded by a note (p. 7) written by Father Algue 

 and entitled The Proiumciation of Spanish. That note is as follows: 



THE PKONl'XCIATION OF SPANISH. 



The Spanish language has but one accent, called ttcento agtido, which is placed over 

 the vowels a, e, i, o, u; it serves to lengthen the syllable and to accentuate it more 

 distinctly and forcibly than the other vowels. 



As a general rule, all Spanish words ending in a vowel are accentuated on the 

 penultimate, or the last syllable but one; they do not, therefore, require the accent, 

 but if any other syllable is to be accented it is indicated. 



With the exception of proper names and adverbs, most words ending in a conso- 

 nant have the accent on the last syllable. 



The Spanish a always has the sound of the English a in father; the f that of cnj m 

 English; the ;' that of ee; the o that of oh; and the n that of oo, as in JxxA, root, etc. 



The vowels in Spanish must always be fully and distinctly pronounced, but the u 

 is silent in the syllaV)les gue, gui, que, <jai, which are pronounced gay, gee, kay, kec. 



The Spanish y has a sound nearly equivalent to the English j; the z exactly that 

 of English th, as also the Spanish c when it comes before e or i. Ail the other conso- 

 nants are sounded as in English except U, which is pronounced as ly in English. 



In the English interpretation of the sound of the Spanish words the th has always 

 the lisping sound of these letters in thin, path, etc. 



The main difficulty in pronouncing Spanish is tlie ./ (hoetah), which has the 

 sound of h very strongly aspirated. 



The relation of the United States Board on Geographic Names to the 

 names in the Coast Survey atlas is set forth in the following extract 

 from a report adopted by the Board on Februar}' 2<). liHll: 



Wlwrens the Coast and Geodetic Survey is about to issue an atlas of the Philippine 

 Islands composed of maps made at the Manila Observatory under the direction of Rev. 

 Father Algue, S. J. ; and 



Whereas this atlas contains in its introduction three lists of geographic names, 

 aggregating about 6,000, whose spelling has been carefully revised by Father Algue 

 to bring it into harmony with local Spanish usage in the Philippines; and 



Wliereas the Coast and Geodetic Survey has, by its superintendent, asked that 

 these names be adopted by the Board as the standard for Government publications 

 in so far as they affect the charts of the Philippines; and 



Whereas the Board, after careful consideration, is of opinion that these lists, 

 togeth^with the list prepared by the Hydrographic Office, constitute the most 

 trustworthy information now obtainable as to the spelling of these names: Therefore 



Resolted, That the Board provisionally approve the sjjelling as given in these lists, 

 this approval extending to spelling only and not to pronunciation or accents by which 

 pronunciation is indicated; it being understood that such provisional adoption shall 

 be final, except as to such of them as shall hereafter be presented to the Board as 

 disputed cases, these disputed cases to be treated as in effect wholly new. 



