126 Mr. Latham's Facts and Observations 



The Phonetic test stands thus — Two sounds are allied, be- 

 cause, to the ear, they sound alike. 



The physiological test thus — Two sounds are allied, because, 

 in the mouth and larynx, they are formed alike. 



The etymological test thus — Two sounds are allied, be- 

 cause, under certain circumstances, one is changed to the 

 other. 



Expressed in Latin axioms, the etymological test is, 

 Piopter for tunas ai-ticulatio est id quod est ; the physiological 

 one, ProjJtcr formationem articulatio est id quod est ; and, 

 finally, the phonetic one is. Propter soman articulatio est id 

 quod est. The coincidence of the three is (in the present state 

 of our knowledge) to be considered as an accident. 



Phonetic science considei's sounds irrespective of the signs 

 by which they are expressed, and irrespective of the names 

 bj' which they are called. The sound of the b (in bat) is the 

 same, whether it be expressed by the sign 6 or /3 ; it is also 

 the same whether it be called bee or beta. A sound is not 

 double because it is spelt with two letters, nor j'et single be- 

 cause it is expressed by one. The th in thin is a simple 

 sound, irregularly expressed : the x in box is a double one 

 compendiously spelt. In questions of the kind in point, the 

 eye has so often misled the ear that the above given truisms 

 are scarcely to be considered superfluous. In points of acoustics 

 the blindest guides are the best. 



To guard against the influence of names and signs it is 

 convenient to express the relations of certain sounds, arith- 

 metically ; and besides this, in the case of such simple single 

 sounds as have no simple single sign (or letter) to denote 

 them, to coin or borrow appropriate signs as the occasion 

 requires. 



The subjoined scales of relationship being those that are 

 generally recognized, it is unnecessary to go beyond the mere 

 exhibition of them. 



The sound of b (in bin) is in a certain relation to the 

 sound of p (in pin). Now, 



v : f : : b : p . and 

 d : t : : V : f . and 

 «i : >« : : d" : t . and 

 g : k : : "5 : ]? . and 

 z : s : : g : k . and 

 ?3 : 0-4 : : z : s . 



» The th in thine. " The th in thin, ^ The z in azure. * fh in shin. 



