3(52 ORIGIN OP LETTERS, &C. 



tables ; but it is observable, that all letters will not compound with 

 all ; the vowels will not only mix with each other, or form diph- 

 thongs; but they will compound in syllables with all the conso- 

 nants so called, because they sound in company with the vowels. 

 But this does not hold of the consonants with respect to one ano. 

 ther; for only some of them sound together in syllables, whilst 

 others cannot associate together in that way ; the reason of which 

 is, that the configuration of the mouth, and the action of its or- 

 gans, are so different in the pronunciation of some of (hem, that 

 they cannot be joined together in the same enunciation, nor with* 

 out some rest or pause betwixt; so that there must be time to give 

 a different configuration and action to the organs ; whereas, when 

 the pronunciation is not so different, the sounds may be so run to- 

 gether, as to incorporate in one syllable ; and in this way, fire, or 

 even six consonants, may be joined in the same syllable, as in the 

 English word, strength. 



The next composition of articulate sounds, is of syllables into 

 words ; and the better the composers of such words were ac. 

 quainted with the nature and harmony of sounds, the more harmo- 

 nious would be their written language. On the contrary, a defi. 

 ciency in the knowledge of sounds, is a considerable obstruction 

 to the discovery of what consonants will incorporate with each 

 other ; and from this ignorance proceeds that redundancy and su- 

 perfluity of letters, which is conspicuous in many languages. 



It is observable, that many of the consonants, which admit of a 

 junction in the same syllabic, do not produce harmonious sounds. 

 In truth, the manliness or effeminacy, the harmony or harshness, of 

 a written language, will, in a great measure, depend on the proper 

 or improper junction of letters in syllables. The proper arrange, 

 ments and combinations of letters, constitute that branch of science 

 called grammar, which consists of four parts ; namely, orthography, 

 prosody, etymology, and syntax. 



Grammarians divide language into what they call parts of 

 speech ; but they differ as to the number of the parts, of which 

 speech is composed. Mr. Harris clearly shews, that all words 

 whatever, are either substantives, definitives, attributives, or con. 

 nectives; the substantives may be called nouns; the attributives, 

 verbs ; the definitives, articles ; and the connectives conjunctions. 

 As to the pronouns, adverbs, prepositions, and interjections, he w 



