AMBIGUITIES AVOIDED. 



consideration and representation of this exceptional 

 class of vowel-sounds very much, however, to treat 

 the Consonant- tinge so impressed on the vowels in 

 so far as a distinct sound as to denote it by a sepa- 

 rate sign which may then be affixed to any vowel. 

 (The sign adopted is a small n at the top, thus a n , *, 

 o n , u n ). There is also an Etymological advantage in 

 this method (for which also we have the authority of 

 the Sanscrit Alphabet), inasmuch as the Nasal Yowels 

 have originated by the absorption of Nasal Conso- 

 nants into the otherwise pure vowels. The Nasaliza- 



j. 



tion is placed in this Alphabet along with the Coales- 

 cents ; while yet it is not a letter, and is not numbered 

 in the Alphabetic Estimate. It is merely a Diacrit- 

 ical Sign, in the nature, more of the Accent-Marks, 

 and may be applied to any vowel. (See Introduction 

 "Andrews' and Bachelor's French Instructor.") (000.) 



98. The numbers attached to the Vowel-Letters in 

 the Alphabetic Table represent the order in which 

 the Yowels and Diphthongs are generally made to 

 follow each other in a scale or series ; although, for 

 different purposes, there are various other arrange- 

 ments or orders. The Consonant-Orders, variously 

 adopted, are still more numerous, but need not be 

 specified here. 



99. It is a common Phonetic idea to represent, 

 each single sound by a single letter ; but, practically, 

 this is not done in existing Alphabets, and need not 

 be insisted upon even for our present purpose, pro- 

 vided no ambiguities are permitted in respect to the 

 sounds which arc meant no matter how the certain- 



