ON THE COMPARISON OF ASIATIC LANGUAGES. 20 
the preceding syllable of a word is a broad, the first vowel in the 
following syllable of the same word must be a broad.” ‘2. When 
the last vowel in the preceding syllable is a small, the first in the 
following syllable of the same word must be a small also.” 
2. Stewart, in his Gaelic grammar, p. 30, speaks to the same 
effect, but briefer :—‘‘The rule has long obtained in Gaelic 
orthography, that in polysyllables the last vowel of one syllable 
and the first vowel of the subsequent syllable must both be of the 
same quality.” In Gaelic ‘“ Leathan ri leathan is coal ri coal.” 
To the same effect are the words of 
3. Armstrong. “Though to the ordinary English reader they 
be unintelligible, such and such words are more commonly written 
so and so to ‘ preserve the rule coal ri coal is leathan ri leathan,’” 
which means simply “broad to broad and small to small.” 
It will be observed that Gaelic grammarians do not say which 
vowel acts, and which is acted on, but the rule is emphatic-—there 
must be a “vowel harmony” in every case. So this is another 
link in common between the Aryan and non-Aryan languages 
tending to prove that they have ‘‘ descended from a single original 
stock.” 
Rey. S. W. Koettz, Ph.D.— Perhaps in connection with the 
last speaker’s remarks I may mention that what the learned author 
has called “the harmony of vowels” is properly a harmony of 
sounds generally. In the Tartar languages, of which Turkish is 
the chief representative, this law of harmony or euphony exists; but 
it is not restricted to vowels, for it extends equally to consonants. 
I will give you an instance. The roots of the language are either 
hard or soft roots; e.g., bul is hard, bil is soft. The former as 
Imperative means: find! the latter: know! Now their respective 
Infinitives are: bul-mag (to find), bil-mek (to know); their future 
Participles: bul-adjag (going to find), bil-edjek (going to know), &e. 
So you see the law of harmony in Turkish regulates both the 
vocal and consonantal character of all the formative additions. 
According as the root is either hard or soft all the affixes must 
likewise be either hard or soft. You therefore have here a 
symphony of sounds affecting not only the vowels but the 
consonants as well. 
The AvurHor.—I thank yon for the reception given to my paper, 
and shall not detain you more than five minutes. I consider 
myself very fortunate to have been treated so kindly by those 
