22S Mr, Pickering on the Pronunciation 



or at least just after that period.. As this opinion, however, is 



4 



contrary to that which has prevailed among our countrymen, and 

 probably among most members of the society I am now address- 

 ing. I have thought it proper to exhibit, as concisely as possible, 

 some of the pilucipal arguments upon which it is founded. lu 

 doing this, I shall make no pretensions to new or original re- 

 marks; but shall only attempt to select such facts and observa- 

 tions of the writers on this subject, as appear to be the most im- 

 portant in a general view of the question 5 and such as may, I 

 hope, Incite some persons of more leisure and ability than myself, 

 to prosecute this interesting inquiry. 



Here, perhaps, the old and often recurring question may be 

 asked, (not however by scholars,) of what use tvoiild it &e, even if 

 practicable, to ascertain the true pronunciation of the Greek 

 Language P With every lover of learning it would be a suffi- 

 cient answer to Bay, that the fact itself, like any other thus as. 

 certained^ would gratify a liberal curiosity, by settling a long con- 

 tested point in the literature of one of the most interesting nations 

 of antiquity. It may be added, however, that it would afford us 

 the substantial advantage of putting within our power the means 

 of tracing the etymologies of modern languages through the oral 

 as well as written part of this admirable tongue, the influence of 

 which has been felt among so many nations. It would also give 

 a new interest to the study of Greek ; for every man, who has at- 

 tempted to acquire a language, feels with how much greater satis- 

 faction he pursues the study of it, when he knows how to pro- 

 bounce it, than when he is obliged, like the unfortunate deaf and 

 dumb, to study merely its written characters. In truth, with all 

 nations, except the singular people of China, the whole power of 



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