230 JI}\ Pickering on tJie Pronunciation 



proached nearer than the prevailing one to that of the ancient 

 Greeks ; ami, as it was more conformable to the general pronun- 

 ciation of Ihe modern languages of Europe, and consequently was 

 less difficult to acquire, it soon obtained currency among the learn- 

 ed. This change of pronunciation, if it were not supperted by 

 the authority of great names, to a person at all conversant with 

 the powers of the organs of speech, and acquainted with the writ- 

 Ings of the Greek grammarians and scholiasts which have come 

 down to U9, would appear to have been made upon very insuffi- 

 cient data, and without that comprehensive view of language, 

 which has been taken by the scholars of our own times ; who,^ 

 though not possessing more ability than their illustrious prede- 

 cessors, yet have the benefit of their labours and many advanta- 

 ges besides, which were not then within the reach of scholars. 

 The manner, in which this change is said to have been introduc- 

 ed, I shall presently relate at large. But it will first be necessa- 

 ry to give a general view of the pronunciation of the Moderti 

 Greeks, which has been the occasion of so much controversy 

 among European scholars. 



The pronunciation of the modern Greeks has been supposed 

 to differ from that of fcbeir ancestors, both in the sounds of the let~ 

 ters, and in being regulated wholly by the accents, without re- 

 gard to what is called quantity. The accents will be the subject 

 of consideration hereafter ; at present I shall confine my remarks 

 to the sounds of the letters. In doing this, I shall first present 

 a general view of the pronunciation, (which will be found in the 

 following table,) and then give a more particular account of the 

 several letters, when taken single or in combination ; and I shall 

 subjoin to each a concise statement of the arguments in favour 

 of the old, and of the neic, or Erasmic, pronunciation. 



