of the Greek Language. 



241 



rig u», h Oil oy^oiu; -ffgo^i^nv, tfug/tfug ; How then do these words 

 ijfj(>us and vijLiig differ from each otiier, or how 



could 



any person 



distinguish them, if we must pronounce them hoth J^?;, i^7; ? He 



replied — ^/a t?? crvvTu^Bag, Tllia lis sintaxeoSj <^Tg >Ayoy.iv, t^7g 



Xgysrs, — by the syntax, or construction of the sentence." This 

 satisfactory answer, which was just such as Winterton himself 

 •would have given to the Greek, if he had asked a similar question 

 about the English language, put an end to tlie dialogue. A more 



satisfactory one, indeed, could not have been given; and, if we 

 were not in the habit of overlooking what is immediately before 

 our eyes, it would appear surprising, that such an objection should 

 ever have been made to this pronunciation ; and by Englishmen 



share of what fo 



as absurdities arising from this 



y cause. 



A\ 



h 



much 



force could this Greek, if he had been acquainted with our Ian- 



the question, by saying — In English you 



S^'^o 



etorted 



have as many different letters to denote similar sounds^ as we 



F 



have in Greek ; and how do you distinguish words which have 

 the mme sound but different meanings in English ! 



c ; this ver^ sound of e loug, you express in a g 



ways than we do in Greek; 



For exam- 

 ter number 



ae, as in Ccesar, &c. 

 e, as in scenes metef &c. 

 ee, as in see, sees, seen, meet, 

 ea, as in sea, seas, meat, mean 

 ei, as in seize, deceit, conceive 

 ie, as in helief, chief, mien. 



1, as m mar 



ine, fatigue, invalid, &c. 



To 



say 



nothing of the few words in which eo, oe, eg and xia have 



# 



■'-'-'. 



