of the Greek Language. S8?J 



aminiug each one by itself, it may be proper to notice an objec- 

 tion^ which is applicable to the modern pronunciation of them all. 

 Erasmus contended, that in all of them, the sound of botli t!ie 

 component letters should be heard. Otherwise (says he) " why 

 arc they called proper diphthongs, unless the syllable gives the 

 sound of the two vowels ?"* Beza, and after him, Metkerke, and 

 various other writers, hold the same language ; and think, that, 

 as the very name of diphthong means a combination of two sounds, 

 therefore they must have been pronounced in that manner, and 

 not according to the practice of the Modeiu Greeks, with one sim- 

 ple sound only; for if this were the case, they argue^ these com- 

 binations of letters would not have been called diphthoiig^^ but dU 

 graphs. At this day it seems truly surprizing, thai the writers in 

 the controversy (who were Dutchmen, Frenclimen and English- 

 men) should have overloolved the circuuislance, that the same 

 abuse of the term diphtlwng was to be found in their own. as well 

 as in other languages. To apply their rule, therefore, those for- 

 eigners might argue, in respect to the English language, that 

 there are certain combinations of vowels in it, which Englishmen 

 call diphthongs ; and as they are called diphthongs^ and not di- 

 graphs^ they must be uttered in such a manner, that the two 

 sounds shall be heard ! The mere application of the reasoning to 

 our own language, shows its fallacy. 



AI. 



This diphthong is pronounced by the Modern Greeks like s, 

 or our a in fate. This pronunciation may be traced back, by 

 means of the Greek writers, with perfect certainty to the twelfth 



* Erassn. Dialog, p. 89. 



