i^ 



§90 Mr. Pickering on the Pronunciation 



nx. 



This diphthong rarely occurs ; it is proaouaced oav or oaf ac- 



r 



cording to the consonant that follows it. 



The improper diphthongs a, »?, a require no particular remark ; 

 as the Modern Greeks, like ourselves, pronounce them just as 

 the simple letters are pronounced without the subscribed Iota. 



In addition to these particular observations on the letters, I 

 eaanot but call the attention of the members of the Academy to a 

 few facts, which well deserve the consideration of scholars, 



these, a very important one is the universality of the pronun- 

 ciatiou of the Modern Greeks ; which is found to be substantially 

 the same in the islands and other parts of Greece, quite remote 

 from each other and having Uttle or no connexion by means of 

 commeice or otherwise. Another remarkable circumstance is, 

 the use of ancient Greek in their Church-service; which has 



Of 



been continued 



ty to the 



from 



present day. Now the just pronunciation of the languao-e of 

 their Church-service has ever been scrupulously attended to ; and 

 the present mode has been handed dowa with extreme care 

 the earliest periods. The nation itself, also, remains to this time 

 a distinct race of people ; and it should be recollected, that the 

 oppression of their Turkish conquerors has only served to keep 

 them the more embodied, and the less liable to the effects of a 

 necessary intercourse with each other. 



How cautious then ought we, as foreigners, to be in condemn- 



the 



usage of a people thus circumstanced, in such 

 pronunciation of their language. We perceive 

 inent scholars have entertained opinions respect- 



'^^ 



