186 



Languages of the various tribes inhabiting the [March, 



e 



s» 



e 



j> 







1 



>> 



i 



>» 



o 



a 



6 



i> 



u 



>» 



r 





u 



>> 



ii 



>> 



exhibit the analogy between the two dialects, those secondary forms 

 alluded to, and which have thrown considerable weight on the result of 

 the comparison, have been introduced into the Bengali column. 



It is necessary, however, to observe that in romanizing Asamese and 

 other languages hereafter treated of, the vowels are used in accordance 

 with their classical pronunciation on the continent of Europe ; and 

 where these are not sufficient to express the vowel sounds in use, dia- 

 critical marks have been introduced to supply the deficiency. The 

 fundamental vowel sounds are as follows : 



A sounded as in agreeable, or u in but. 

 a „ far. 



men. 



they. 



pin. 



pique. 



not. 



note. 



pull. 



rule. 



French u, or German ii 



The consonants are used as in English. G is always hard. H, used 

 after another consonant, shows that it is aspirated ; thus, kh is sounded 

 as in pack-horse ; th, as in pot-house, &c. ; ng, is sounded as in singing. 

 N (with the dash under it) as in infant (French). 



In the expression of diphthongs, it is necessary to combine the vowels 

 in such a manner that they shall express the same sounds when united 

 as they do when separate. 



Comparative List of Words. 

 English. Bengali. Asamese. 



Air. Bayu, Bat, Batash. Botah. 



Ant. Pipilika, Pinpara. Porua. 



Arrow. Tir, Shar. Kanr. 



Bird. Pakhi, Chiriya. Charai. 



Blood. Kakta, Tej. Tej. 



Boat. Nouka, Na. Na. 



Bone. Asti, Har. Har. 



Buffalo. Mohish. Moh. 



Cat. Biral, Myao, a cafs mewing Mekuri. 



whence, myaokari, the mew- 

 er 9 and thence. 



