232 The Study of Licing Languages, [no. 4, new series, 



there are two or three ?i's and as many Z's, the beginner is always 

 liable to forget which is which ; but the plan of noting the sound 

 by English letters with one or two dots under those that represent 

 peculiar Native sounds, effectually prevents any such mistakes, the 

 dots remind the reader in the readiest manner that they represent 

 such sounds as are those upon which the attention should be espe- 

 cially concentrated. Every letter in the Native language must be 

 represented by one certain letter of English, so that the proper 

 syjelling may be known. As to the learning of the Native charac- 

 ter ultimately, if the student should require it, it is the easiest thing 

 in the world when the language is known in other respects, and 

 the whole attention is available for the letters only. The time re- 

 quired for this is most trifling but even were it considerable it 

 would still be necessary to learn at first through the medium of 

 the English character, on account of the enormous lpss of time 

 arising from having the attention overburthened at first. I there- 

 fore reject the Native character as being, 



1st. Quite unnecessary for learning the language. 



2nd. As being a most serious hindrance, absorbing a great 

 deal of the attention, when its utmost efforts are required for those 

 things which are essential. 



3rd. As not being required at all by a great proportion of those 

 ■who need to acquire a foreign language. 



4th. As a thing that can be acquired with a hundredth part of 

 the time which would be consumed at first, after the other parts of 

 the study have been matured. 



5th. As being more liable to be mistaken by the beginner than 

 the English character. 



If it be said, but how can it be avoided when there are no ele- 

 mentary books of the language in the English character ? I answer, 

 First, that I am here proposing a new system, and of course would 

 have books prepared suitable to it ; Second, that in many languages, 

 as in those of Bengal, many books have already been prepared in 

 this way; Third, that in many situations the student could, with 

 the assistance of a Native, easily provide himself with the first ele- 



