218 THE LANGUAGES OP THE INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO. 
them exclusively can only breed misconceptions and con¬ 
fusion. 
In the choice of marks for the different organic changes 
which the same vowel sounds may undergo, we think simpli¬ 
fy and uniformity will be best attained by giving to each 
mark one unvarying force, according to its position, and in 
assigning this position we shall follow the natural organic order 
in which the letters themselves are arranged. The dot or 
period at the bottom of a letter will indicate the modification 
of sound produced by the influence [of the lowest part of the 
vocal organs, the guttural, and the"dot at the top of a letter 
that produced by the influence of the highest, or nasal. These 
are the most necessary modifying signs, and some of the 
dialects will require them to be doubled. 
We have given the equivalents of our characters in several 
of the principal languages of the Archipelago, adding examples 
of words in which the sounds occur. As this has been done 
with much labour, the correct pronunciation being obtained 
in every case from natives of the different countries, this 
portion of our essay will have a value to European scholars, 
to which the rest of it makes no pretension.* 
Consonants. 
The greater number of simple radical consonants being of 
a decided character, the same letters represent them in different 
orthographic systems. When the sounds of two consonants 
run into each other, we think they should be united by a cir¬ 
cumflex or dash. Where not so united, the full sound should 
be given to both. 
For the guttural modification of consonants we shall use 
the guttural mark for the vowels. The nasal does not we 
think require a distinct character, as in the Devanagri and 
Bugis alphabets. The same sound occurs in most langaages, 
and being generally nothing save the reaction of the follow¬ 
ing consonant on the nasal when the latter runs into it, no 
mark even seems necessary. In the middle of a word a circum¬ 
flex or dash may be used to connect the n with the other 
consonant as in the case of the rig. The palatal modification 
may be denoted by a dot, after the current system of writing 
the Sanskrit cerebrals. But we shall, with Sir W. Jones 
* We here alto given the corresponding character! used in the ayatemi of 
Sir W, Jonea and the Engltah writer* who follow him, of Profeaa Bopp and 
other Continental philoiogiata, of Mr Maraden and Mr Crawfurd. To theae 
we have added a alight] j modified veriion of Sir W. Jonea' ayatem which Colonel 
Loir sent to ue with a requeit that it might be uied in hie papers. 
