True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-03-08
For the True American.
WRITTEN LANGUAGE NO. 4.

the Engllsn language, IN consequence oI
the deficiency in the number of letters, it
became necessary to use the same letter to
represent more than one sound, and thus
seemingly supply the defect. But in sup
plying this want, the matter has been
overdone. "The same sound has been
frequently represented by different charac-
ters." This is the case, especially with
the vowels, for there is not one sound rep
resented by one Of them that is not repre-
sented by every other vowel character in
the alphabet,
Thus the character o is used to repre-
sent seven different sounds, as in no, not,
nor, wolf, more and woman. But the
sound is represented by "a different
characters and combination of characters /;
as ough in though, can in bean, ew in sew,
ow in know, ou in soul, &c., &c. The
character is used to represent four differ
ent sounds, as in me, met, her they, But
the sound e is represented by 40 different
signs, as, ca in tea, lie in grief, &c in thee,
ey in key, uay in quay, eigh in seigh,
&C., &c.
Did space permit, could show how
many signs by which each sound is repre-
sented. Suffice it to say, that those who
have Investigated the matter, say that for
nineteen vowel and diphthongal sounds,
we have four hundred and one different
ways Of representation.
We have twenty-four consonantal sounds
represented by eighteen signs. But we
find that they are represented in two hun
dred and ffty-seven different ways. Thus
we have six hundred and ffty-eight differ
ent ways ofreprosenting forty-three sounds.
Now, there being at least six hundred
and ffty-eight different ways Of represent
ing the sounds in our language; and there
being in it, including all the different in
Aections, upwards of an hundred thousand
words, does it not require most tenacious
memory to spell every word correctly
There being no analogy that can be relied
upon, to do it, one must know every indi-
vidual way of representing every sound,
and which individual way is proper for
every individual syllable of every individ-
ual word. Thus every word is a separate
lesson for the memory. Hence, no one
can be certain as to the pronunciation of a
single word in the English language,
which he has only seen written and never
heard spoken, and much less likely tc
write word correctly which he has never
seen, but only heard pronounced.
Is not, then, our language unscientifc
in its structure? Suppose the science Of
arithmetic was based upon such princi
pies. Suppose the figure should some
times rnnrnGnnt tho nnmherthroe, and th"
8 should sometimes mean one, and that |
and together should occasionally be re
garded as only equivalent to two and so OF
without any rules to guide us when the,
should signify their true and when thei
false powers, how long would it take ont
to become a good arithmetician NJ
longer than it requires now to become (
good speller. Suppose the teacher of mu
sic to labor under the same difficulty a
the teacher of photography. Suppose tha
G in the natural scale was sometimes OF
one line and sometimes on another, some
times occupying one space and then agail
another; and that every other G on
should have the same instability, hoy
long would it take him to teach his pupil
the principles of the science? Or suppos
the keys of his instrument were as whim
steal as the letters of the alphabet, wha
length of time would it take them to be
come good performers. No longer than
now takes to become good readers.
They might, after much practice an
close observation become tolerable mus
clans, so does the learner of our Crthogra
ply, by perseverance, become moderat
reader. But the first would be, and tn
second is liable to mistakes.
: Where will you find good reader?-
This man is one you may say, and there
another. But set them to reading tn
same piece and they will vary as much i
their pronunciation, infection, emphasis
, articulation, modulation, attention an
pauses, quantity and key, the essentials (
good reading, as the performers on an in
: perfect instrument would in their musi
In consequence then, Of the great diff
culties to be encountered and overcon
t before even a tolerable knowledge Of Il
Y English language can be acquired; lear
e ing to read has been truly styled "tl
9 most difficult of human attainments'"
f The road to knowledge is thus locked u
f preventing persons of limited means fro
gaining access to the various department