in. This circumstance alone were sufficient to expose the emptiness of the boast, that absolute regularity and unchangeableness characterize the Indian alphabets. But our object is not to recriminate our wish is merely to point out the actual state of things, in order to facilitate the progress of the learner. With this view, we shall endeavour to mark what may be termed the anomalies or peculiarities of some of those dialects which, from their proximity to us, require immediate attention; that is, chiefly the discrepancies found to exist between certain letters and their modern phonic power. There are two ways of marking these anomalies. Thus in Bengalí, the Deva Nágari or v is retained and written or v. But, al refinement of ear, and increasing attention to euphonia; contractions and elisions brought into vogue by the carelessness, or the rapidity of colloquial speech, or by the practice of popular speakers; above all, the mixture of the speech of different nations, would introduce numberless varieties into the pronunciation. Still those who wrote the language might choose to adhere to the original orthography, for the sake of retaining the radical parts, and preserving the etymon of vocables undisguised; and for maintaining an uniformity in the mechanism of the inflections. Hence the pronunciation and the orthography would disagree in many instances, till at length it would be found expedient to alter the orthography, and to adapt it to such changes in the speech or spoken language, as long use had established; in order to maintain what was most necessary of all, a due correspondence between the mode of speaking and the mode of writing the same language. "It will probably be found on inquiry, that in all languages, when the speech has undergone material and striking changes, the written language also has varied in a considerable degree, in conformity to these changes; but that it has not scrupulously kept pace with the spoken language in every smaller variation. The written language of the Greeks suffered many changes between the time that the old Pelasgic was spoken and the days of Demosthenes. The various modes of pronunciation, used in the different districts of Greece, are marked by a diversity in the orthography of the written language. The writing of the Latin underwent considerable alterations between the era of the Decemviri and the Augustan age; corresponding, no doubt, to the changes which had taken place during that interval, in speaking the Latin. English and French books printed within the last century exhibit a mode of orthography very different from what is found in books printed two or three hundred years ago. These instances show the tendency which the written language has to follow the lead of the spoken language, and to maintain a certain degree of conformity to those modes of pronunciation, which are from time to time adopted by those who speak it. "On the other hand, numberless examples might be adduced from any living language, to prove that the written language does not adapt itself, on all occasions, and with strict uniformity, to the sounds of speech. Words are written differently which are pronounced alike. The same combination of letters, in different situations, represent different sounds. Letters are retained in writing, serving to point out the derivations of words, after they have been entirely dropped in speaking. "From such facts as these, it appears a just conclusion, that written language generally follows the spoken language through its various revolutions, but still at certain distance; not dropping so far behind as to lose sight of its precursor, nor following so close as to be led through all its fantastic deviations." the natives almost without exception now pronounce it not va but ba, exactly the same as a or ba, from which also it is not to be discriminated in shape. Either then we must represent this letter always by v, and place some mark above or below it, to denote that the current pronunciation is not v but b; or, we must at once represent it by b, the actual modern sound, and place some mark above or below it, to signify that it is the anomalous b, or the b, which exactly expresses the modern sound of the ancient v. On the whole, the latter seems to be the preferable expedient. Let us then in imitation of many learned orientalists adopt the horizontal (−), and let us define it to be the symbol that denotes anomalies or peculiarities in particular dialects. Thus, if in Bengalí we meet with the word "beda" in Roman character, we shall at once conclude that this is not the regular b, but the anomalous b, that expresses the current sound of the ancient v, and so with other letters. With this explanation, we shall proceed to delineate, as proposed, the existing anomalies in those dialects in which books are to be immediately prepared. 1.-Anomalies in Bengali. The letters da and dha are very frequently pronounced ra and rha, with the tip of the tongue reverted to the palate. To mark this deviation in Bengalí, a point is usually placed beneath the letters; thus rha. Now let us retain r, which expresses the sound, and distinguish it as anomalous by the horizontal (-), and thus we shall obtain ra and rha. Whenever, then, we meet with ra or rha, we shall know that these exhibit the anomalous sound of da and dha. The letter ya is often pronounced ja; and when retains its genuine sound ya, it is distinguished by a dot put below it, as ya, To express its anomalous sound ja, let us adopt our fixed symbol, and write ja. The letter va, when used anomalously for b, will be written ba. The letter va, when following a consonant, with which it is combined, has the sound of wa: thus in 1, through or by, is subjoined to, and the word pronounced dwárá. Hence, used anomalously for w, is marked w. jna compounded of ja and na, the palatine nasal, sounded like gn in the French digne. It is however pronounced gya with a nasal sound. therefore will be represented by gya. ksha is ka and sha, but is always sounded khya. It will therefore be represented by khya. *, named Chandra-bindu, properly speaking, is the common n, but in Bengali is used as a symbol often written over vowels, to express a strong nasal sound, like n in the French bon, or ng in ring, as in , which is pronounced bangs, a bamboo. We must therefore represent it by an. In Hindústání, it is written as a component part of the word. This The first letter a is generally corrupted by the people of Bengal into an obscure sound like short o, in dot, cot, &c. must be remembered by all who read the Bengálí Romanized. 2. Anomalies in Hindúr. Thed and dha are often pronounced ra and rha, as in Bengalí, by reverting the tip of the tongue to the palate. and, therefore, are represented by ra and rha. sha is commonly sounded as kha. It is, in this case, expressed by kha. ksha is sounded like chha, and is expressed by chha. 3. Anomalies in Hindústání, &c. The letters 5 da and 5 dha are often sounded ra and rha, and must be expressed as before, ra and rha. Anomalous sounds of various letters in the other languages might here be pointed out, such as which in Arabic is often sounded th, &c. -with more important variations in Butan, Burman, &c. :-but we purposely omit them at present, because not immediately required, and because it is our intention to prefix to every book that may be prepared in any language or dialect, a table of regular and anomalous sounds in the alphabet of the particular language or dialect;—which tabular representation may form the key to the easy and infallible decyphering of the contents of the work. And the specimens now given in Bengalí, Hindúí, and Hindústání may serve as illustrations of the facility with which not only ordinary but extraordinary sounds may be represented in Roman character. Having thus unfolded the common and anomalous sounds in the three Indian alphabets that more immediately concern us, we now present a few specimens in the Romanized form : ১১ BENGA LI'. PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON. In Bengáli character. LUKE XV 11 – 24. এক ব্যক্তির দুই পুত্র ছিল; তাহার কনিষ্ঠ পুত্র পিতাকে কহিল, হে ১২ পিতঃ, তোমার বিষয়ের যে অংশ পাইব তাহা বিভাগ করিয়া দেও । ১৩ তাহাতে পিতা নিজ সম্পত্তি ভাগ করিয়া তাহাকে দিলে পর সেই প সমস্ত ধন একত্র লইয়া দুর দেশে প্রস্থান করিয়া দুষ্টাচরণেতে সমস্ত ১৪ স°স্থান উড়াইয়া দিল। পরে সে দেশে মহা দুর্ভিক্ষ উপস্থিত হইল, এবং তাহার সকল ধন ব্যয় হইলে তাহার দৈন্য দশা ঘটিতে ১৫ লাগিল। পরে তদ্দেশীয় এক গৃহস্থের আশ্রিত হইলে, সেই ব্যক্তি ১৬ শূক্রপাল চরাইতে তাহাকে মাঠে পাঠাইয়া দিত; কিন্তু তাহাকে কেহ কিছু আহার না দেওয়াতে সে শূকরের খাছ খোশা ১৭ প্রস্তুতিদ্বারা উদর পূর্ণ করিতে বাঞ্ছা করিত। অবশেষে সে মনে ২ চেতনা পাইয়া কহিল, হায় আমার পিতার নিকটে কত২ বেতনগ্রাহি দাস যথেষ্ট আহার পাইতেছে, কিন্তু আমি ক্ষুধায় মরিতেছি। ১৮ অতএব এখন উঠিয়া পিতার নিকটে গিয়া এই কথা বলিব, হে পিতঃ, ঈশ্বরের বিরুদ্ধে এবং তোমার নিকটে পাপ করিয়াছি, এ ১৯ কারণ তোমার পুত্র বলিয়া বিখ্যাত হইবার যোগ নহি ; আমাকে ২. আপনার এক বেতনগ্রাহি দাস করিয়া রাখন। ইহা ভাবিয়া সে গাত্রোত্থান করিয়া পিতার নিকটে গমন করিল; তাহাতে তাহার পিতা দূরহইতে তাহাকে দেখিয়া ধাবমান হইয়া তাহার গলা ধরিয়া ২১ তাহাকে চুম্বন করিল। তখন পুত্র তাহাকে কহিল, হে পিতঃ, ঈশ্বরের বিরুদ্ধে এবং তোমার নিকটে পাপ করিয়াছি, অতএব এখন তোমার ২২ পুত্র বলিয়া বিখ্যাত হইবার যোথ নহি। কিন্তু তাহার পিতা নিজ দাসদিগকে আজ্ঞা দিয়া কহিল, সর্বোত্তম বস্ত্র আনিয়া ইহাকে পরাও, এবং ইহার অঙ্গলীতে অঙ্গরীয় দেও, এবং ইহার পায়েতে ২৩ পাদুকা দেও, আর হৃষ্ট পুষ্ট বাছুর আনিয়া মার, তাহা ভোজন ২৪ করিয়া আমরা আনন্দ করি। যে হেতুক এই যে আমার পুত্র সে ভত হইয়া এখন সজীব হইয়াছে, ইহাকে হারাইয়া পুনশ্চ পাইয়াছি ; তাহাতে তাহারা আনন্দ করিতে লাগিল । The above, in Roman character. 11 Ek byaktir dui putra chhila ; 12 Táhár kanishtha putra pitake kahila, He pitah, tomár bişhayer je anshá páiba táhá bibhág kariyá deo. 13 Táháte pitá nij sampatti bhág kariyá táháke dile par, sei putra samasta dhan ekatra laiyá dúr deshe prasthán kariyá dushṭácharaṇete samasta sansthán uṛáiyá dila. 14 Pare se deshe mahá durbhikhya upasthit haila, ebang tahár sakal dhan byay haile táhár dainya dashá ghațite lágila. 15 Pare taddeshhíya ek grihashter áshrita haile, sei byakti shúkar-pál charái. te tabáke mathe patháiyá dila; PP 16 Kintu táháke keha kichhu áhár ná deoyáte se shúkarer khádya khoshá prabhriti dwárá udar púrņa karite bánchá karita. 17 Abashesḥe se mane mane chetaná páiyá kahila, Háy ámár pitár nikate kata kata betangráhi dás jatheshta áhár páiteche, kintu ámi khudhay maritechi. 18 Ata-eb ekhan uthiyá pitár nikate giyá ei kathá balila, He pitah, I'shwarer biruddhe ebang tomar nikate páp kariyáchi, 19 e káran tomar putra baliyá bikhyáta haibár jogya nahi; A'máke ápnár ek betangráhi dás kariyá rákhun. 20 Ihá bhábiyá se gátrotthán kariyá pitár nikate gaman karila; táháte táhár pitá dúrhaite táháke dekhiyá dhábamán haiyá táhár galá dhariyá táháke chumban karila. 21 Takhan putra táháke kahila, He pitah, I'shwarer biruddhe ebang tomár nikate pap kariyachhi, ata-eb ekhan tomár putra baliyá bikhyáta haibár jogya nahi. 22 Kintu táhár pitá nij dásdigke ágyá diyá kahila, Sarbottam bastra ániyá iháke paráo, ebang ihár angulete anguriya deo, ebang ihár payete páduká deo. 23 Ar hrishta pushța báchhur ániyá mára, táhá bhojan kariyá ámrá ánanda kari. 24 Je hetuk ei je ámár putra se mrita haiyá ekhan sajíb haiyáche, iháke háráiyá punaschha páiyáchhi; táháte táhárá ánanda karite lágila. १२ HINDUI'. PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON. In Nágarí character. LUKE xv. 11–24. ११ किसी मनुष्य के दो पुत्र थे । उनमें से छुटकेने पिता से कहा कि हे पिता संपत्ति में से जो मेरा भाग होवे दीजिये तब उसने उन्हें उपजीवन बांट दिया। और बहुत दिनबीतने पाये छुटका पुत्र १३ सबकुछ एकठा करके परदेशको चलनिकला और वहां कुकर्म्ममें १४ अपनी समस्त संपत्ति नष्ट किई । और जब वुह सबकुछ उठा चुका उस देशमें बडा अकाल पडा और वुह दरिज होने लगा । तब १५ वुद्द जाकें उस देशको एक प्रजाका सेवक बना और उसने उसे १६ अपने खेत में भेजा कि सूअरोंको चरावे । कार वुह लालसा राखता था कि उन छिलके से जो सूकार खाते थे अपना पेट भरे १७ और कोई उसे न देता था । और जब वुह अपने चेत में आया उसने कहा कि मेरे पिताके कितने बनिहार हैं जिनको रोटी १८ बचरहती है और मैं भखसे मरताहों । मैं उठींगा और आपने पिता पास जाऊंगा और उसे कहोंगा कि हे पिता मैं खर्ग के १८ और तेरे श्रागे अपराधो हों। और अब मैं येाग्य नही कि तेरा |