In have and had we have the ejection of a sound; in work and wrought, the transposition of one. Important changes are undergone by the sounds k, g, and the allied ones nk, ng, y, as will be seen in the chapter on verbs.
Permutation of Combinations.
| ie=i | to | ow, | as | grind, ground. |
| ow | to | i=ei, | as | mouse, mice; cow, kine. |
| ink | to | augh, | as | drink, draught. |
| ing | to | ough, | as | bring, brought. |
| y (formerly g), | ough, | as | buy, bought. | |
| igh=ei | to | ough, | as | fight, fought. |
| eek | to | ough, | as | seek, sought. |
It must be noticed that the list above is far from being an exhaustive one. The expression too of the changes undergone has been rendered difficult on account of the imperfection of our orthography. The whole section has been written in illustration of the meaning of the word permutation, rather than for any specific object in grammar.
[§ 230]. In all the words above the change of sound has been brought about by the grammatical inflection of the word wherein it occurs. This is the case with the words life and live, and with all the rest. With the German word leben, compared with the corresponding word live, in English, the change is similar. It is brought about, however, not by a grammatical inflection, but by a difference of time, and by a difference of place. This indicates the distinction between the permutation of letters and the transition of letters. In dealing with permutations, we compare different parts of speech; in dealing with transitions, we compare different languages, or different stages of a single language.
CHAPTER V.
ON THE FORMATION OF SYLLABLES.
[§ 231]. In respect to the formation of syllables, I am aware of no more than one point that requires any especial consideration.