I. The abstract or theoretical propriety of a certain pronunciation.—To determine this he must have a sufficient knowledge of foreign tongues and a sufficient knowledge of English analogies. He must also have some test by which he can determine to what language an equivocal word belongs. Of tests for this purpose, one, amongst others, is the following:—Let it be asked whether the word lens (in Optics) is English or Latin; whether it is to be considered as a naturalised word or a strange one. The following fact will give an answer. There is of the word lens a plural number, and this plural number is the English form lenses, and not the Latin form lentes. The existence of an English inflection proves that the word to which it belongs is English, although its absence does not prove the contrary. That the word anemone is English (and consequently pronounced anemŏne) we know from the plural form, which is not anemonæ, but anemones.
II. The preference of one pronunciation over another on the score of utility.—The word ascetic, for certain orthographical reasons, notwithstanding its origin from the Greek word askeó, is called assetic. From similar reasons there is a tendency to call the word sceptic, septic. Theoretical propriety (and, be it observed, the analogy of ascetic has not been overlooked) is in
favour of the word being sounded skeptic. The tendency of language, however, is the other way. Now, the tendency of language and the theoretical propriety being equal, there is an advantage (a point of utility) in saying skeptic, which turns the scale. By sounding the k we distinguish the word skeptic from septic. By this the language gains a point in perspicuity, so that we can talk of the anti-skeptic writings of Bishop Warburton and of the anti-septic properties of charcoal.
III. The tendencies of language.—From p. 153, we see that the combination ew is an unstable combination, that it has a tendency to become yoo, and that the y in yoo has a tendency to change a d preceding into j; in other words, we see the reason why, by many persons, dew is pronounced jew.
It is generally an easier matter to say how a word will be sounded a hundred years hence, than to determine its present pronunciation. Theoretical propriety is in favour of dew, so also is the view in the way of utility. Notwithstanding this, posterity will say jew, for the tendencies of language are paramount to all other influences.
We may now judge of the relative value of the three lines of criticism exhibited above. Other things being equal, the language should have the advantage of the doubt, and the utility of a given pronunciation should prevail over its theoretical propriety. Where, however, the tendencies are overwhelming, we can only choose whether, in doubtful words, we shall speak like our ancestors, or like our posterity.[[35]]
CHAPTER IX.
GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF ORTHOGRAPHY.