9. Teth of series T.
In this second sequence the relative positions of v, kh, and t` are the same in respect to each other, and the same in respect to the vowel series. The sequence itself is broken by the letter zayn, but it is remarkable that the principle of the sequence is the same. Series P follows the vowel, and series T is farthest from it. After this the system becomes but fragmentary. Still, even now, pe, of series P, follows ayn; tau, of
series D, is farthest from it; and koph, of series K, is intermediate. I am satisfied that we have in the Hebrew alphabet, and in all alphabets derived from it (consequently in the English), if not a system, the rudiments of a system, and that the system is of the sort indicated above; in other words, that the order of the alphabet is a circulating order.
In Mr. Donaldson's hands this view is not only a fact, but an instrument of criticism:—"The fact is, in our opinion, the original Semitic alphabet contained only sixteen letters. This appears from the organic arrangement of their characters. The remaining sixteen letters appear in the following order:—aleph, beth, gimel, daleth, he, vaw, kheth, teth, lamed, mem, nun, samech, ayn, pe, koph, tau. If we examine this order more minutely, we shall see that it is not arbitrary or accidental, but strictly organic, according to the Semitic articulation. We have four classes, each consisting of four letters: the first and second classes consist each of three mutes, preceded by a breathing; the third of the three liquids and the sibilant, which, perhaps, closed the oldest alphabet of all; and the fourth contains the three supernumerary mutes, preceded by a breathing. We place the characters first vertically:—
| Aleph | א | First breathing | ||
| Beth | ב | B |
| Media. |
| Gimel | ג | G | ||
| Daleth | ד | D | ||
| He | ה | Second breathing. | ||
| Vaw | ו | Bh |
| Aspirate. |
| Kheth | ח | Gh | ||
| Teth | ט | Dh | ||
| Lamed | ל | L |
| Liquids. |
| Mem | מ | M | ||
| Nun | נ | N | ||
| Samech | ס | S The Sibilant. | ||
| Ayn | ע | Third breathing. | ||
| Pe | פ | P |
| Tenues. |
| Koph | ק | K | ||
| Tau | ת | T | ||
In the horizontal arrangement we shall, for the sake of greater simplicity, omit the liquids and the sibilant, and then we have
| Breathings. | Labials. | Palatals. | Linguals. |
| א | ב | ג | ד |
| ה | ו | ח | ט |
| ע | פ | ק | ת |
In this we see, that, while the horizontal lines give us the arrangement of the mutes according to the breathings, the vertical columns exhibit them arranged according to the organ by which they are produced. Such a classification is obviously artificial."
[§ 269]. Parallel and equivalent orthographies.—Let there be in two given languages the sound of k, as in kin. Let each of these languages represent it by the same letter, k. In this case, the two orthographies are identical. Let, however, one nation represent it by k, and another by c. In this case the orthographies are not identical, but parallel. The same is the case with combinations. Let one nation (say the Anglo-Saxon) represent the sound of y (in ye) by e, whilst another nation (the Norse) represents it by j. What the Anglo-Saxon spells ceaster, the Northman spells kjaster; and what the Northman spells kjære, the Anglo-Saxon spells ceære. Let the sound of this ce and kj undergo a change, and become ksh; kjære and ceære, being pronounced kshære. The view of the Northman and Anglo-Saxon will be the same; each will consider that the compound sound differs from the simple one by the addition of the sound of y; that sound being expressed in one nation by e, and in the other by j. In this case the two expressions of the compound sound are parallel, its elements being considered the same, although the signs by which those elements are expressed are different.