Читать книгу The Cambrian Tourist, or, Post-Chaise Companion through Wales: 1834 онлайн

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The present printed books contain only twenty-seven characters: A, B, C, Ch, D, Dd, E, F, Ff, G, Ng, H, I, L, Ll, M, N, O, P, Ph, R, S, T, Th, U, W, and Y; having neither J, K, X, nor Z. C answers the purpose of K, when joined with W or Q; and when placed with S, of X. It is said that Z is used in the Armorican language, which is a dialect of this; but the Welsh disown it.

No letter has any variation of sound, except the accented vowels, â, ê, î, ô, û, ŵ, ŷ, which are lengthened, or otherwise, according to the power of the accent, and all are pronounced, as there are no mutes.

A has the same sound as the English open a in the word bard.

C is always hard as k.

Ch, which is accounted but as one consonant, is a guttural, as Chi in Greek, or ch, Cheth, in Hebrew.

Dd is an aspirated d, and has the sound of th in the words this, that. Dda, good, is pronounced Tha.

F has the sound of an English v.

I is sounded as in the Italian, or like our ee in been; thus cîl, a retreat, is pronounced keel.