Nearly all the syllables are represented by the combination of an initial and a final, a system which has been found to be well adapted to the Chinese language.

Initials.

The Upper Series are—p, ’m, ’v, t, ts, s, ’l, ’ny, ’ng, k, ky, kw, i and ’w. These initials are pronounced in most cases much the same as in English, but without aspiration, higher in pitch and with very little vibration of the larynx. The apostrophe before a letter indicates that the letter belongs to the “higher series.” Pure vowel initials also belong to this series.

’ny has a sound similar to that of ni in spaniel.

ky = ch in chuk with all aspiration eliminated.

i as an initial has the sound of i in dahlia.

The Aspirates are—ph, f, th, tsh, kh, ch, khw, h, hy, and hw (th as in Thomson—not as in thing).

ch = ch in church.

hy is nearly like ti in Portia.

The other aspirates are like the corresponding initials of the higher series with the addition of a strong aspiration (indicated by h).

The Lower Series are—b, m, v, d, dz, z, l, n, ny, ng, g, j, gw, y, and w. Their pronunciation is much the same as in English. They are lower in pitch than corresponding initials of the “higher series,” and have more “voice,” being pronounced with more decided vibration of the larynx. The lower vowel initials, indicated by an inverted comma (‘) and attended with a slight aspiration, belong to this series.

Finals.

1. The Vowel Endings are—a, e, i, au, o, oo, oe, eu, u, ui, ia, iau, ieu, and ie.

2. The Nasal Endings are—(a) an, en, ien and oen, in which the n is not sounded, but lengthens out and imparts a nasal quality to the preceding vowel; (b) ang, aung, oong, (or ong), ung and iang, in which ng has the value of ng in song, but is often nearer the French n in bon; (c) uin, in which n is sonant and has a value varying between n and ng.

3. The Abrupt Vowel Endings are—ak, ah, eh, ih, auh, ok, oeh, uh, and iak, in which h and k are the signs of the zeh-sung (??), and the vowel is pronounced in a short, abrupt manner.

The sounds of the vowels are—

a as in far, except when followed by n or h, when it has the sound of a in man or mat.

e as in prey; before h it has the sound of e as in met.

i „ caprice; before h or ng it is shortened to i as in mit or sing.

au as in August.

o or oo as ou in though or in through. It is really a combination of these two sounds, and is modified by its environment.

oe as in Goethe (German Ö).

eu „ French Monsieur.

u „ oo in foot (always preceded by an s sound).

ui „ in fruit (or rather French Ü).

In ia, iau, ieu and ie, we have short i followed closely by a, au, eu, and e, as described above.

Of course it is understood that the Chinese sounds in a majority of cases vary somewhat from the English sounds which are given as the nearest equivalent.

The Dok-yoong Z-moo— “Initials used alone” i.e., without vowels, are—ts, tsh, dz, s, z, an, ng, and r. The first five are followed by the vowel sound in the second syllable of able—prolonged. Mateer and Bailer use Ï for this sound and the new Mandarin Romanized uses i[C0]. It is not written, but understood in the Shanghai system. m has the sound of m in chasm and ng the sound of ng in hanger; r is a sound between final r and l.

Tone Marks.—As in Ningpo and other Woo dialects, tone marks are unnecessary in ordinary letter-press, and are omitted in this book.