The system adopted in this table, for expressing the Tai, or Shán, and Barmese sounds, is the one which is now So extensively and successfully used in Romanizing the languages of India, and is identical with the plan proposed by the Honorable John Pickering, (Memoirs of Amer. Acad. vol. IV.) for writing the languages of all the Indian tribes of North America in a uniform character, and now extensively adopted by the missionaries among those tribes. It is also the same system as that introduced by the missionaries at the Sandwich and Society Islands. The vowels are used in accordance with their classical pronunciation on the continent of Europe. It has been found necessary to introduce a number of diacritical marks, in order to meet the wants of the complex vowel systems of the Barmese and Sháns. The fundamental vowel sounds are as follows: forwarded to our friends in Asám, the Kásia | same stock as the Siamese *, and it will hills, Manipur, Kachár, Arákán,Tenásserim, probably be found nearly identical with Province Wellesley, Malacca and Bankok, that spoken by the various Shán tribes inin the earnest hope that they will add to it habiting the territories east and north of Ava. synonymes of the single words, and translations of the sentences, in all the languages and dialects spoken in the peninsula with which they are acquainted, together with a specification of the limits within which they are spoken. There are at least two radical languages in extensive use there (the Barmese and Shán), and as Mr. Brown has himself furnished specimens of these, we will only trouble our friends to supply any peculiar dialects of them which prevail in their neighborhood, and to add any altogether different language (if there be any) which they happen to know. The system of orthography which Mr. Brown has adopted is explained in the accompanying paper, and as no accurate comparison can be made when different modes of spelling are used, we beg that it may be strictly followed as far as it is applicable, and that any addition which it may be found necessary to make to it in consequence of the existence of peculiar sounds in any language not provided for in it, may be separately explained. Mr. Brown's orthography agrees in principle with that used by the Asiatic Society of Calcutta, by the Missionary bodies in the Sandwich and South Sea islands and North America, and by the gentlemen who have lately extensively applied the Roman letters to the languages of India. Plan of the Vocabulary. At the request of various friends to Native Education a table has been prepared, containing about 500 of the most common English words, with the corresponding terms in two of the Indo-Chinese languages, and blank columns to be filled up with other dialects. The object is to obtain a comparative vocabulary of all the languages spoken between India and China, for the purpose of tracing their origin and affinities. The first column in the table contains the English words; the second the corresponding terms in Barmese; the third those in the language of the Syáms, Syáns, Sháns, or as they call themselves, Tai*. The Shán words are given according to the dialect spoken in the neighborhood of Zenmè, the capital of Northern Láos. This language is supposed to be originally derived from the * An ancient Shán manuscript has recently been discovered by Captain Pemberton, late commissioner at Manipur, containing a history of the ancient kingdom of TAI, from the 80th year of the Christian era, to the time of its final subjugation and dismemberment by the Barmese, during the reign of Alaung-phurá (or Alompra), A. D. 1752. The capital of this kingdom was Mógaung, situated on a branch of the Erawadi, several hundred miles north of Ava. a, sounded as in America, agreeable, or short u in but. á, as in far. e, as in men. é, as in they, or a in name. í, as in pique, police. o, as in not, nor, or aw in law. u, as in put, pull. ú, as in rule, or oo in moon. Additional Sounds.-The Barmese and Shans have a broad sound of the short e, resembling that of e in there, or ay in mayor, for which we may use è, with the grave accent. ì, is used to denote a peculiar sound of the i in Barmese, not differing essentially from the sound of e in me. ò, denotes the broad sound of short o, as in groat, or a in hall. It is necessary to use this character only in those languages which contain two modifications of this sound; as the English, which has short o in not, and broad ò in nought. ü, denotes the French u, or the German ü. i, is the same sound, but longer. Diphthongs. In the expression of diphthongs, it is necessary to combine the vowels in such a manner that they shall express the same sounds when united, as they do when separate. ai, is the long English i in pine; a combination of the short u with the sound of i in pin. Grammar of the Tai, or Siamese language, *From an examination of Captain Low's tained in his vocabulary are precisely the appears that more than half the words consame as are used among the Shans. ái, as heard in the word ay. au, a combination of short u with the u in put; forming the English ou or ow, as in loud, cow. áu, a in far, and u in put; producing a flat sound of the ou, such as is sometimes heard in the vulgar pronunciation of round, sound, &c. oi, short o and short i, as in oil, boil. eu, is used to denote a peculiar sound of the Sháns, resembling the French eu in peur, douleur. modifications, where the sound is drawn out in such a manner, that the volume of voice gradually decreases from the commencement to the close. To distinguish this peculiarity, it is proposed to place a dot under the final vowel or consonant, after the manner of the Barmese aukmyit. The Shans apply the abrupt termination to words both of the rising and falling inflection, thus making four varieties to every syllable; while the Barmese have only three, the natural or rising, the falling, and the abrupt. The low monotone forms the only re The combinations ia, iau, iu, eau, óa, or úa, ue, ui, and üi, need no further explanation, as each of the vowels is used to ex-maining peculiarity of the Shán dialects. press its own invariable sound. For the expression of this, a straight line is drawn underneath the intermediate or final vowel. Intonations.-The grand peculiarity of all languages connected with the Chinese family, appears to be the complexity and niceness of their system of intonation. The first diversity of tone which strikes us, is the use of the rising and falling inflections, or the upward and downward slide of the voice in pronouncing a syllable. In English, we use inflections, not for the purpose of changing the significations of words, but to give them a more striking emphasis, or often perhaps merely for the sake of ornament and variety. Did you go? Where did you go? To The word go, in the first sentence, has the rising tone; in the second, the falling. But in the Indo-Chinese languages, this modification of tone produces distinct words, of an entirely different sense. express this modification, in the Roman character, it is proposed to draw a straight line under the initial letter of every syllable which has the downward tone; leaving the rising tone in its natural state, without any mark. The Barmese represent the falling tone by writing their shepauk at the end of the syllable; while in the Láos and Siamese systems, this distinction is denoted in writing by a difference in the initial consonant. The latter mode is preferred; for although a diacritical mark, attached to a final letter, might be quite practicable in Romanizing the Barmese, it could not well be adopted in the Shán and Siamese, on account of its interference with other important tones. We may illustrate the proposed plan of using the line underneath, by the words no and not, as heard in the following sentences; in the two former of which we have the rising tone; in the two latter, the falling. Did you say no? Will you not? I said no. I will not. The second peculiarity of intonation, is the abrupt termination of a sound, as if it were broken off in the midst of its enunciation. In this case, the volume of voice is full at the end; contrary to the other Consonants.-B, ch, d, f, g hard, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, w, y, z, are used as in English. H, used after another consonant, shows that it is aspirated; thus kh is sounded as in pack-horse; th, as in pot-house, not as in think; ph, as in uphill, not as in philosophy; sh, as in glasshouse, not as in ship. To express the sounds of sh in ship, and th in think, the letters are united by a line drawn through them. Ng is sounded as in singing. Change of Consonants.-It is to be noted, that in all Barmese verbal, numeral, and noun affixes, reduplications of monosyllabic roots, and generally, in the added syllables of compound words, commencing with either of the sharp consonants k, t, p, these letters are changed, in pronunciation, to the corresponding flat or soft consonants, g, d, b, and z; unless when preceded by a sharp final consonant, in which case the original sound is preserved. or s, It is particularly requested, that in filling up the blank columns of this list with other dialects, the spelling may agree, as far as practicable, with the plan here laid down. In case new varieties of intonation occur in any language, it is very desirable that they should be denoted by marks under the letters, and not over them. There will then be room above the line for diacritical marks, to express all possible varieties of vowel sound, in every language; while the intonations will be uniformly denoted by appropriate marks underneath. In introducing native terms into English writing and printing, all marks below the line, as they would convey no idea to an English reader, may be disregarded, and only the accents above the vowels be preserved. Their can be little doubt that the Roman character may be applied with the greatest ease and advantage to the language of China, and it is quite certain that their present complex hieroglyphical mode of writing must, sooner or later, give way to some regular alphabetic system. The number of the Chinese intonations being, according to Dr. Marshman, not more than four or five, will be even less difficult of expression than those of the Sháns; and it is confidently believed, that several, if not most, of their intonations will prove to be identical with those which have already been found common to both the Barmese and Shán. CIRCULAR. They have been directed, by the General Convention, to employ every properly qualified missionary, who may offer his services. The Board cannot retreat, and they are confident, that their brethren wish and expect them to prosecute their work with increased vigor. They deem it their duty, therefore, to inform the churches, that not less than eighty thousand dollars ought to be expended this year, for general missionary purposes, and that twenty thousand dollars more will be needed for translating, printing and distributing the Bible, in foreign languages. The Baptist Board of Foreign Missions wish to call the attention of their brethren, throughout the country, to the wants of the treasury. In obedience to the voice of the churches, as expressed in the General Convention, and in other modes, as well as in compliance with their own sense of duty to the Savior, the Board have multiplied their missionary stations, have sent out successive bands of laborers, have erected presses, and have established schools, till they find themselves charged with the care of a very extensive system of operations, and responsible for a heavy annual expenditure. They now have, under their direction, twenty-three missions, thirty-four missionary stations, one hundred and thirty-two missionaries, besides about thirty native assistants in the printing department; twenty-one churches; twenty-eight schools, and five presses. The missionaries are toiling faithfully to promote the spread of the gospel, relying with confidence on their brethren in America for support. They have devoted their lives to the service of Christ among the heathen, and they ask only, that the churches at home will aid them by their prayers, and will furnish a moderate provision for their subsistence. The Board have assumed the responsibility of sustaining them; but they find their expenses far outrunning their income. There was a deficiency, the last year, of more than twenty thousand dollars, and unless there shall be a large augmentation of the funds, during the current year, the treasury Missionary Rooms, July 15, 1836. must soon be burdened with a heavy debt. The Board feel, that it would be wrong to diminish their efforts; to discontinue a The Board must call earnestly on the denomination for help. Let each individual feel, that there must be an increase of his former contributions; and let those who have hitherto withheld their aid, now share in the blessed work. Let them not wait for agents of the Board. Such agents will be employed, so far as it may be possible to obtain them; but the churches ought not to need any extraneous agency. A church is, by its very constitution, a society for the advancement of the Savior's kingdom; and each pastor is, by his office, an agent, within his own sphere, for the promotion of every enterprize which claims the support of the church. Let, then, all the missionary societies, churches, pastors, and individual Christians, remember the claims of a world lying in wickedness; and their responsibility to their brethren who have gone forth, on behalf of the churches, to labor for the heathen. Above all, let them often reflect on the example and the commands of the Savior. Let them act, constantly, in the spirit of that prayer which he has taught them,-"Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth, as it is done in heaven." On behalf, and by direction of the Board, Recent Intelligence. SHANS. Our latest advices from this mis single station; to recall one missionary; orsion are contained in the following extract of to stop a single press. They must, on the contrary, go forward. They have already received, and intend to send forth, without delay, several additional missionaries. a letter from Mr. Brown, dated Below Gowahati, Jan. 18, 1836. I hasten to drop you a line from this place to inform you that we are all in the enjoyment of health, and have thus far had a comfortable journey up the river. We are now four hundred miles or more from Calcutta, and should have been up much farther, had it not been for shallow water in passing from the Húgli to the Ganges, which caused us a detention of a week or more. We have procured a Shyan teacher, and are engaged in studying the Shyan language, which we find to be entirely different from the Burman. The Louvre, which sailed for Calcutta the 22d of Sept. last, arrived at the mouth of the Hoogly, Feb. 2, and at Kedgeree, 40 miles up the river, the day following, whence she was to sail shortly for Amherst and Singapore. The missionaries destined to Orissa and the Telingas, left the Louvre at Kedgeree, and were at Calcutta at our last date, Feb. 8. All the missionaries were in good health. Donations from June 15 to July 15, 1836. Richmond, Va., Fem. Miss. Soc. 1st Bap. ch., 2d Bap. ch., Youth's Miss. Soc. 2d Bap. ch., other sources, per Rev. S. Cornelius, Agent, "A friend," bal. for Mag., per J. Putnam, Canonsburg, Pa., Presb. S. S., 6,28-Fem. pr. meeting, ,67, for Bur. West Topsham, Vt., mon. con., per J. Putnam, Newburyport, col. for meeting house at Bassa Cove, West Africa, per Central Union Asso., Pa.,-Holmesburg, 15,-Roxborough Bible Soc., 50, 43, 103,50 933,50 1130, ,50 6,95 4, 5, 11,06 1, 160,40 Collected by N. S. Johnson, Esq., 136, and by Rev. A. Bennett, 1200, 1336, Pembroke, Me., a friend, for Bur. Bible, per A. Hayden, Esq., East Jersey Miss. Soc., N. J., for For. Miss., of which, Newark Fem. East Avon, N. Y., S. Allyn, for Bur. Bib.,,50-Volney, J. Smith, 4,87, Cayuga Bap. For. Miss. Soc., per Dea. P. Crossman, Tr., ten dolls. of Norwich, Ct., Ladies of Bap. ch. and cong., a box of clothing for Chummerah station, valued at $37,71. 105,15 1496,40 5, 5, 900, 200, 10, 50, 1,50 404,85 5, 189,55 4525,96 H LINCOLN, Treasurer. Churches in Liberia. The Baptist churches in Liberia, as is generally known, have been greatly prospered in a spiritual respect the past year, and have built or are desirous of building, severally, houses of public worship. Most of the colonists, however, who are members of the churches, are poor; some of them, recaptured Africans. They need, and urgently solicit the aid of their Christian friends in America. Letters to this effect have been lately received from Dr. Skinner, and Messrs. Crocker and Mylne. It is ardently hoped, that their application will be favorably regarded, and that contributions in aid of the object, will be early forwarded to the Treasurer of the Board. The number of meeting. houses to be provided is five, at a cost of from 300 to 500 dollars each. JOURNAL OF MR. KINCAID. Sept. 6, 1835. Lord's-day. Had a small assembly in the morning, and some visiters during the day. 7. At ten o'clock this morning, we had the pleasure of bidding Mr. and Mrs. Simons a most cordial welcome. They have been forty days in getting up the river. 11. I have introduced br. Simons to some of the Government people, that they might perceive that we were neither afraid nor ashamed to let ourselves or character be known. Those we have seen appear friendly. among them was a palace officer, whom I did not know. He, on learning that we were religious teachers, entered into an animated conversation; but he appeared more anxious to try the edge of his logical sword, than to gain information. Burmese Idolatry-Encouraging Appearance of Moung Bong-Visiters from the borders of Kathay. 23. It being a Burman worship-day, we had an unusual number of visiters, to most of whom we gave tracts. Just at evening I went to a celebrated temple; it was lighted up with candles made of bees-wax, and around a huge black idol a crowd of all ages, from ten to ninety years old, were prostrated, 12. Received a written order to-day and all uttering with the greatest rapidfrom the Woongees, directing us to ap-ity a distich of Pali. An idol ten times pear before them to-morrow morning. as large as life, seated upon his throne, Here follows an account of the reception down upon his worshippers; then the and with glaring eye-balls looking of Mr. Simons, as given at page 188, of our last number. The journal then proceeds,-ness of the night rendered more gloomy antiquity of this vast pile, and the darkI believe in the special providence of God. He who notices the falling sparrow, and hears the ravens cry, is a present help in every time of need.His language now is, as of old, "Fear not, for I am with thee; be not dismayed, for I am thy God." 19. More or less visiters daily, but no individual cases particularly interesting. Some days we have one hundred or more, but commonly not more than twenty-five or thirty. 21. In company with Mr. Simons, made an excursion into the eastern part of the city; called on a Musselman merchant, who was in company with br. Simons coming up the river. He was very friendly, gave us the best place in his house, said if he could be of any service to us, he should be exceedingly glad. Several Burmans came in, and by the faint light emitted from the flickering tapers; and then the thought that an ocean of immortal beings had here drunk deep from the fountains of sin, and had ripened for destruction, all this before the eyes, and in the mind, and who could remain unmoved? Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there? Is the Lord's arm shortened, that he cannot save? No; there is a balm, there is a physician, and the arm of the Lord is mighty to save. With these feelings I began speaking, and it was not long before I had the ears of the crowd. They listened till I was tired and walked away. October 1. For eight or ten days past, we have had about twenty-five visiters daily, though, among them all, I do not recollect a single case particularly interesting. |