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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 68

Paihia June 13, 1842

page 48

"My dear Sir

Paihia

"I enclose for the consideration of the Committee a few printed Maori sentences, as a specimen of certain proposed alterations, which, for some time past, have been had in contemplation by different individuals who have given their attention to the Native language; one of which, it is thought, it is highly expedient should be adopted with as little delay as possible.

"I believe that it is now very generally conceded, by all parties understanding the Native tongue and competent to give an opinion thereon, that some character is still wanting to represent that sound in such common use, and hitherto known in oral communication by the combined consonant! "wh" Believing this, it is not my intention to say anything further on the necessity of selecting some character to represent the same.

"Among several characters that have been from time to time proposed by different persons, to convey the idea of the sound under consideration, the following are the principal viz. the "wh" (which has been lately partially adopted by the Wesleyan Missionaries in their books, and by the Rev. R. Maunsell in his "Grammar,")—the inverted comma "' ",—the apostrophe" ' ",—the "f",—and the "v". Printed sentenced containing these characters, I now lay before the Committee on whom it will devolve to say,—which shall be chosen to distinguish this peculiar and hitherto undistinguished sound.

"I beg, also, to offer a few remarks, which I venture to hope may not prove altogether unworthy the attention of the Committee.

1. "That the "wh," though at present in partial use, being two consonants is at variance with the universally acknowledged fundamental rule of all the Polynesian dialects—of no two consonants without a vowel between. If, however, it be urged, that the "wh" is here to be considered as only one character, then it will, of course, have to stand in the Alphabet under its own proper name; and therefore,—from its possessing a heavy inelegant appearance, from its taking up much room in printing (owing to its size), and much time in writing from its complex shape,—I think it should be rejected.

2. "That the character wanted being intended to represent a true and distinct consonant-sound, and not merely the lengthening nor the shortening of a sound already produced by any one of the present number of consonants, the proposed addition of an inverted comma, or apostrophe, to the "w" would not be at all adequate to the thing required! Besides which, either is liable to the same objection as thai already adduced against the "wh"—the being at variance page 49 with all the printed Polynesian dialects. To say nothing of the very hiatus-like appearance which such marks always impart to printed pages, particularly in long words and with large type.

3. "That in my proposing the "v" to represent the character in question, it has been borne in mind,—1. that it is already in use in several of the Polynesian dialects:—2. that it is a small and neat, and (in writing) a quickly-formed I character:—3. that the Rev. J. Hobbs (at present the Wesleyan Superintendent,) has promised to use his influence in getting the "v" substituted for the "wh" (now used by them,) should the Church Missionary Committee of Missionaries adopt it,:—4. that the Rev. R. Maunsell has informed me, that he intends using it for the future in his "Grammar," now in course of printing at Auckland, and which will doubtless (if not already in use) be adopted by the Government;—and, 5. that from a similarity (though distant) in the Maori sound, for I. which a character is now sought, to the sound of the English "v," future Missionaries and new-comers generally will be assisted in reading in the pronunciation of the same.

"In conclusion, and with the utmost deference, I beg permission to express my hope, that in the consideration of the matter in question, each Member of Committee will ingenuously dismiss from his mind those prejudices which, too often, unfortunately, stick as closely to the skirts of abstract literary and scientific questions as to other matters whether social or political.

I am &c.,

crest

Harding, Printer, Napier.

(signed)

William Colenso,

Superintendent C.M. Press."

"Mr. R. Davis,

Secretary, Northern District Committee."