A Little Book of French Grammar, Translated into Latin

ON THE PRONUNCIATION of letters.

The pronunciation of our letters differs little from the pronunciation of Latin ones, except in the following.

C

c For the most part is pronounced as in Latin. Sometimes before a, o, u, it is pronounced with the sound of the letter s, Commença, Leçon, Façon, Apperçoy, Reçeut, as if you were writing Commenſa, Leſon, Faſon, Apperſoy, Reſeut. Very often, to soften the utterance (so that it is not pronounced as in Cato, Condo, Sicut), an 'e' is inserted, Commençea, Commençeons, Reçeut.

E

E At the beginning of words it is sometimes pronounced quickly and briefly, and as if with a half-sound: such as Pelér, where Pe is pronounced more quickly and lér more lengthily. Sometimes more lengthily, such as Réciter, Réueler: and for the most part in words that have two consonants after the e, such as Celle, Eſleuer, Eſbatre. Similarly, in the middle, it is sometimes quicker, such as Amener, Appeller; sometimes it is brought forth more lengthily, such as Amére, Entiére; and for the most part when two consonants follow the e, such as Commettre, Entendre. But when it is at the end, it is also pronounced variably. Sometimes with a longer and produced sound, such as Aimé, with the mouth open so that it may be pronounced with a more produced sound: and then we often mark it with the acute accent of the Latins, especially where one might doubt the meaning, such as Aimé, Poureté, Grauité. Sometimes it is pronounced with a middle sound, closing the mouth: then the preceding syllable is brought forth with a longer sound, such as Sapience, Iuſtice, Chambre. Such is its pronunciation when it is doubled in feminine participles,