The Universal Language of John Wilkins:
Pronunciation Guide
The table below provides suggested pronunciations, showing both the phonetic system used in the Essay and the International Phonetic Alphabet. Click on an element to hear it read aloud on IPA-Reader.com, or click here to see (and hear) the full IPA chart. Note that the original text reflects educated pronunciation in late 17th century London, while this digital version uses contemporary Received Pronunciation (i.e., BBC English). See further below for a guide on the rules for pronouncing entire words.
Guide to the Spoken Language
To construct words in the spoken language, fifteen different rules were identified
(pages 415-17); these are summarized below, in a slightly different order than in the text. A speculative sixteenth rule is also described.The rules to generate basic words (1-5) are straightforward; the other rules are more complex. In several cases, rules seem inconsistent, such as the different treatment of genera and differences (rule 6) or just of genera (rules 11 and 14). Certain applications are unclear (rules 2, 6, 10, and 15) and discretion was required during the digitization.
Base form of the word
- One consonant for the genus.
- An additional “l” or “r” if the species is greater than nine.
- It is unclear when “r” would ever be used, since Wilkins only uses “l” in his examples, which exhaust the only cases where this is possible (after “G” and “Z”).
- One vowel for the genus.
- One constant for the difference.
- One vowel for species 1-7, two vowels for species 8 and 9.
Affinities and opposites
- For genera and differences, the addition of a leading vowel: repeating the first vowel for affinities, and inverting the first vowel for opposites.
- The text is unclear on how to invert a leading “y.” Here, it is proposed that Wilkins intends “e,” since no genus ends in “ŏ.”
- For species and radicals, the addition of a terminal consonant: repeating the second consonant for affinities and adding “s” for opposites.
- For double opposites, in addition to the terminal “s”, appending “la” or “lo” for opposites by way of excess or defect respectively.
Adjectives and adverbs
- For adjectives, transforming the consonant associated with the genus.
- Though Wilkins worries that this rule will conflict with Rule #2, as the digitization reveals, “l” can easily be added to form “Zhl” and “Glŏ.”
- For adverbs, transforming the vowel associated with the genus into a diphthong (generally by appending “i” to the vowel associated with the genus), as indicated on page 371.
- The text is unclear on how to create diphthongs for “y,” “yi,” and “yŏ.” Here, “ýi”, “ýii”, and “ýŏi” have been used.
- By implication, adverbs formed from genus oppositions also require application of rule #6. In the digitization, it has been assumed that this means first transforming the vowel into a diphthong, then adding the diphthong of the inverted vowel to the front of the word.
Abstract and active/passive forms
- For abstract genera (but not differences), adding an “r” after the vowel associated with the genus.
- For all other abstract words, transforming the consonant.
- For active and passive words, adding an “l” or “m” respectively after the vowel associated with the genus.
- Though the text reads “n,” his example uses “m,” and this convention has been used in the digitization.
Plurals
- For plural substantives and adjectives of genera, adding “ŏ” to the vowel associated with the genus.
- For plural substantives and adjectives of species and radicals, extending the vowel associated with the genus.
- Here, “ő” has been used for the accented “ŏ.”
- Wilkins does not describe how to form plural adverbs. Here, we assume that rules #10 and #15 apply, and the diphthong is extended, by appending “i” to the vowel.
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