PRONUNCIATION.

A little attention to the diacritical points will enable the reader to readily pronounce the proper names in Persian literature.

These points, however, have been largely omitted in the foot-notes, the system of pronunciation being fully indicated in the body of the book.

A—a is pronounced as in rural.
Ā—ā ”         ” tar, father, etc.
I—i ”         ” fill.
Ī—ī ”         ” police.
U—u ”         ” full.
Ū—ū ”         ” rude.
Ṛi—ṛi ”         ” merrily.
Ṛī—ṛī ”         ” marine.
Ṉ—ṉ ”         ” like n in the French mon.
Ṇ—ṇ ”         ” none (ṇuṇ).
Ḥ—ḥ is a distinct aspirate.
Kh—kh sounded like ch in church.
Kh—kh pronounced as in inkhorn.
Ć—ć ”         ” as ch in church.
Ćh—ćh ”         ” churchhill.
Ṭ—ṭ ”         ” true
Ṭh—ṭh ”         ” anthill.
Ḍ—ḍ ”         ” drum.
Ḍh—ḍh ”         ” red haired.
Ś—ś ”         ” sure.

Fac Simile of a Portion of a Page of the Oldest Zend Manuscript.
(See Page 117.

PERSIAN LITERATURE.