An Enquiry into the Truth of the Tradition, Concerning the - Discovery of America, by Prince Madog ab Owen Gwynedd, about the Year, 1170 by John Williams
page 73 of 74 (98%)
page 73 of 74 (98%)
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the Universal History seem to have mistook Hakluyt. Besides Hakluyt
says, he received this account from Guttun Owen; from whom Llwyd also received his Information; it is not therefore likely that Hakluyt should differ so materially from his Authorities. In page 51, it is observed that when the Romans invaded this Island, the Ancient Britons used the Greek Alphabetical Character in writing. This is expressly said by Julius Cæsar. The Welsh tongue on this Day bears a strong resemblance, in Words and Letters to the Hebrew and Greek. Instances may be seen in a Pamphlet, published in 1783, entitled, _Thoughts_ on the Origin of Language, &c. The Gutturals in the three Languages are founded much alike. The [Illustration], Hebrew, the X, Greek. and the Ch. in Welsh are pronounced exactly alike. The English, make very little, if any difference in pronunciation, between the Greek X, and the K, both are sounded like the English K. but they have a very different sound; of which no Idea can be conveyed, but by articulation. It is very familiar to the Welsh, and to the Scots, Irish and Germans. The, _w_ Omega, Greek, in the Welsh, is the O long, and of the same figure, and sound. Thus in English, "good" in Welsh is written, "gwd." There can hardly be any doubt but that the Roman Characters were introduced by the Romans; and, as more simple, soon became general. The Greek, of consequence, gradually declined. However the Britons seems to have preserved the sound, though not the Form of their Alphabetical Characters. It may however be thought probable, as hath been above observed, |
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