Note 171 — Chapter IV · PHONOLOGY AND SEMATOLOGY. (continued 2)

“The Japanese ṛ,” says Mr. Sweet, “seems to be formed by first bringing the tip of the tongue against the gums without any emission of breath, and then passing on to an untrilled r, allowing voiced breath to pass at the moment of removing the tongue.” The sound has been mistaken for r, l, or even d, and as it is substituted for all foreign l’s and r’s, the Japanese tendency to change l into r has been contrasted with the Chinese tendency to change r into l. It is possible that the Old Egyptian possessed the same curious sound.