Note 566 — Chapter IV · BEER AND JACQUET TO RAWLINSON—A.D. 1838-1846

Rawlinson wrote, early in 1846: ‘The cause of the affinity of the vowel i for the characters j, t, m and v can neither be explained, nor can we perceive any uniform effect which the coalition produces upon the phonetic power of the consonant. I can only illustrate the formation of the different groups by adverting to the law which still prevails in the Tartarian dialects, requiring the juxtaposition of certain vowels with consonants in order to render the latter articulable; and by observing that, as a similar rule appears to hold good in the so-called Median alphabet, which has every indication of a Scythic origin, it is not improbable that the Persian writing may have been indebted to that source for so remarkable a deviation from the true principles of Arian orthography.’ J. R. A. S. x. 65.