28%

marks could be used or omitted at will, and non-Natives would then have less difficulty in reading literature printed for the Natives.

After some discussion a vote was taken and by a majority of 18 votes to 6 it was decided that ¢ and 9 should be introduced in the alphabet for use when necessary.

The Central Vowel.

There was some discussion on the use of 9 in preference to the 6 recommended by most of the Committees, particularly on the ground that the use of 6 violated the principle of avoiding diacritical marks.

THE CHAIRMAN pointed out that the choice was between violating the principle and adding a new sign. The Conference had on many occasions deprecated the use of more new signs than could be helped. It was therefore a choice of evils, and convenience should prevail.

The question was then put to the vote and the use of 6 adopted by a large majority.

Tones.

The Conference agreed that tones should only be distinguished by the use of an acute accent for high tones, and that even this should only be used when definitely necessary.

Vowels.

The principle of expressing long vowels by writing the vowel letter twice was discussed and adopted.

ARCHDEACON SHAW wished to record a warning to the effect that in Dinka the apparent az diphthong before the palatalized consonants c,7, ny, y should be written as an a and not asa diphthong. He agreed that “the discrimination of the different values of the vowels (open and close vowels, etc.) was unnecessary when writing for Natives but, as it was essential in books intended for the non- Native, confusion between the two methods would result.

In the course of a discussion, in which Mr. Heasry, Miss HuFrMan, and others took part, general agreement was reached to the effect. that the signs for the open vowels should be adopted for use where necessary. Only detailed examination of a language could show whether such a necessity existed.

Capitals.

The Conference recommended that capitals should be used. There was some discussion as to the form of the capital to be adopted for e and € respectively, and it was eventually agreed that the ordinary capital E should be used for e and a larger form of & for the capital form of that letter.

ARCHDEACON Suaw: If the orthography new recommended were adopted, Missions would be put to a considerable expense’ in printing