{a} as in f{a}r, except when followed by {n} or {h}, when it has the
sound of {a} is m{a}n or m{a}t.
{e} as in pr{e}y; before {h} it has the sound of {e} as in m{e}t.
{i} as in capr{i}ce; before {h} or {ng} it is shortened to {i} as in
m{i}t or s{i}ng.
{au} as in {Au}gust.
{o} as in s{o}.
{oo} as in {oo} in t{oo}.
{oe} as in œ G{oe}the (German ö).
{eu} as in French Monsi{eu}r.
{u} as in {oo} in f{oo}t (always preceded by an {s} sound).
{ui} as in fruit (or rather, French ü).
In {ia}, {iau}, {ieu} and {ie}, we have short {i} followed closely by
{a}, {au}, {eu}, and {e}, as described above.
Of course it is understood that the Chinese sounds in a majority of
cases vary somewhat from the English sounds which are given as the
nearest equivalent. The true pronunciation of Chinese sounds should be
learned from a Chinese teacher, and the student should always bear it
in mind that {any Romanization used does not represent English sounds,
but Chinese sounds}. This fact can not be too strongly emphasized.
The DOK-YOONG Z-MOO—“Initials {used alone},” i.e., without vowels,
are—{ts}, {tsh}, {dz}, {s}, {z}, {m}, {ng}, and {r}. The first five
are followed by the vowel sound in the second syllable of
{able}—prolonged. Mateer and Baller use {ï} for this sound and the new
Mandarin Romanized uses {i}[C0]. It is not written, but understood in
the Shanghai system. {m} has the sound of {m} in chas{m} and {ng} the
sound of {ng} in ha{ng}er. {r} is a sound between final {r} and {l}.