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SOC. Probably this particular statement is so; for what knowledge could there still be apart from reason and right opinion? One point, however, in what has been said is unsatisfactory to me.
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THEAET. What point?
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SOC. Just that which seems to be the cleverest; the assertion that the elements are unknowable and the class of combinations is knowable.
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THEAET. Is that not right?
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SOC. We are sure to find out, for we have as hostages the examples which he who said all this used in his argument.
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THEAET. What examples?
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SOC. The elements in writing, the letters of the alphabet, and their combinations, the syllables Στοιχεῖον and συλλαβή originally general terms for element and combination, became the common words for letter and syllable.; or do you think the author of the statements we are discussing had something else in view?
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THEAET. No; those are what he had in view.
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SOC. Let us, then, take them up and examine them, or rather, let us examine ourselves and see whether it was in accordance with this theory, or not, that we learned letters. First then, the syllables have a rational explanation, but the letters have not?
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THEAET. I suppose so.
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SOC. I think so, too, decidedly. Now if anyone should ask about the first syllable of Socrates; Theaetetus, tell me, what is SO? What would you reply?
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THEAET. I should say S and O.
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SOC. This, then, is your explanation of the syllable?
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THEAET. Yes.
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SOC. Come now, in the same manner give me the explanation of the S.
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THEAET. How can one give any elements of an element? For really, Socrates, the S is a voiceless letter, The distinction here made is that which we make between vowels and consonants. The seven Greek vowels are α, ε, η, ι, ο, υ, ω called φωνήεντα. a mere noise, as of the tongue hissing; B again has neither voice nor noise, nor have most of the other letters; and so it is quite right to say that they have no explanation, seeing that the most distinct of them, the seven vowels, have only voice, but no explanation whatsoever.