[203a]
Socrates
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?Theaetetus
I suppose so.Socrates
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?Theaetetus
I should say “S and O.”Socrates
This, then, is your explanation of the syllable?Theaetetus
Yes.
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?Theaetetus
I suppose so.Socrates
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?Theaetetus
I should say “S and O.”Socrates
This, then, is your explanation of the syllable?Theaetetus
Yes.