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[203b]

Socrates
Come now, in the same manner give me the explanation of the S.

Theaetetus
How can one give any elements of an element? For really, Socrates, the S is a voiceless letter,1 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.

Socrates
In this point, then, my friend, it would seem that we have reached a right conclusion about knowledge.

Theaetetus
I think we have.


1 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.

Plato. Plato in Twelve Volumes, Vol. 12 translated by Harold N. Fowler. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1921.

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