2. The sound expressed by the letter f in far, soft, afraid ; and by ph in physic, phenomenon, aphorism.
This sound is caused by the breath being made to pass out by the mouth, without any previous vibration, while the under lip and upper teeth are exactly in the position necessary for the utterance of the 17th laryn gatal sound.
3. The sound expressed by the letter t in nation ; by ch in Champaign ; by sh in spew, ashamed, push.
This sound depends on the same situation of parts within the mouth as the 19th laryngxal sound, the breath passing through without any previous vibration in the larynx.
4. The sound expressed by the letters th in the words thick, athwart, path.
This sound is caused by the breath passing out be tween the tongue and upper teeth, placed exactly as in the 20th laryngxal sound, but without any previous vi bration in the larynx.
5. That soft but distinct sound accompanying the emission of the breath, which we perceive at the end of the words at, sleep, rack, and which occurs between the two sounds expressed by the letters k and n in the word acknowledge.
Thus we find, that there are 26 distinct sounds, La. ryngeal and Oral, employed in the English language.
But it is to be remarked in the next place, that there are certain modes, according to which, if these sounds be either begun or ended, a material alteration will often be produced in their meaning.
These Modes are five in number.
The 1st Mode is expressed by the letter c, in coal, acme, siroc ; and by k in koran, make, lark.
This Mode consists in placing the tongue precisely in the same situation as in the pronunciation of the 12th La ryngeal sound, keeping it firmly there, and at the same time urging the breath against it, without any vibration in the larynx.
The 2d Mode is marked by the letter h in hold, un happy.
This depends on a short and quick action of the mus cles of expiration, by which the breath is urged forward with greater velocity than ordinary, and the sound, at its commencement, receives a sudden sort of impulse.
This Mode is never employed to terminate sounds, but only to begin them.
The al Mode is marked by the letter p in pay, up hold, stop.
This Mode is caused by the velum of the palate and the lips being brought into the same situation as in ut tering the 10th laryngxal sound, and kept steadily there, and then by the breath's being urged forward against the lips, without suffering any vibration in the larynx.
The 4th is marked by the letter t in table, atone, tat.
This Mode depends on the breath's being urged for ward, without any vibration, into the mouth, the tongue being placed exactly in the same situation as in pronoun cing the llth laryngzval sound.
The 5th Mode is marked by the letter co in ward, awake, word, wound.
This Mode consists in urging the lips a little forward, bringing them into contact, so as to leave only a small hole in the middle, and then smartly enlarging that ori fice the instant the sound begins. The extent to which the orifice is enlarged, depends on the nature of the sound which is to follow.
These few remarks on the elementary sounds of our language, are intended chiefly for the instructor of the Deaf and Dumb, not for the pupil himself. We have thought it proper to introduce them here, because the nations on this subject, which prevail in our coin noun w•iiks on iv seelli to us %cry vague and in t of It (im in teaching the Di af-mutc p t„ t in Si t stun, all 010%1 sounds w huh we ) 1 ot t (-1-..144 t. ht t n desci ibed. with so much
I t by t.ti 5%1 1 1,35 had the most ample experi e,,e in the all, Watson, that we cannot do better ti.-11 rile It in 1,11 Uw i %soros.
effect tills,• sal s Lc, •• and to habituate the pu pil to - chex the sound u Lich he i. learning to fc,roi, %site the figure of tl.e It tier which is to be Its ',presen t this is enstii ctly "'aced upon part, or any eon % et It f t ta.Act, and I.e i, made to look at It !Or a minute r I tt if of •cute intellect, will look up i snme anxi t in his euuntenatice, as if he would t 14: IN to ,.() %%t'll it. The sound is then slowly a) I 1 hv prt-n d, ,aid the Ica' her made to observe, 1.1 , c v s, the posi•iuo and motion of the external or - , of spot el , na Io fiel the astrictiott of the muscles nt :Lt lary ox, I y ing his finger upon the throat, tart It ty n akin, elm i•eicti,e the difference to be felt It soul" Having made these obsenat,e s lot a ni.nute or mu, he will seldom hesitate to attempt at imitation of %mit he has been observing, al II that lot the most successfully. When the con trary is the t ase, nothing more is necessary than patient and c,rio,l-natured perseverance ; for if he perceive that his foilure has excited chagrin or disappointment in his tt at her, lit u ill nuke another elfin t with great reluctance. The sound once acquired, must be practised sufficiently to asoitl any danger of losing it; for the greatest care must be taken all through his progress, never to pro ceed to a new sound till the preceding has become fami liar, and unattended with doubt as to the manner of pro oir.r ing it. A connTry practice would lead to endless vexation. A principal requisite is to keep the learner in good humour, and to make him think that he is doing %%61 beyond expectation,—nothing is more discouraging than to put him back." On a comparison of the elementary Sounds of our 1 in,nage, and the various .Modes of beginning and end ing ti em, with the written characters by which they are rept esented, it will be easily seen, that our alphabet is extremely imperlect. There is not a distinct letter for ach simple sound, and for each mode of beginning and !di ig; hut some sounds and modes arc represented by one letter, and others by a combination of letters ; some times one letter or combination is the mark of several different sounds or modes; and sometimes one sound or mode is expressed by several different letters or combl nati A•.. It is t is, among other circumstances, which ter (lets the pronouncing dictionary so necessary even to natives of our own country, and which occasions so much difficulty to the foreigner, and to persons in the on of ti•e deaf and dumb. With a view nut to perplex the pupil in his first les in demi taw sounds, we would recommend, that on,y one mode of representing each sound be chosen at tl.c cement; the various other modes will be pointed of t arils, w hen the uses of the different ILtters of tI c ,Aph.ihet are folly exemplified. Thus the tic r r m y be ,el, cal, to represent the 4th Laryngeal so n I in the (list instal cc ; and it may be afterwards shewn, that t ,e same sound is often expressed by a, ai, Ca, and ci.