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Show Additionall\rotes. X. Thus the letter x is compounded of ks, or of gz, as in the word:; excellent, example: eksellcnt, egzample. C. is sometimes k, at other times s, as in the word access. G. is a single letter in go; and suggests the letters d and the French J in pigeon. Qu is kw, as quality is kwality. N G in the words long and in king is a simple sound like the French nl and wants a new character. SH is a simple sounu, and wants a new character. TH is either sibilant as in thigh; or semi vocal as in thee; both of which are simple sounds, and want two new characters. J french e_· ists in onr words confusion, and conclusion, judge, pigeon, and wants a character. J consonant, in our language, expresses the letters d, and the French j conjoiuecl, as in John, Djon. CII is either k as in Arch-angel, or is used for a sound compounded of Tsh, as in Childreu, Tshildren. G L is dl, as Glove is pronounced by polite people dlove·. C.L is tl, as Cloe is pronounced by polite speakers Tloe. The spelling of our language in respect to the pronuncia6on is also wonderfully defective, though perhaps less so than that of the French; as the words slaughter and laughter are pronounced totally different, though spelt alike. The word sough, now pronounced suft: was formerly called sow; whence the iron fused and received into a sough acquired the name of sowmetal; and that received into less soughs from the former one obtained the name of pigs of iron or of lead; from the pun on the word sough, into sow and pigs. Our word jealousies contains all the vowel , though three of them only were necessary; nevertheless in the two words abstemiously and facetiously the vowels cxi~t all of them in their usual order,_ and are pronounced in their most usual manner. Some of the vowels of our language are diphthongs, and consist of two vocal sounds, or vowels, pronounced in quick succession; these diphthongs are discovered by prolonging the sound, and observing, if the ending of it be different from the beginning; thus the vowel i in Analysis of A rtic~date Sounds. 109 in. our language, as in the word high, if drawn out ends in the sound of the letter e as u eel in English; which is expressed by the letter i in most other lano·uao·es · a d tl ._, t' 1 · · • ' t:l o · n 1e sounu o t 11s vowel 1 bco·ins with ah aud consists .therefore of ah and ec. Whilst the diphtho~1g ou in ou~ language, as m the word how, begins with ah also and ends 1n oo ancl the. vowel u. of o~r language, as in the word use, is hkewise a diphtl:ong; wlu.ch begms w1th e and ends with oo, as eoo. The French u is alsa ~diphthong cm.npo.undccl of a and oo, as aoo. And many other defects and redundancies m our alphabet will be seen by perusing the subse-.. quent structure of a more perfect one. II. P1·oduction of Sounds. By our organ of hearing we perceive the vibrations of the air· which vibrations are performed in more . or in less time, which con~ stitutes high or low notes in respect to the gammut; but the tone depen.ds on the kind of instrument which produces them. In speaking of articulate sounds they may be conveniently divided first into clear contin~e~l sounds, expressed by the letters called vowels; secondly> Into htss~ng sounds, expressed by the letters call eel sibilants; thirdly) Into sennvoca1 sounds, which consist of a Inixture of the two former:· and, lastly, Into 1nte.rrupted 11ounds, represented by the letters pro~ perly termed consonants. The clear continued sounds are produced by the streams of air passing from the lungs in respiration through the larynx; which is furnished with many small muscles, which by their action give a proper tension to the extremity of this tube; and the sounds, I suppose, are produced by the opening and closing of its aperture; something like the trumpet stop of an organ, q.s may bG observed by blowing through the wind-pipe of a dead gooso. These sounds would all be nearly similar except in their being an octave or two hibo·her or lower; but they are modulated aOb 'ain , . or acquire various tones, in their passage through the mouth; which thus con verts them into eight vowels, as will be explaine.d; below. |