420 Professor Latham on Phonetics. 



To form the subphosphate of potash (3KO, P0 5 ), one-sixth 

 of an equivalent of phosphoric acid, 7 - 43 grains, was mixed 

 with half an equivalent of potash : — 



Before mixture . . 63°-61 63°'67 63°-69 



After mixture . . . 67°'87 67°'93 67°-99 

 Rise of temperature . 4°*26 4°-26 4°-30 



Twice the mean result, 4°-27, is 8°*54 F., which is the heat 

 disengaged on neutralizing each of 3 equivalents of potash by 

 a single equivalent of phosphoric acid. 



The heat therefore disengaged in the gradual saturation of 

 phosphoric acid by 3 equivalents of potash may be thus dis- 

 tributed : — 

 By first equivalent of potash . . 10 0, 00 

 ... second ... ... . . 8°-08 



... third . . 7°'54 



25°'62 = 8'54 X 3. 



LX. Facts and Observations relative to the Science of Phonetics. 

 By Professor Latham. (No. III.) 



TN two preceding Numbers the connection was indicated be- 

 •*- tween the mutes and the liquids, on the one hand, and the 

 mutes and the semivowels on the other. In respect to this 

 latter connection, it was stated that the sounds of p, b, J' and v 

 formed a sequence with the sound of w; and that the same 

 took place between the sounds allied to k and g, and the sound 

 of the semivowel y. Hence the sequences 

 p b f v 

 k g v. y 



Beyond this, however, there is an undoubted sequence be- 

 tween the semivowels and the vowels. W is connected with 

 the oo in look', y with the ee in feet. This is the fact that gives 

 to the semivowels their name of half vowel; the sequence having 

 been universally recognised. 



In this connection of the semivowels {y and w) with the 



vowels {ee and oo) on the one side, and with the mutes (y and 



v) on the other, we find the connecting link between the vowels 



and the consonants generally. Hence we have the sequences 



p b f v J w u (= oo in look) 



k g k y I y i (= ee in feet) 



This circumstance gives a prominent character to the vowels 

 i and w, and also to the series of mutes wherein v and g occur. 

 It does not, however, give the affinities and sequences of the 

 vowels. This, however, we know ; for without going further 

 back than the researches of Professor Willis, as explained in 



to 



y 



