410 



THE VOICE 



The English I is really a diphthong and is pronounced by 

 rapidly uttering the component unit sounds, e.g. I (as in fight) 

 = AI = ah-ee. 



Consonants are not continuous, but are sharply interrupted 

 sounds. The issuing air is suddenly shut off by the lips to give 

 the labials ; by the teeth to produce dentals ; by the tongue to 

 give rise to gutturals. If the check occurs before the sound is 

 produced, and the air is suddenly released, explosives are the 

 result. The characteristic sounds of some consonants, e.g. M 

 and N (which are mechanically the same as B and D), are produced 

 by keeping patent the posterior opening of the nares. In this 



U = F 



=B^ 

 A = B" 



1 = F, Z)^^ 



at 



u 



-Gh- 



o 



E 



I 



Fig. 97 (Starling). — Values obtained by percussing mouth cavity wliile sliaped for the 

 pronunciation of the vowels. 



w&y some of the air comes continuously through the resonant 

 nasal passages. 



All these with the exception of the hard consonants [e.g. B 

 and D) can be pronounced quite well without the use of the 

 larynx. The hard consonants are accompanied by phonation. 

 Thus, although in pronouncing D there is a check at the teeth, 

 the production of the laryngeal sound goes on. 



The work done in speaking and in singing is complex. Many 

 muscles are brought into play and the energy expended by them 

 varies with the rate of speech and the intensity of the sound 

 produced. The pressure of air employed in ordinary quiet co 

 versation amounts to between 140 and 240 mm. of HoO, wh-i 

 nearly 1,000 mm. are required when shouting is indulged in. 



