Tafel.] 292 [October. 



raised, and when the opening of the mouth is at the same time en- 

 larged, we obtain the sound of a in father. Upon raising the middle 

 of the tongue, in the anterior part of the mouth, about midway, and, 

 at the same time, keeping the opening of the mouth enlarged, we 

 find that there is a transition from the sound of a m father to that 

 of e in edge or a in age. If, then, we continue to raise the middle 

 of the tongue, until we reach the roof of the mouth, still keeping the 

 opening of the mouth enlarged, we obtain the sound of i in machine. 

 If, in pronouncing the sound of i in machine, we contract the open- 

 ing of the mouth to the utmost of its capacity and, at the same time, 

 thrust the lips forward, then gradually draw the middle of the 

 tongue into the posterior part of the mouth, suffering it there to 

 touch the soft palate, it will be found that there is a transition from 

 the sound of i in machine into that of u in flute. If, then, we there 

 lower the raised part of the tongue about midway, and, at the same 

 time, relax somewhat the contraction of the opening of the mouth, 

 we arrive at the sound of o in note; and if we lower the tongue 

 altogether, and gradually enlarge the opening of the mouth, we again 

 arrive at the sound of a in father from which we started. 



[Rem. — This whole process may be verified by the reader, upon 

 inspecting his organs of speech, during the pronunciation of these 

 several vowels, with the help of a looking-glass. In order to be able 

 to do this, he must, however, train himself to pronounce the sounds 

 of u inflate and of o in note with the mouth wide open. There is 

 no difficulty in doing this, inasmuch as a contraction of the opening 

 of the mouth, although it is of great assistance in the pronunciation 

 of these sounds, is by no means necessary for their production. Upon 

 inspecting the position of the tongue in the pronunciation of a in 

 father, the reader will observe that the tongue is as it were drawn 

 back into the mouth, so as to leave the space behind the lower teeth 

 exposed ; the use of this drawing back of the tongue is partly to pro- 

 duce in the pharynx the necessary shape for the production of this 

 sound, and partly, also, to obtain as much resonance in the cavity of 

 the mouth, as is required for a proper enunciation of this sound. 

 In the pronunciation of a in age the reader will perceive that the 

 tip of the tongue is pushed forward and raised to the level of the 

 lower teeth, and its middle portion at the same time elevated. With 

 regard to the pronunciation of the sounds of i in machine, u in flute, 

 and o in note, I have nothing more to say, except that the reader 

 will find my statements as to the mode of their production verified. 

 In case he should, however, experience any difficulty in pronouncing 



