1861.] 297 [Vowels. 



force by which the middle portion of the tongue is raised towards 

 the palate in the pronunciation of these vowels, and the as Unguce 

 and the larynx are elevated. In the pronunciation of u \\\ flute, on 

 the other hand, he says, the space of the pharynx is most limited, 

 because the os Unguce and the larynx are most depressed. On this 

 same subject A. Be Clievallet (Origine et Formation de la Langue 

 Fran§aise, Seconde Partie, Paris, 1857), page 47, makes the follow- 

 ing remarks : ^^ Les differentes modifications de la voix, appelees 

 voyelles, sont dues au reserrement plus ou moins considerable des parois 

 du gosier ou pharynx, au moment de I'emission de Tair sonore, ainsi 

 que I'a fort bien etabli M. Leon Vaisse.* Cette contraction des 

 muscles du pharynx suffit seule, il est vrai, pour la production du son 

 voyelle ; mais ce son, confus a sa naissance, ne peut acquerir toute sa 

 precision et sa nettete qu'en traversant la bouche, dont certaines par- 

 ties, en vertu d'une connexion sympathique, affectent des poses, qui 

 correspondent aux diverses dimensions que peut prendre la cavite 

 pharyngienne." This gives, almost in the same words, my definition 

 of the generation of the vowels above, but Mr. De Chevallet's work 

 did not fall into my hands until this part of my work had been fully 

 elaborated. (See also the report of Dr. Czermack's experiments con- 

 cerning the tension of the soft palate in Rem. 2.) From these state- 

 ments it is rendered very evident that in the pronunciation of the 

 various vowels different angles are produced in the pharynx, modula- 

 ting and deflecting the vocal breath. The same theory that the 

 modulation of the vowels is effected in the pharynx is also held by 

 Olivier in his ^'' Urstoffe, &c.," page 86. 



However, the formation of the vowels itself is not of so much im- 

 portance in our future investigation — it is the true order of the suc- 

 cession of the vowels which interests us most; and there it will be 

 found that the experiments of Willis and Kempelen completely con- 

 firm my own theory; for they prove that from i in machine there is 

 a transition into a in age, and thence into a m father, o in note, and 

 u in flute, and also from u in flute into o in note, a m father, &c. 

 Between each of these vowels Dr. Briicke assumes an indefinite num- 

 ber of intermediate sounds, establishing their connection, and the 

 same thing he does between i in machine and ii in flute, and thus 

 acknowledges their connection. He thus substantiates every one of 

 the opinions which I have advanced above. I must observe here 



^ De la parole considCrCe au double jyoint de V7ie de la physiologie et de la grani- 

 7)iaire, par Leon Vaisse, 1853, broch, in 8°. I endeavored to obtain a copy of 

 this, no doubt, interesting work, but did not succeed. 



