1861.] ^11 [Diplithongs. 



[Rem. — This view concerning the vowel-consonants iv and 2/, is 

 corroborated by Dr. Briicke. He says, page 70 : 



''Most consonants are formed in such a manner, that the conditions 

 under which they are produced, cannot be combined with those under 

 which vowels are generated ; however, of this there are two singular 

 exceptions. 



''If we, in the pronunciation of u in flute, narrow the contracted 

 opening of the mouth to such a degree, that a fricative sound is pro- 

 duced, the sound thus formed corresponds to 10^ [Dr. Briicke's nota- 

 tion], accompanied by the voice ; the voice, however, retains the 

 sound of u in flute; thus the vowel u in flute and the consonant w^ 

 are really produced at the same time. This sound, which I shall 

 express by the formula uic^, is no other than the English double Uj 

 when it is used as a consonant, e, g. in loater. 



" If, on the other hand, we pronounce i in machine, and diminish 

 the space between the tongue and the palate, where it is narrowest, 

 still more, we produce the I consona of the Germans, this being the 

 very place where y^ [a guttural or rather palatal breathing, according 

 to Dr. Briicke's notation] is articulated. In this process the vowel- 

 sound of i in macliine is not lost, but it is heard at the same time 

 with the consonant y^. I shall express this sound by the formula 

 iy^. This sound is best illustrated by the v:y of the English, where 

 it is a consonant.^' ] 



CHAPTER III. 



ON DIPHTHONGS. 



§ 8. In order to explain the nature of the diphthongs it first becomes 

 necessary to employ specific signs for the expression of each of the 

 vowel-sounds which are their constituent members. For the repre- 

 sentation of the five general vowel-sounds, a in father, a in age or 

 c in edge, i in machine, u in flute, and in 7iote, the German charac- 

 ters, a, C, \, U, 0, will be employed, and for the particular vowel- 

 sound, a in cdl, and the unmodified vowel-sound, the signs a° and 9, 

 which have been previously introduced. 



The diphthongs are generally described as two vowels, consecutively 

 pronounced in such a manner as not to constitute two but one sylla- 

 ble. In order to produce this result, it is necessary that one of 

 the two vowels be emphasized more than the other. But, if we take 

 into consideration that two vowels can never be so pronounced as to 

 form one syllable, unless in their pronunciation one vowel should 



