Tafel.] 335 [October. 



With regard to the sonant fluid consonants, viz., v^ z, th, Mr. Ellis 

 states (Essentials of Phonetics), page 11, that, when they are final, 

 we always pass over into their corresponding non-sonant sounds j 

 and that this may be particularly observed in solemn delivery, as in 

 the reading of clergymen, who, instead of hiz (his), have, say hizs, 

 havf. 



The several combinations of two or three consonants and semi- 

 vowels, either before or after the vowels, will be discussed under their 

 own especial heads. They combine with the vowels in the same way 

 as when these are preceded or followed by single consonants and 

 semi-vowels. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



ON CONSONANTAL DIPHTHONGS. 



§ 17. "We shall now investigate the principles by which the conso- 

 nants combine with each other. Some of these combinations are so 

 intimate that we may call them consonantal diphthongs, while in 

 others, which arise from mere juxtaposition of two consonants, they 

 do not combine at all. The former occur in simple words or stems, 

 and the latter are brought about by the composition of two separate 

 words. 



In the pronunciation of the mutes or hard and soft consonants, we 

 may distinguish two separate operations, that of closing and of 

 opening the articulating stations. By each of these operations the 

 proper sound of the mutes is produced; and although, for their full 

 formation, both operations must contribute, still in speech they may 

 be separated, and the mutes be pronounced at one time b}' the clos- 

 ing, and at another by the opening of the articulating stations ; for 

 instance in apt, p is pronounced by closing the labial station, and t 

 by opening the dental ; so also in act, &c. In fact, there are some 

 combinations where the consonants are pronounced in this manner, 

 and others where each consonant requires to be pronounced both by 

 the closing and the opening of the station, as, for instance, tp, th, 

 &c. The former are among the consonantal diphthongs, and occur in 

 single syllables, while the other can only exist by the composition of 

 two separate words or syllables, as in postpone, pumpkin, miUcpan, 

 kitcat, tC'c. 



Our next object will be to discuss the various kinds o^ consonantal 



