3917] 



on Experimental Phonetics 



11 



of the ton<j^ue are ascerfcaiiied. In the end we get on our paper a 

 series of, say, ten or more points which show with fair accuracy the 

 shape of the most imjDortant part of the tongue. 



Fig. 5 shows specimens of results obt-iitied by this means. They 

 were prepared by Mr. Atkinson, and are reproduced here by his kind 

 permission. 



Fig. 5. 



-Tongue-Positions of the English Vowels in bath and beat 



AS ASCEETAINED BY AtKINSON'S MoUTH-MeASURER, 



A third method of obtaining sectional diagrams of tongue-positions 

 is X-ray photography. In order to get good results by this process 

 it is necessary to make use of some opaque substance to show the 

 outline of the tongue. The plan which has given the most successful 

 results is to place on the tongue a little chain of small lead plates. 

 (This plan was originally devised by Dr. E. A. Meyer.) 



Figs. 6 to 10 are photographs of this description, taken specially 

 for this occasion by Dr. H. Trevelyan George, M.R.I., who has 

 displayed much ingenuity and patience in getting over the numerous 

 difficulties which present themselves in the course of work of this 

 nature. 



Another element of speech which can be successfully studied 

 by the methods of experimental phonetics is the vibration of the 

 vocal chords. Some speech-sounds (e.g. normal v or z) are accompanied 

 by vibration of the vocal chords, others (e.g. /, s) are not ; others 

 again are accompanied by vibration during a part of their length. It 

 is important for linguistic purposes to ascertain with accuracy 

 the precise points where vibration of the vocal chords begins and 

 ends in connected speech. 



