ELEMENTARY ARTICULATE SOUNDS. 523 
and from such an inexhaustible store there is no difficulty in 
deriving new combinations, to represent any new ideas that 
we may desire to express. These simple or elementary sounds 
ought to he represented by an equal number of single letters; 
this is the case, however, in hut few languages. Our own is 
particularly faulty in this respect; for there are many simple 
sounds that can he only represented by a combination of 
letters, whilst others may he represented by more than one 
single letter, and in some instances a single letter represents 
a composite sound. Thus the sounds of cm and tk are really 
simple ones, and ought to he represented by single letters. 
Again, the sound of lc is represented also by the hard c , as in 
the first syllable of concert; and the sound of s by the soft c, 
as in the second syllable of the same word, where the c is 
sounded exactly as the s in consent And the letter i (as 
usually pronounced in English) does not represent a simple 
sound, hut a combination of two, as will be presently shown. 
Most of the Continental languages are superior to the English 
in this respect. 
689. Vocal sounds are divided into Vowels and Consonants; 
the true distinction between which appears to be, that the 
Vowel sounds are continuous tones , modified by the form of 
the aperture through which they pass out; whilst in giving 
utterance to Consonants, there is a partial or complete inter¬ 
ruption to the breath in its passage through the organs in 
front of the larynx. Hence all true Vowels may be prolonged 
for any length of time that the breath is supplied from the 
lungs; whilst the sound of many Consonants is momentary 
only. It is easy for any one to convince himself that the 
Vowel sounds are governed simply by the form of the cavity 
of the mouth, and by that of the aperture of the lips; by 
passing, in one continued tone, from one of the following 
Vowel sounds to another :— 
English a . . as in ah . . Continental a 
English a . . as in all . . Diphthong au 
English a . . as in name . . Continental e 
English e . . as in tliem,e . . Continental i 
English o . . as in cold . . Continental o 
English oo . . as in cool . . Continental u 
The short Vowel sounds, as a in fat, e in met, o in pot, &c., 
are not capable of being prolonged; as they are formed in 
