HlSTOkr of the SOCIEtl\ 11 



employed without any other found. Hence the diftinftion of 

 mutes and confonants among the articulators of voice. 



But in each of thefe diftiniflions of mutes and confonants, 

 there is to be made a fub-diftind^ion, according as the articula- 

 tor is either perfedl or imperfe(fl, whether as a mute or as a 

 confonant. Each of thefe will now require fome explanation. 



The perfect niute can only take place in thofe pofitions, in 

 which the breath is abfolutely interrupted by the clofe or im- 

 pervious organ ; and this does not happen in the fecond and 

 third pofitions, and only in fome of the modifications of the 

 fourth and fifth. 



This mute articulator is formed, either by interrupting the 

 vocal found with the clofe pofition, in which cafe it is a final 

 articulator ; or by beginning to exprefs the vocal found in this 

 clofe pofition, when it forms, upon opening the pafTage, an ini- 

 tial articulator. 



There are juft three articulators of this kind, correfpond- 

 ing to the three pofitions in which the organ may be abfolutely 

 clofed, in relation to the exit of the breath. Thefe are p in 

 the firfl pofition, t in the fourth pofition, and k in the fifth po- 

 fition. 



The imperfedl mute is formed by emitting a guttural found, 

 or that of the windpipe, in thofe three pofitions of the mute 

 articulator. The found here is extremely limited ; for it is ne- 

 ceflfarily reftridted to that quantity of breath which may be ex- 

 pelled through the founding windpipe, in comprefllng the air, 

 or diftending the cavity of the clofe organ. Thefe fliort founded 

 articulators may therefore be termed imperfeifl mutes. 



The b, dz.nd.g, are the three imperfedl mutes, correfpond- 

 ing to the three abfolute mutes, p, t, k, of the firft, fourth and 

 fifth pofitions. 



In the fibilating articulators of the fecond and third pofitions, 

 and of the fecond modification of the fourth and fifth pofitions, 

 the breath may be continually emitted, either with the fimple 



(B 2) expiration, 



