VOICE AND SPEECH 



585 



distinctly without any phonation whatever, To each of them corre- 

 sponds one or two distinct notes, the pitch, i.e. the resonance, of which 

 is regulated by the shape of the cavity in which they are produced. 

 It is possible to determine these notes by means of resonators. The 

 pronunciation even of the simplest vowel sounds differs in different 

 individuals. For instance, those pronounced by a Londoner differ 

 from those pronounced by a man from Manchester or from Yorkshire, 

 and the French vowels differ somewhat in pitch from those employed 



A (ah) U (oo) L (ee) 



Fia. 254. Shape of the oral cavity in the production of the vowel sounds, A, U, I. 



(GHUTZNER.) 



by the German, and these again from those employed by the average 

 Englishman. 



The characteristic notes were given by Helmholtz as follows : 



JSL 



If the five vowels are whispered loudly, the gradual rise in pitch 

 of the tone is easily perceptible. We do not in this way, however, 

 note the lower component of the sound in the E and I ; this can be 

 brought out by a simple device (Fig. 254). If we place the mouth in the 

 position necessary to produce these different vowels, and then percuss 

 over the cheek, we obtain the typical note for each vowel, the air in 

 the mouth cavity being set into vibration by the percussion. Now 

 shift the finger, which is to be percussed, so that it lies over the pharynx, 

 just behind the angle of the jaw, and percuss again. The note will 

 be observed to rise with U, 0, A, and then fall with E, I. With the 

 three vowels U, 0, A, we have a single cavity formed by the lips, 

 the palate, and the tongue ; this cavity is longest and narrowest with 

 U and shortest and most open with A. With E and I the dorsuin 



