ELEMENTARY ARTICULATE SOUNDS. 523 
and from such an inexhaustible store there is no difficulty in’ 
deriving new combinations, to represent any new ideas that 
ve may desire to express. These simple or elementary sounds 
ought to be represented by an equal number of single letters ; 
this is the case, however, in but few languages. Our own is 
ticularly faulty in this respect ; for there are many simple 
unds that can be only represented by a combination of 
ters, whilst others may be represented by more than one 
1 Raxapuiite sound. Thus the sounds of aw and th are really 
imple ones, and ought to be represented by single letters. 
he first syllable of concert ; and the sound of s by the soft ¢, 
in the second syllable ‘of the same word, where the ¢ is 
jounded exactly as the s in consent. And the letter ¢ (as 
fsually pronounced in English) does not represent a simple 
ound, but a combination of two, as will be presently shown. 
fost of the Continental languages are superior to the English 
n this respect. 
689. Vocal sounds are divided into Vowels and Consonants ; 
= true distinction between which appears to be, that the 
owel sounds are continuous tones, modified by the form of 
the aperture through which they pass out; whilst in giving 
#erance to Consonants, there is a partial or complete inter- 
iption to the breath in its passage through the organs in 
mnt of the larynx. Hence all true Vowels may be prolonged 
for any length of time that the breath is supplied from the 
ags ; whilst the sound of many Consonants is momentary 
ly. It is easy for anyone to convince himself that the 
bwel sounds are governed simply by the form of the cavity 
the mouth, and by that of the aperture of the lips; by 
assing, in one continued tone, from one of the following 
owel sounds to another :— 
Englisha .. asinah . . Continental a 
Englisha . . asinall . . Diphthong au 
Englisha . . asinname. . Continental e 
Englishe . . asintheme. . Continental i 
Englisho . . asinecold . . . Continental o 
Englishoo. . asincool . . Continental u 
© short Vowel sounds, as a in fat, e in met, o in pot, &., 
not capable of being prolonged ; as they are formed in 
