Ill 



PROBATION AND AKTICULATION 



165 



The sounds m, n, ng, constitute a distinct group of nasal 

 semivowels (rhinophones) characterised by the expulsion of the 

 expired air through the nose, where the laryngeal tone acquires 

 a characteristic resonance, while the mouth is closed in a definite 

 position. For in the mouth is closed with the lips pressed 

 together (labial articulation). For n the oral cavity is generally 

 closed by applying the tip of the tongue to the upper alveolar 

 arch (alveolar articulation) or to the hard palate (palatal articu- 

 lation) (Figs. 105 and 106). In ng (represented in Sanskrit 

 by a special symbol) the mouth is closed by the approxi- 



FIG. 105. Articulation of na. 

 (Luciani and Baglioni.) 



FIG. 106. Articulation of gna. 

 (Luciani and Baglioni.) 



Impression left by the tongue stained by cocoa powder previous to articulation. 



mation of the dorsum of the tongue to the soft palate, either 

 more to the front (when preceded by e and i as in Engel, 

 thing) or more to the back (if preceded by a and o, as in 

 Wange, long). 



The semivowels I and r are distinguished from these nasal 

 sounds by the fact that their resonance comes from the mouth, 

 and not from the nasal cavities which are closed by elevation 

 of the soft palate. Several kinds of / can be distinguished 

 according to the seat of articulation, the most usual being formed 

 by bringing the tip and lateral edges of the tongue into contact 

 with the alveolar and dental arches, while the air escapes 

 through two lateral openings between the premolars (Fig. 107). 



M 1 



