166 



PHYSIOLOGY 



CHAP. 



This is the so-called alveolar I used in most European languages. 

 Besides this there is also an apical I, which is easily formed by 

 applying the tip of the tongue to the hard palate, above the 

 alveolar border. This is the I of the English will, well, ball, 

 etc. It is also found in Norwegian and Polish. 



r differs from I because the tip of the tongue is rapidly and 

 intermittently applied to the palate, which gives a vibratory 

 character to the laryngeal tone. The labial r (brr) is not in 

 written language, but is often formed by children, and is also 

 an interjection e.g. to express cold. In Germany coachmen use 



FIG. 107. Articulation of la. 

 (Luciani and Baglioni.) 



Fio. 108. Articulation of glia. 

 (Luciani and Baglioni.) 



it to stop their horses. Gael states that it occurs in the language 

 of the savages on an island near New Guinea. The most common 

 forms of the anterior and alveolar-palatal are formed by vibrating 

 the tip of the tongue against the dental and alveolar arches, 

 and by applying it in the apical position to the hard palate. 

 The velar or uvular r, formed by applying the dorsum of the 

 tongue to the uvular portion of the soft palate, is less vibrant, 

 and is known as the French r because it is characteristic of that 

 language. Lastly, there is a laryngeal r caused by the tremulous 

 closure of the glottis, with a deep, soft tone as in the English 

 girl, bird, or the higher and harsher gh of Arabic. 



The physical nature of the semivowels has not been determined, 

 owing to the difficulties which their study presents. According 

 to Hermann and Matthias there are formants in the sounds 



