140 CONSCIOUS NERVOUS OPERATIONS 



result of training, and skill is acquired only by long years 

 of practice. The complex and greatly varied action 

 required in speech may take place with great rapidity, 

 and may be continued for hours without exhaustion, as in 

 the case of an accomplished singer or public speaker. 



190. Vowels and Consonants. Voice becomes speech 

 through the modifying action of the lips, tongue, throat, 

 etc. Those sounds of the spoken alphabet which require 

 the more open mouth, the more resonant and more pro- 

 longed tone, are called vowels; those which are uttered 

 with the closer position, and are less prolonged and less 

 resonant, are called consonants. Compare the position of 

 the parts of the mouth in enunciating the a in far with 

 that in sounding the b in cab, for example. Between 

 vowels and consonants there is no absolute division. 

 Sounds represented by some of the letters are more open 

 in some words or syllables than in others. Thus, I and 

 n are sometimes vowels and sometimes consonants. 



191. Quality of Voice. Voices are spoken of as "soft," 

 " harsh," " rasping," " rough,' ? " sweet," " low," " gentle," 

 etc. An agreeable voice is a most attractive characteris- 

 tic and a most desirable possession. As the vocal appa- 

 ratus is wholly under the control of the will, and as its use 

 is chiefly a matter of imitation, it is of great importance 

 that while the habit of speech is forming the young should 

 be associated with those whose vocal habits are agreeable 

 and refined, and that the attention of children should be 

 early directed to the cultivation of -soft and pleasant tones 

 of voice. In this respect Americans are especially negli- 

 gent, and "the American voice" has become a byword 

 and a reproach in Europe. 



192. Musical Sounds. Sounds produced by regular vibra- 

 tions are musical. Irregular vibrations result in noise. 



