ELEMENTARY ARTICULATE SOUNDS. 523 



and from such an inexhaustible store there is no difficulty in 

 deriving new combinations, to represent any new ideas that 

 we 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 

 particularly faulty in this respect ; for there are many simple 

 sounds that can be only represented by a combination of 

 letters, whilst others may be represented by more than one 

 single letter, and in some instances a single letter represents 

 a composite sound. Thus the sounds of au and th are really 

 simple ones, and ought to be represented by single letters. 

 Again, the sound of k is represented also by the hard c, as in 

 the first syllable of concert ; and the sound of s by the soft c, 

 as in the second syllable of the same word, where the c is 

 sounded exactly as the s in consent. And the letter i (as 

 usually pronounced in English) does not represent a simple 

 sound, but a combination of two, as will be presently shown. 

 Most of the Continental languages are superior to the English 

 in this respect. 



689. Vocal sounds are divided into Vowels and Consonants ; 

 the true distinction between which appears to be, that the 

 Vowel sounds are continuous tones, modified by the form of 

 the aperture through which they pass out ; whilst in giving 

 utterance to Consonants, there is a partial or complete inter- 

 ruption to the breath in its passage through the organs in 

 front of the larynx. Hence all true Vowels may be prolonged 

 for any length of time that the breath is supplied from the 

 lungs ; whilst the sound of many Consonants is momentary 

 only. It is easy for any one to convince himself that the 

 Vowel sounds are governed simply by the form of the cavity 

 of the mouth, and by that of the aperture of the lips ; by 

 passing, in one continued tone, from one of the following 

 Vowel sounds to another : 



The short Vowel sounds, as a in fat, e in met, o in pot, &c., 

 are not capable of being prolonged ; as they are formed in 



