SPEECH. 227 



Since the tone which the string produces by the vibration of its 

 entire length is the loudest and lowest in pitch, it is picked out 

 as the fundamental tone. The fundamental tones of instru- 

 ments may be exactly the same, but the tones yet differ from one 

 another because of the number and the intensity of the over- 

 tones. The quality of the voice depends on the overtones pro- 

 duced and intensified in the pharynx and^upper air chambers. 



Speech. 



The pure, musical tones produced by the vocal cords are modi- 

 fied by changes in the character of the air passages above them. 

 The various combinations which are produced give rise to sounds 

 which make up speech. Many of the simple combinations are 

 found in all languages, but every language is characterized by 

 certain sounds which are peculiar to it. 



The sounds produced in speech may be divided into two 

 groups, the vowels and the consonants. The vowel sounds are 

 continuous and are formed in the lower air passages with the 

 help of the glottis. The consonants are produced by more or 

 less complete interruptions of the outflowing air in different 

 portions of the vocal tract. 



All the vowels can be produced in the whispered voice, that is, 

 they can be produced without the actual vibration of the vocal 

 cords. The mouth cavity, however, assumes the same position in 

 the case of the whispered vowel as it does for the spoken vowel. 

 By changing the shape of the air passages, the various vowel 

 tones are produced. In Fig. 36 are seen the various positions of 

 the tongue and palate for the production of the different vowels. 

 When vowels are being uttered, the soft palate closes the en- 

 trance to the nasal cavity. 



The consonants are named according to the position at which 

 the interruption of the air current takes place. The labials are 

 formed at the lips : p, b ; the dentals, between the tongue and the 

 teeth : t, d. The gutterals, k, g, ch, arise between the posterior 

 portion of the arched tongue and the soft palate; and the Ger- 

 man r is produced with the help of vibrations of the uvula. 



