560 OF THE VOICE AND SPEECH. 



of the guttural ch, as it exists in Welsh, Gaelic, and most Continental 

 languages, is an aspiration modified by the elevation of the tongue, 

 which causes a slight obstruction to the air, and an increased resonance 

 in the back of the mouth. 



983. The study of the mode in which the different Consonants are 

 produced, is of particular importance to those who labour under defec- 

 tive speech, especially that difficulty which is known as Stammering. 

 This very annoying impediment is occasioned by a want of proper 

 control over the muscles concerned in Articulation ; which, instead of 

 obeying the Will, are sometimes affected with an involuntary or spas- 

 modic action, that interrupts the pronunciation of particular words, 

 just as, in Chorea, the muscles of the limbs are interrupted by spas- 

 modic twitchings, in the performance of any voluntary movement. In 

 fact, persons affected with general Chorea frequently stammer ; show- 

 ing that ordinary Stammering may be considered as a kind of local 

 Chorea. The analogy between the two states is further indicated by 

 the corresponding influence of excited Emotions in aggravating both. 

 It is in the pronunciation of the consonants of the explosive class, 

 that the stammerer usually experiences the greatest difficulty ; for the 

 total interruption to the breath, which' they occasion, is frequently con- 

 tinued involuntarily ;* so that either the expiration is entirely checked, 

 the whole frame being frequently thrown into the most distressing semi- 

 convulsive movements, or the sound comes out in jerks. Sometimes, 

 however, the spasmodic action occurs in the pronunciation of vowels and 

 continuous consonants ; the stammerer prolonging his expiration, with- 

 out being able to check it. 



984. The best method of curing this defect (where there is no mal- 

 formation of the organs of speech, but merely a want of power to use 

 them aright), is to study the particular difficulty under which the indi- 

 vidual labours ; and then to cause him to practise systematically the 

 various movements concerned in the production of the sounds in ques- 

 tion, at first separately, and afterwards in combination, until he feels 

 that his voluntary control over the muscles is complete. The patient 

 would at first do well to practise sentences, from which the explosive 

 consonants are omitted ; his chief difficulty, arising from the spasmodic 

 suspension of the expiratory movement, being thus avoided. Having 

 mastered these, he may pass on to others, in which the difficult letters 

 are sparingly introduced ; and may finally accustom himself to the use 

 of ordinary language. One of the chief points to be aimed at, is to 

 make the patient feel that he has command over his muscles of articu- 

 lation ; and this is best done, by gradually leading him from that which 

 he can do, to that which he fears to attempt. 



* The interruption of the expiratory movement in Stammering, is usually stated to 

 take place in the glottis; but the Author is satisfied that, in all ordinary cases at least, 

 it is in that condition of the mouth, which is preparatory to the pronunciation of one of 

 the explosive consonants. 



