O F I N F A N C Y. 397 



to be raifed, at the fame time that the lips are 

 opened. In pronouncing I, the tongue is ftill 

 more elevated, and approaches the teeth of the 

 upper jaw. O requires the tongue to be depref- 

 fed, and the lips contraded ; and, in the pro- 

 nuncialion of U, the lips mufi; be ftill more con- 

 trailed, and fomewhat extended. 1 he lirPc con- 

 fonants articulated by children are thofe which 

 require the leaft motion of the organs. B, M, 

 and P, are moft; ealily pronounced. B and P 

 require only the lips to be joined, and then 

 opened with celerity ; and for M, they muft be 

 firft opened, and then quickly Ihut. The arti- 

 culation of the other confonants cannot be ef- 

 feded without more complicated movements. 

 The pronunciation of C, D, G,.L, N, Q, R, S, 

 and T, depends upon particular motions of the 

 tongue, which are not eafily defcribcd. F re- 

 quires a prolongation of found beyond any of 

 the other confonants. Thus, of the vowels, A is 

 moft: eafily pronounced ; and, of the confo- 

 nants, B, P, and M. It is for this reafon that 

 children, in all contries, firft begin to articulate 

 the words Baba^ Papa^ Mama. Theie words are 

 the moft natural, only becaufe they are moft 

 eafily pronounced ; and the letters of which 

 they are compofed muft cxift in ever language. 

 it is worthy of remark, however, that, as the 

 founds of fevcral confonants are very fimilar, 

 as thole of B and P, of C and S, of K and Q, of 



D 



