8 11 IS TORT of the SOCIETK 



and thofe on each extreme. This is exemplified in the ufe of 

 fpeech : although hitherto no letter has been contrived for 

 thofe two diftinclions of our voice, which are found in the words 

 .'his and thus. 



The vocal powers of man being thus determined by nature, 

 and defined in fcience, it is necefTary, in order to complete the 

 alphabet, to have the various articulators of the vocal found ex- 

 amined, with a view to fee how far all the organical powers of 

 man have been praclifed for the purpofe of his fpeech, and 

 alfo to underftand the nature of thofe improper articulators 

 which may be occafionally employed. 



As the diftinclions in the vocal found of man are fo limited, 

 and as the ideas to be exprefled in his fpeech ar« fo multifarious, 

 it is necefTary to compound thofe diflincl founds by means of 

 articulations, which are either prefixed or fubjoined to the ex- 

 preflion of vocal found. 



Consonants are thus formed ; and thefe may be diftin- 

 guifhed in two different refpe&s ; jir/l, by the pofition of the 

 organ in which they are formed ; and, 2dl)\ by the operation 

 of the breath which is employed to make them audible. It is 

 only in thus analyfing the fubject, that thofe confonants, or the 

 articulating powers, may be underftood. 



There are five pofitions of the organ by which the vocal 

 found is to be articulated ; and thefe muft be underftood, be- 

 fore the operation of the founding organ in forming confonants, 

 can be explained. Thefe pofitions, with their refpeclive modi- 

 fications, therefore, are now to be defcribed. 



The firjl pofition is formed by the clofe junction of the 

 lips, fo as no breath is fuffered to tranfpire ', and this is the 

 firft modification of this pofition, when the paffage of the 

 breath or found, by the nofe, is flopped, and may be termed 

 the oral modification. In this manner are formed the letters 

 p and b. 



The 



