1897 - 98 .] Mr B. J. Lloyd on Consonant-Sounds . 233' 
modifications and distortions. Wherein, then, do these differ T 
The ear affirms at once that there is a total loss of those high, 
shrill, hissing vibrations which are produced by the forced passage 
of air through narrow apertures. When we are able to compare 
sufficiently magnified phonograms of x or ^ and h (if possible, at 
identical pitches of resonance), we shall probably find the dis- 
tortions of h to be relatively long and gentle. Overtones, also,, 
are apparently not to be expected. The fact that the friction does 
not originate in one place, but traverses greater and less portions 
of the voice-passage may have some characteristic effect on the 
phonogram, but of what kind it would be rash to prophesy. The 
phonogram of this weak sound h will probably be very difficult to 
obtain in a very clear form. It will be easier to recognise that 
frictional disturbance is weaker in the resonance of h than in the 
other fricatives here studied than to find out the nature of the 
disturbance itself. 
s and f. 
These are the sounds of s in see or so, and of sh in she or show . 
It is convenient, at this stage, to treat them together, because 
they have a curious parallelism, resembling that which has been 
seen to exist in / and 0. But they are just as distinct from each 
other as / and 6, and far more distinct than x and y, which are 
really complementary rather than parallel, and together constitute 
only one series of similar sounds. In the table of consonants 
already given, it is seen at a glance that the articulation, both of 
s andyj is somewhat more complex than that of /, 0, x or 
Each of them has two constrictions; it has not only a close 
approach of a certain part of the tongue to a certain part of the 
hard palate and gums, but it has also an approach of the lower to the 
upper teeth. When this second constriction is not properly carried 
out, both s and f become much feebler, and lose nearly all their 
distinctive timbre. The organic effect of these two constrictions 
is to create between them in both consonants a fore-cavity of 
small size and extremely irregular shape. The shape of its 
aperture is more irregular still, being framed between the opposed 
edges of the teeth. The office of this cavity does not appear until 
the rest of the articulation is explored. 
YOL. XXII. 3/10/98- Q 
