62 THE SUBANU. 
in the careless and uneducated speech of our own recentimmigrants. In 
a recent circular of instructions issued by the school department of New 
York City it was considered proper to advise teachers to observe and 
to try to correct such pronunciations as “‘sing-ging’’ and ‘“‘anythingk.’’ 
So far we have passed under review the heavy outline at the top of 
the incomplete square which we observe in the diagram of the Subanu 
consonant scheme. Having discussed the individual consonants which 
make up that heavy line in detail, we may now sum up the underlying 
principle. We find that the Subanu have acquired the constrictions at 
each of the three consonant-producing positions which are the semi- 
vowel bridges over which development passes through practice to the 
exertion of the true consonant-forming closures. We further find that 
the Subanu have acquired the closures of each of the three speech- 
organs in their lightest force. 
Now we shall pass to the heavy outline which forms the bottom of 
the incomplete square; we distinguish it as heavy for the reason that 
we have a double equipment in all the mutes, the sonant as well as the 
surd. When we come to the comparison of the Subanu with certain 
other languages with which it has been sought to associate the Malayan 
languages, we shall note that many languages lack this double equip- 
ment and we shall find therein a critical character. 
It is a long leap from the top of the square to its bottom. Yet in 
making it we are not carried away by the enticing force of an illustra- 
tion, great and misleading though such enticement might prove. It 
is just that long leap whichistakenin the development of speech facility. 
In another connection (Easter Island, page 18) I have discussed this 
matter at greater length than here seems necessary. It suffices to note 
that next after the easy nasals the speech-power passes to the utmost 
attainment of the mutes. ‘This we find to be the case in the Subanu. 
It would be idle to attempt to calculate the number of positions 
which may be taken by any one of the speech-organs. Undoubtedly 
between the limiting positions which establish the nasal and the mute 
each organ may assume a great many positions, but we need concern 
ourselves with but two or three or four positions at most. These serve 
to establish the different classes of consonants which have been found 
sufficiently distinct to serve the ends of clearly articulated speech. 
They do not exactly correspond in alllanguages. In any language they 
do not exactly correspond for all speakers; it is that quality which gives 
to human speech characters whereby we may, though tone deaf, identify 
our friends in the darkest night if they will but speak to us, or by modern 
miracle (now become a necessity of life) we may distinguish a familiar 
voice over miles of copper wire or when ground out from a wax cylinder 
or composition disk, so that even the dogs may sit up and take notice. 
In our own English we have adopted four distinctive positions for 
the palate and the tongue and three for the lips; in each case two of 
