LETTERS AND SOUNDS.

THE

I. ·

CLASSES OF LETTERS.

HE letters of the alphabet are divided into two classes-vowels and consonants.

A, e, i, o and u are called vowels. The word "vowel" means a voice-sound. A clear, open sound of the voice can be made only upon vowels.

Y sounds the same as i in the middle or at the end

of words, and is then a vowel.

W sometimes follows a, e or o in the same syllable, and is then considered a vowel. This letter never forms a syllable without the aid of another vowel.

A simple vowel sound is made with one fixed position of the organs of speech. A compound sound is made up of two simple ones, and requires two positions of the tongue or lips.

[The teacher will repeat the sounds given in the tables, requiring the pupils to imitate, and to determine, by watching their own organs of speech, whether the sounds are simple or compound. In case of doubt, let the sound be prolonged, and see if this can be done without the least change in position of the tongue and lips.]

Compound vowel sounds are called diphthongs. The word "diphthong" means a double voice-sound.

Long a and long o also (as in the first table) have a double sound. A terminates with a slight sound of è, and o terminates with a slight sound of oo. When long o comes before r in the same syllable, its final sound, oo, is omitted. Notice the difference between the words mower and more, lower and lore.

IV.

CONSONANTS.

The word "consonant" means "sounding with." Consonants are so called because they are most easily sounded with a vowel. Consonants never form words by themselves, but are always joined with vowels.

Those consonants which represent a whispered sound are called aspirates; as p, t, f.

Those consonants which represent a slight sound of the voice are called sub-vocals; as m, b, v.

Four of the sub-vocals represent sounds which can easily be prolonged. These are called liquids. They are l, m, n, r.

Those sub-vocals which are produced by passing the sound through the nose are called nasals; as m, n.

Other names are sometimes given to consonants, according as they are produced by the action of the lips, tongue, teeth or palate-such as lip-letters or labials, tongue-letters or linguals, teeth-letters or dentals.

[The teacher will practice the following table, and lead the pupils to distinguish first whether the consonants represent a whisper or a slight sound of the voice. Afterward they may be led to discover which sounds can easily be prolonged, and hence to distinguish the liquids; also which sound in the nose, and are consequently nasals. They may be led to classify those sounds which are produced by the action of the lips, by the tongue against the teeth, or by the tongue and palate. It would be well to make these experiments before giving the above definitions, and thus enable the pupils to make the definitions for themselves, based upon the discoveries they have made. The definition itself is of comparatively little importance. A clear knowledge of the action of the organs of speech is what is here to be sought.]