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There is some little art required to make P audible when it occurs in connexion with any of the other obstructive articulations, as in nap-kin, stepquickly, slep-t, cheap-tea, scape-goat, &c. To master this difficulty, a little practice of the following Exercise will be found effectual:

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In finishing this and other articulations, it is highly important in every case of difficulty, to notice that the issue of breath be restrained immediately on the organic separation. If the breath pour out in a continuous stream, the chest will fall, and the lungs will soon be exhausted. It is the want of this power to retain the breath after articulations which causes the great difficulty which Stammerers experience in joining articulations to succeeding vowels. They will often get smoothly over the consonants, and stumble at the vowel, utterly unable to connect the two. They must bear in mind that the breath in articulation is exploded from the mouth, and not from the chest. The space within which the air is compressed is above the glottis, and the effect of the compression must not be communicated below the glottis.

When a word contains the combination pp, the effect of only one p is heard; as in apprise, upper, supplicate, &c.; but when one word ends with P, and the next commences with the same letter, they should in general be separately articulated. Two p's can only be made by a repetition of the action of one. B and M, being formed by the same labial action as P, will not blend with that letter; but the P must be separately finished when it comes before them. Not, however, when it is in the same word, as in upbraid, upborne, upmost, topmost, &c. where the P is a mere stop of the voice. In cupboard, the b only is heard, and in subpœna the b is sunk, and p heard.

It was noticed at page 48, that the nasal letters M, N, NG, must have the breath perfectly obstructed by the mouth, in order that the current of sound may pass completely through the nostrils; it follows, therefore, that any of the obstructive letters coming before either of the nasal elements, must be finished independently of the nasal letter, or the explosion which necessarily results from compression of the breath, must pass through the nose. This creates a degree of sniffling which is very ungraceful, and which may be easily avoided by a light and rapid articulation of the explosive element. Por B before M, must, from the hiatus caused by the repetition of the same action, be allowed to nasalize their explosions when they meet in one word, or in common phrases; but there is no excuse for sniffling the explosions of T, D, K, and G before M, for they are produced by actions which may be rightly performed without at all disturbing fluency of articulation. On the same principle, T'and D before N in the same word, must lose their oral explosiveness; but the four other obstructives (P, B, K, G) should never be allowed to do so in the same situation.

P initial, combines only with l, r, and y in English; therefore in all the

other combinations which we write, namely, pn, as in pneumatic; ps, in psalm ; pt, in ptarmigan, &c. the p is silent. Pw is a common French combination, as in poids, (pronounced pwah.)

EXERCISES.

Initial.-Pier, pean, peal, peat, piece, pique, peep, peevish, pibroch, pigeon, pickle, pimple, pippin, pivot, pith, pity, pinguid, pace, pathos, Paphian, pavement, paper, pepper, pebble, pestle, pettish, pap, pabular, pamphlet, papaverous, pavilion, pabulum, pass, path, paternal, palatial, pagoda, parboil, parmezan, parvitude, partizan, perceive, percolate, perfect, permeate, perk, perhaps, puppet, public, pump, puff, purchase, purple, pugnacious, pucker, pauper, popish, put, poop, pipeclay, pounce, point, poig

nant.

Pl.-Plague, placable, plait, played, place, plays, pleonasm, plethoric, plenary, pliable, plight, plinth, plod, plot, pluvial, plural, plum, plump, plunder, plush, plough, plant, plasm, plaudit, plausible, platoon, Platonic, pledge, plenitude, plexus, plicature, plover.

Pr.-Practice, prairie, praise, prate, pragmatic, prank, prattle, pravity, prawn, prayer, prebend, precarious, preamble, precious, precipice, preclude, predal, predicate, preface, prefer, pregnant, prepare, preposition, presbyter, pretend, preterit, pretty, previous, prevalence, privilege, privative, proper, probable, probe, prove, prime, proud.

Py.-Puce, pudency, puerile, pugilist, puisne, puissant, puke, pule, pumice, pupil, pure, putative, putrid, pewter, pew.

Between vowels.-Sleepy, reaper, pippin, sippet, paper, apex, epoch, pepper, wrapper, napping, cupper, supping, pauper, stopper, hoping, shopping, topic, toper, stooping, cooper, piper, viper.

Before an Articulation.—Chapter, styptic, reptile, rupture, captain, cheapness, grapnel, shapely, haply, deeply, toppling, supplicate, April, apricot, cupreous, upright, napkin, pipkin, stopcock, upshot, upward, naphtha, knapsack, apt, strapped, wept, kept, whipped, shipped, popped, cupped, shaped, steeped, piped, hoped, cooped, steps, whips, mops, pipes, grapes, hopes, hoops.

Final.-Sleep, peep, weep, dip, ship, pip, shape, escape, step, cap, sap, flap, trap, clasp, carp, chirp, bishop, stirrup, cup, sup, shop, lop, fop, hope, rope, elope, scope, soap, stoop, soup, coop, poop, loop, dupe, croop, group, hoop, pipe, wipe,ripe, snipe.

B

OBSERVATIONS.-This articulation differs from the preceding in no degree, extent, or continuance of labial pressure, (as has been erroneously supposed,) but in the employment of an apparatus unused for P,-i. e. the vocal organ-in addition to all the action, compression of breath, and explosive force of P. The external action of both letters being the very same, our remarks on the formation of P, will equally apply to this articulation. If the junction of the lips be too feeble to intercept the breath, the letter will sound like V ; and if their action be heavy and sluggish, pouting, or unsteady, the same faults and difficulties will be produced which were noticed under the head of P. While the lips are in contact for P, there is no sound produced; the prolongation of the contact only prolongs silence; but in B there is a sound heard while the lips are closed. The glottis is put into the vocalizing position, and the breath in passing through it creates sonorous vibration; during the continuance of which, the neck, at its junction with the chin, will be observed to distend. This arises from the swelling out of the pharynx, an extensible cavity at the back of the mouth, into which the stream of air from the glottis, unable to escape by the mouth or nares, forces itself. The muffled vocal sound which is heard during the distension of the pharynx ceases as soon as that compartment is fully inflated, and can only be renewed when the pharyngeal muscles have been allowed to contract. Many persons are deficient in pharyngeal power, and consequently unable to produce the shut voice in these elements; so that B, D, and G are hardly distinguishable from P, T, and K. This whispering of the Voice Articulations is a remarkable characteristic of Welsh speakers. But after a little practice the power of vocalizing the obstructive formations will be perfectly. acquired. Let the student dwell on the articulation as long as possible in its various situations; and though, at first, he may only be able to produce but a momentary stroke of voice, he will soon develop a power in the pharynx which will enable him to continue the sound for a couple of seconds. There must be no silent pressure as in P; the vocal murmur must be heard, or he is not practising B. It is necessary to guard against the slightest nasal sound in this exercise. The nasal tubes open from the pharynx, and if they are not perfectly closed by their natural valve—the soft palate,—the pharynx will not distend; it is then a leaky bag, and cannot be inflated.

In forming B, and indeed the Obstructive articulations generally, the compression of breath must not cease until the external contact terminates, or the explosiveness will be lost. It is a peculiar characteristic of some varieties of Stammering, that the vocal part of B, D, and G, will be heard perfectly, while the letters will not out. The Stammerer repeats the articulation again and again with the pharyngeal murmur distinct, yet without the least explosion following. He is consequently unable to connect the initial letter with the succeeding vowel. In this case, the muscles which constitute the sides of the pharynx contract too soon; the instant they yield to the pressure of air, they again collapse,—either from a want of power in the muscles themselves, or from the Stammerer's inability to continue the effort. Whatever be the cause

of the impediment, energetic practice will soon remove it, and develop the necessary power.

7

and y.

B-initial combines with 7, Bw-which is a frequent French combination, as in boire (pr. bwar)—is heard in English in Buoy, Buoyant, &c. In the final combinations, mb and bt, b is silent, as in dumb, bomb, doubt, debt, &c.

B before M in the same word, as in cabman, is not finished by a separation of the lips; but before N, the explosive finish of the B should be clearly heard. The following Exercise should be practised until its combinations can be thrown off with distinctness, grace, and lightness. The combinations should be pronounced as words with the accent sometimes on the 1st and sometimes on the 2nd syllable.

abe-tay abe-kay abe-day abe-gay abe-nay-with ẽ, ī, ō, ōo. ab-tab ab-kab ab-dab ab-gab ab-nab with ě, Ĭ, Ŏ, ŭ.

The combination BB in the same word sounds like single B; but when one ends with B, and the next begins with that letter or with M,-unless the words form an unimportant phrase,—the lips should be separated between the articulations.

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Initial. Be, beef, beaver, beast, beech, bead, beak, biblical, bivouac, biscuit, business, bitter, bicker, bigamy, bay, babe, bathe, basis, baize, bait, bane, baker, beverage, bet, bedlam, bend, belt, bury, beckon, beggar, bearing, barely, baptism, babble, bamboo, baffle, bavin, bastion, bashful, badge, ballast, barrel, back, bag, bank, bangle, baboon, batoon, bateau, bar, barb, barm, bars, barge, barter, bard, barnacle, bark, bargain, berth, birch, bird, bergamot, birgander, bubble, bomb, bump, buffalo, bust, buzz, budge, bunch, bulge, bulk, burden, buckle, bug, bungle, bauble, bought, balk, bob, bobbin, bombyx.

Bl.-Blab, black, bladder, blade, blame, blanch, blank, bland, blaspheme, blatant, bleach, bleak, bleed, bleb, bled, blemish, blench, blend, blight, blink, blithe, bloat, blobber, block, blood, bloom, blossom, blotch, blote, blubber, bludgeon, bluff, blunder, blunt, blurt, blush, bluster.

Br.-Brabble, brach, brachygraphy, bracket, brad, brag, braid, brait, brake, brangle, bramble, branch, brave, breach, bread,

S

breadth, break, bream, breast, breath, breathe, breed, breeze, brethren, breve, brief, bribe, brick, bridge, bridle, brigand, brilliant, brinded, British, brittle, britzska, broach, broad, brought, brogue, broke, broil, brooch, brood, brook, broom, broth, brother, brown, bruise, brumal, brush, brustle, brute, bryony.

By.-Beauty, bucolic, bugle, buhl, bulimy, bureau, burine. Bw.-Buoy, buoyant, buoyancy.

Between vowels.--Feeble, agreeable, bibber, jibber, dibble, nibble, liberty, gibberish, fable, affable, lovable, stable, sable, passable, table, neighbour, label, labour, cable, gable, ebbing, pebble, treble, debit, babble, shabby, jabber, tabard, dabble, crabbed, cabinet, gabardine, haberdasher, bubble, stubble, suburb, shrubbery, lubber, trouble, rubber, hubbub, bauble, dauber, glauber, hauberk, sobbing, jobber, knobby, lobby, probable, robber, cobble, gobble, hobble, sober, noble, cobalt, puberty, booby, ruble, tuber, dubious, nubilous, piebald, bible, libel.

Before an articulation.-Feebly, zebra, bibulous, glibly, February, celebrity, tablet, abracadabra, babbler, fabricate, kerb-stone, troublous, snubnose, warbler, nobly, lubricate, tubular, fibrous, library, eyebrow.

Final.-Glebe, crib, rib, nib, astrolabe, babe, ebb, web, bleb, stab, dab, knab, cab, barb, rhubarb, garb, verb, kerb, herb, cub, hubbub, tub, dub, rub, grub, club, disturb, daub, bedaub, mob, fob, sob, job, knob, rob, cob, bob, absorb, orb, globe, probe, tube, cube, imbibe, jibe, bribe, kibe.

M

OBSERVATIONS.-This letter has the same orally obstructive formation as P and B, but the nasal passages are uncovered, and the air, instead of collecting within the mouth and pharynx, flows continuously through the nostrils. The soft palate is the valve which covers or uncovers the nares; its action in doing so is extremely limited, as may be seen by forming G and ng before a glass the sound may be intercepted and nasalized at pleasure, by a very slight but perceptible motion of the upper part of the velum, while the contact of its edges with the tongue remains undisturbed. This contact is the necessary formation of G, of which ng is the nasal form. breath cannot be directed entirely through the nostrils, unless it be obstructed

We have said that the stream of

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