INSTRUCTION LVI.

THE FORMATION OF VOICE.

Voice, as we have seen, is living sound, produced by the organ of voice. Its formation is simple. We inhale air, and fill the air-cells of the lungs. If we wish to make a sound, speak, or sing, we expel this air with some force. It passes into the bronchi, windpipe and larynx. Here it is forced through the glottis and strikes against its lips. Voice is formed. It then passes out of the larynx into the mouth, and is changed by the tongue, palate, nose, teeth, and lips, giving us all the variety of tones which we hear in speech and song. How simple! Voice is very much like the tone of a clarionet; and is produced and changed very much as the tone of that instrument.

INSTRUCTION LVII.

THE FORMS OF VOICE.

The voice, as we have seen, said Professor Cadmus, is living sound, produced by a living organ. It has its origin and growth. We may now look at them, and note the forms which voice takes in English speech. Attend, my son, carefully to all I am going to say.

A breathing, continued Professor Cadmus, is the source of all voice. The air is forced out of the lungs; and meeting with no obstruction, there is heard a rough breathing. It is represented by H.

The glottis may be slightly contracted. The air, in being forced through it, is compressed, and then is heard the somewhat clear and obscure sound, a as in father.

The mouth is expanded to its utmost, and the tongue raised toward its roof. The voice, in passing between them, takes the form of I, as in pine. The mouth is contracted to the utmost, and the lips pushed forward. The voice, in passing between them, takes the form of u, as in tube.

These three sounds are formed on the extreme points of the vowel region, and may be represented by a triangle.

The voice in passing from A to I and U, is formed before it reaches these points, and gives us, between a and i, E as heard in there, A in care, è in grey, A in game, and é in me; and between a and u, o as heard in bone, ò as in not, and ó as in move. They may be represented by a triangle.

The voice having reached o, may pass towards I, and give us ö as heard in love; or having gained the point U, may pass toward I and give us ü as heard in view, busy. These sounds may also be represented by a triangle.

In these statements and illustrations, we have the origin and forms of voice, as it appears in the vowels of the English language. We proceed now to consider it in the consonants, or joint sounds.

The voice, in passing from the throat in the simple vowel A, may do so in various ways, and be obstructed at different points by the contact of different organs. It may pass softly, sharply, glidingly, rollingly, rumblingly, buzzingly, hissingly, resoundingly, crowdedly, and crushedly. It may pass in these ways, strong or weak; high or low; loud or soft; slow or quick.

The GUTTURALS are formed in the back part of the mouth, between the root of the tongue and epiglottis. G is weak and blunt; K is strong and sharp. Qis equal to KW. X is equal to GS or KS. C hard is the same as K.

The PALATALS are formed in the middle part of the mouth, between the back of the tongue and the palate. Here we have weak and rumbling L; strong, sharp, and rolling R; strong, resounding N; soft, resounding NG; soft, strong, and rustling CH; and flowing Y.

The LINGUALS are formed between the tip of the tongue and upper teeth. Here we have weak and blunt D; strong and sharp T; soft, weak, and gliding J; and sharp and flat lisping TH.

The DENTALS are formed between the tip of the tongue and the two rows of teeth. Here are formed strong, crowded, and

hissing s; weak, gliding, and buzzing z; sharp and crushed SH; and soft and crushed ZH.

The LABIALS are formed between the lips. Here are to be sought strong and sharp P; weak and blunt B; strong, crowded, and flowing F; weak, gliding, and blowing v; weak, soft, and flowing w; weak, soft, and whistling WH; and strong and echoing M.

The letter x is the same as KS or GS, and c is the same as s or K. If we now review all the forms of voice presented in English speech, we will see that they all arise naturally out of A. This tone is changed in passing out of the mouth by the position of different organs, and by the way in which it is carried forward. The whole train of vowels and consonants is the result. We may observe also that there is a constant tendency in neighboring sounds to pass into each other, and give us an endless variety of vocal forms.

INSTRUCTION LV111.

A PLAN OF THE SOUNDS OF VOICE.

The sounds of voice, which are used in English speech, may now be presented at one view. It is the natural alphabet of sounds.

1. A BREATHING; as, H.

2. VOWELS.

The simple root vowels; A, I, U.

The compound vowels; E, é, è; o, ó, ò; ö, ü.

3. THE CONSONANTS.

Gutturals. Simple, g, k, and c hard. X is equal to gs or ks. Compound, q.

Palatals. Simple, 1, r, n, y. Compound, ng, ch.

Linguals. Simple, d, t. Compound, j, th, th and g.

2

Dentals. Simple, s, z. Compound, sh, zh.
Labials. Simple, b, p, f, m. Compound, w,

wh, and v.

Each of these forms or sounds of voice, contains two elements, the radical and vanish; and differs in sound, as it begins or ends a word or syllable—a feature that is worthy of attention.

INSTRUCTION LIX.

VOCAL EXERCISES THE VOICE.

The training of the voice, if we wish to excel in it, ends only with life. Exercise! Exercise! Exercise! This is the secret of its power and beauty. Neglect this, and, like the fingers of an idle musician, it never can perform its work well. But it must be exercised carefully. You must have an aim. It is the power, compass, ease, and richness of the voice. These exercises, in some form, should be practised daily.

EXERCISE L-EXPLODING.

Explode the vowels: a, e, i, o, u. Utter them in a quick, sudden way, like a pistol's report.

EXERCISE II.-LENGTH OF TONE

Utter the vowels: a, e, i, o, u; and prolong the tone in its purity.

EXERCISE IIL-FORCE OF VOICE.

Sound the vowels: a, e, i, o, u, in the various degrees of power of voice.

EXERCISE IV.-PITCH OF VOICE.

Utter the vowels: a, e, i, o, u, in the various degrees of pitch of voice.

EXERCISE V.-RATE OF VOICE.

Sound the vowels: a, e, i, o, u, in the different movements of voice.

EXERCISE VI.

Exercise the voice in these various ways on the consonants: b, d, f, g, h,

j, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, w, x, y, z, ch, ng, sh, th, th, wh, zh.