The origin and phonetic value of these, as given by the grammarian Torresano, are as follows:[49-1]—
This is called the tresillo, from its shape, it being an old form of the figure three, reversed, thus,
. It is the only true guttural in the language, being pronounced forcibly from the throat, with a trilling sound (castañeteando).
From its shape this is called the cuatrillo, Parra having[50] adopted for it an old form of the figure 4. It is a trilled palatal, between a hard c and k.
