CHAPTER II.
SYSTEM OF ARTICULATE SOUNDS.
[§ 202].—The attention of the reader is now directed to the following foreign vowel sounds.
1. é fermé, of the French.—This is a sound allied to, but different from, the a in fate, and the ee in feet. It is intermediate to the two.
2. u of the French, ü of the Germans, y of the Danes.—This sound is intermediate to the ee in feet, and the oo in book.
3. o chiuso, of the Italians.—Intermediate to the o in note, and the oo in book.
For these sounds we have the following sequences: a in fate, é fermé, ee in feet, ü in übel (German), oo in book, o chiuso, o in note. And this is the true order of alliance among the vowels; a in fate, and o in note, being the extremes; the other sounds being transitional or intermediate. As the English orthography is at once singular and faulty, it exhibits the relationship but imperfectly.
[§ 203]. The system of the mutes.—Preliminary to the consideration of the system of the mutes, let it be observed:—