Subvocals and Aspirates
Subvocals are those sounds in which the vocalized breath is more or less obstructed.
Aspirates consist of breath only, modified by the vocal organs.
Words ending with subvocal sounds should be selected for practice on the subvocals; words beginning or ending with aspirate sounds may be used for practice on the aspirates. Pronounce these words forcibly and distinctly several times in succession; then drop the other sounds, and repeat the subvocals and aspirates alone. Let the class repeat the words and elements at first in concert, then separately.
Table of Subvocals and Aspirates. Subvocal as in Subvocal as in ———— ——- ———— ——- b babe p rap d bad t at g nag k book j judge ch rich v move f life th with th Smith z buzz s hiss z azure(azh’ure) sh rush
REMARK.—These sixteen sounds make eight pairs of cognates. In articulating the aspirates, the vocal organs are put in the position required in the articulation of the corresponding subvocals; but the breath is expelled with some force without the utterance of any vocal sound. The pupil should first verify this by experiment, and then practice on these cognates.
The following subvocals and aspirates have no cognates.
Subvocals
| Subvocal | as in | Subvocal | as in |
| l | mill | r | rule |
| m | rim | r | car |
| n | run | w | win |
| ng | sing | y | yet |
Aspirates
Aspirate as in ———— ——- h hat wh when