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back of the upper teeth, while the English word, “law,” is being pronounced, a thick sound of “l” will be heard. This sound does not exist in English. In the key-words we shall represent this sound by the symbol L (capital).
Similarly, if the tongue be pressed against the back of the upper teeth while the word “month” is being pronounced, a thick sound of “n” will be heard. This sound does not exist in English, and in the key-words it will be represented by N (capital).
§ 47. 3. The third sound of l is that given in English to the L in Luke, the l in valiant, or to the ll in William, million, as these words are usually pronounced. We shall represent this sound by italic l. In the same way, n has a third sound like that given in English to n in new, Newry, and we shall use n, italic, as a symbol for this sound.[1]
§ 48. We can now add to our table of consonant sounds the following:—
In the Keywords | Are to be | In the English |
the Letters | sounded like | words |
l | l | look, lamb |
L | thick sound not in English | |
l | l | valiant |
n | n | noon |
N | thick sound not in English | |
n | n | new |
- ↑ In English, in reality, the ll in William, the l in valiant, etc., etc., are pronounced exactly the same as the l in law, or in all.
It is the lli or li, preceding a vowel, that gets the special sound. So, too, with the n in onion, Newry, etc.