These
distinctions are important, because in making combinations of consonants in
the same syllable or in successive syllables we cannot pass abruptly from a
closed sound to an open sound, or the reverse, nor from a surd sound to a
sonant, or the reverse. _L, m, n,_ and _r_ are called liquids, and easily
combine with other consonants; and so do the sibilants (_s, z,_ etc.).
In the growth of the language, many changes have been made in letters to
secure harmony of sound (as changing _b_ to _p_ in _sub-port---support,_
and _s,_ to _f_ in _differ_---from _dis_ and _fero_). Some combinations
are not possible of pronunciation, others are not natural or easy; and
hence the alterations. The student of the language must know how words are
built; and then when he comes to a strange word he can reconstruct it for
himself. While the short, common words may be irregular, the long, strange
words are almost always formed quite regularly.
Most of the sonants have but one sound, and none of them has more than
three sounds. The most important variations are as follows:
C and G have each a soft sound and a hard sound.
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