The consonants may be divided into _mutes_ and _semivowels_. When a consonant compresses the lips, or the tongue and roof of the mouth, so closely as to check all sound, it is called a _perfect mute_: Such are _p_, _k_, and _t_, as may be perceived by pronouncing the syllables, _ep_, _ek_, _et_. When the compression of the organs is more gentle and does not stop all sound immediately, the letters are called mutes; such are _b_, _d_, and _g_, as may be perceived by pronouncing the syllables, _eb_, _ed_, _eg_. When a consonant has an imperfect sound, or hissing, which may be continued, after a contact of the organs, it is denominated a semivowel. Of this kind are ef, el, em, en, er, es, ev, ez, eth,[39] eth,[39] esh, ezh, ing. Of these, four are aspirates, ef, es, eth, and esh. The others are vocal, having an imperfect sound.
Perfect mutes---p, k, t. Mutes-----------b, d, g. vocal, } l, m, n, r, v, z, th, Semivowels-- } zh, ng, aspirate,} f, s, th, sh.
They may also be classed according to the manner in which they are formed by the organs: Thus, those formed
By the lips, are called labials--b, p, f, v. By the teeth, are called dentals--d, t, th, z, s, sh, zh. By the palate, are called palatine--g, k, l, r. By the nose, are called nasal--m, n, ng.
On the subject of the alphabet, I have this remark further; that for want of a proper knowlege of the powers of _sh_ and _th_, some material errors in printing have obtained in common practice. _Sh_ are usually united in printing, and generally with propriety, for the combination represents a simple consonant. But in several compound words _s_ and _h_ have been improperly united, where one is silent or where each retains its own power, as in dishonor, dishonest, dishabille, hogshead, household, falsehood, and some others. The union of _sh_ in these words, is embarrassing, especially to children, who are led to pronounce them _dish-onor_, _dish-onest_. This error still prevails in printing, except in the last mentioned word, which is sometimes correctly printed _falsehood_.
_Th_, tho not united in character, have a tendency to produce, in some words, a wrong pronunciation. For instance, we are very apt to say _Wren-tham_ instead of _Wrent-ham_. _Hotham_ is also ambiguous; there is nothing in the orthography to direct us, whether to pronounce it _Hot-ham_ or _Ho-tham_, altho custom decides in favor of the latter.