Chinese sounds are divided into upper and lower series. The initials
to represent the UPPER SERIES are—{p}, ’{m}, ’{v}, {t}, {ts}, {s},
’{l}, ’{n}, ’{ny}, ’{ng}, {k}, {ky}, {kw}, {i} and ’{w}. These
initials are pronounced in most cases much the same as in English, but
without aspiration, higher in pitch and with very little vibration of
the larynx. The apostrophe before a letter indicates that the letter
belongs to the “higher series.” Pure vowel initials also belong to
this series.
{ny} has a sound similar to that of {ni} in spa{ni}el.
{ky} ＝ {ch} in {ch}uk with all aspiration eliminated.
{i} as an initial has the sounds of {i} in dahl{i}a.
The ASPIRATES are—{ph}, {f}, {th}, {tsh}, {ky}, {ch}, {khw}, {h},
{hy}, and {hw} ({th} as in {Th}omson—not as in {th}ing).
{ch} ＝ {ch} in {ch}urch.
{hy} is nearly like {ti} in Por{ti}a.
The other aspirates are like the corresponding initials of the higher
series with the addition of a strong aspiration (indicated by {h}).
The initials to represent the LOWER SERIES are—{b}, {m}, {v}, {d},
{dz}, {z}, {l}, {n}, {ny}, {ng}, {g}, {j}, {gw}, {y}, and {w}. Their
pronunciation is much the same as in English. They are lower in pitch
than corresponding initials of the “higher series,” and have more
“voice,” being pronounced with more decided vibration of the larynx.
The lower vowel initials, indicated by an inverted comma (‘) and
attended with a slight aspiration, belong to this series. It will be
noted that this sign differs from that employed to indicate that a
consonant initial belongs to the upper series, an apostrophe being
used to denote the “upper initial.” This inverted comma is used only
before vowels, and if, by mistake, this sign is used before a
consonant instead of the apostrophe, this need not confuse the reader,
for the sign of the upper series is properly used only before the
initial consonants {m}, {v}, {l}, {n}, {ny}, {ng}, {w}, and {r}.
It should be noted well that the difference between the corresponding
initials of the upper and lower series is not so much a difference in
consonantal quality as a difference in pitch, but there is a real
consonantal difference. The higher series may be classified as {surd}
and the lower as {sonant}.