A MUTE or STOP is a letter that cannot be produced without the addition of a vowel sound — it is, by itself, mute; all sound is stopped.

Stops (mutes) can be subdivided by the speech organ used to create the restriction of air:

1. labials [lips] p b f
2. dentals [teeth] t d q
3. palatals [throat] k g c [Palatals are also called Gutturals .]

Try pronouncing the letter 'b' without the sound of the letter 'e' or the letter 'k' without the sound of the letter 'a.'