Page images
PDF
EPUB

E, as in eve, occurs, also, in the sound of ee in eel; ea, in eat; ie, in field; ei, in seize.

E, in end, occurs in the form of ea, in head.

E, in err, is the same sound which occurs in heard, and in firm.

Y, except its peculiar sound in ye, is but a repetition of i, long or short; thus rhyme, hymn, &c.

O, in old, is repeated in oak, course, own, &c.

Oo, in ooze, and 00, in foot, recur in the sounds of o, in move; u, in true; o, in wolf; u, in pull; ui, in fruit, &c. The diphthongal sound oi, as in oil, is heard, always, in The sound of u, in use, occurs also in the form of iew in view; eau in beauty.

oy.

The diphthong ou, in our, is repeated in the sound of ow in down, &c.

F, as a sound, recurs in the form of ph and gh; as in phrase, laugh, &c.

J, and g "soft," are, on the other hand, but combinations of the sounds of d, and of z, as in azure.

Ch, in church, are but repetitions of the sound oft and sh. The sound of sh is found also in the words, nation, gracious, ocean, &c.

C, "soft," is identical with s.

S, is, in multitudes of instances, but a repetition of z, as, for example, in houses, diseases, &c.

The sound of k is repeated in the form of c, "hard; ch, as in chorus; and q as in queen.

N, in ink, is identical with ng.

[ocr errors]

X, in either form, is but a repetition, in sound, of ks or gz; thus ox, example, &c.

It is unnecessary, however, to enlarge on these inconsistencies in the forms of our language. It is sufficient, perhaps, for our present purpose, to suggest the fact, that the orthography of words may sometimes afford no guidance to orthöepy, but, rather, may apparently mislead. The ear should, in all cases, be trained to the utmost exactness and precision, in detecting and seizing the true element of sound, independently of the form or combination of letters, by which it may be represented.

EXERCISES IN ARTICULATION.

The mode of performing the subjoined exercises, is as follows:

1. Pronounce, three times in succession, with full

[ocr errors]

" and

"declamatory "orotund" utterance; clear, firm, "radical" opening, and delicate but distinct "vanish; with the downward slide of the voice, as at the close of a sentence, the whole word containing the first element; thus "A-ll." "A-ll." "A-ll.”

2. Enunciate, as above, the sound of the element, by itself, apart from the other letters of the word; paying close attention to the correct position of the organs, as mentioned before, and to the perfect precision and distinctness of the sound.

3. Let all the other elements be practised in the same

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[blocks in formation]

The following syllables should be practised in the same modes as the elements in the preceding exercises. Both or all of the component sounds, should, in each case, receive distinct attention.

Bl, cl, fl, gl, pl, spl;

Br, cr, fr, gr, pr, spr, tr, str, shr;

Sm, sn, sp, st.

Final Syllables.

ld, If, lk, lm, lp, lse, ls, (lz,) It, Ive;
m'd, nd, nce, ns, (nz,) nk, (ngk,) nt;
rb, rd, rk, rm, rn, rse, rs, (rz,) rt, rve ;
rb'd, rk'd, rm'd, rn'd, rs'd, rv'd;

sm, (zm,) s'n, (zn,) sp, st;

ks, ct, k'd, (kt,) f'd, (ft,) p'd (pt ;)

d'n, k'n, p'n, v'n ;

ble, (bl,) fle, (fl,) gle, (gl,) ple, (pl,) dle, (dl,) tle, (tl,) rl;

lst, nst, rst, dst, rdst, rmdst, rndst;

bl'd, pl'd, rl'd;

ngs, ngst, ng’d;

bles, (blz,) cles, (clz,) fles, (flz,) gles, (glz ;)

sms, (zmz,) s'ns, (znz,) sps, sts;

stles, (slz,) stens, (snz.)

WORDS,

to be practised in the same style as the preceding exercises on syllables, each component element kept perfectly clear and distinct.

[ocr errors]

I. Tonic Elements.

Simple Sounds.

One error, often made in the following class of words, is to pronounce them nearly as if written oall, &c. Sometimes, we hear the coarse error of dividing the sound of a, in such words, into two parts thus O-ull, fo-ŭll, &c. To a cultivated ear, this sound is peculiarly displeasing, as associated with low and slovenly habit.

[blocks in formation]

The two current errors in this class of sounds, are,

1st,

as in the local usage of New England,

it down to to a, in an ;

[ocr errors]

flattening

2d, as in the custom of the Middle States, making it as broad as a in all. The former style causes the pronunciation of " fărm," "părt," ""father: " the latter, that of "fawrm," "pawrt,"

"fawther."

[blocks in formation]

Common errors : ly; thus, "Dence,"

[ocr errors]

3. A, as in A-n.

99 66

1, a flattened down to e, in end, nearpess," the local usage of the Mid2d, a made as broad as a, in arm; thus, "Dânce," (as if darnce,) " pâss," the customary fault of

dle States;

[ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]

There is seldom any error made in the enunciation of

such words as the following, except the slight one arising from not distinguishing between the longer sound of ee before a "subtonic," as in feel, and the shorter, before an atonic," as in feet.

[ocr errors]

The explosive force of the organic action, in executing an "atonic," compresses the preceding vowel: the gentle and gradual sliding of the ee into a subtonic," allows it a longer duration.

Theme Feel Heed

66

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

5. 00, as in Oo-ze; 00, as in L-00-k.

The sound of this element, needs attention to the same distinction as in the case of ee. Before a "tonic" element, it is prolonged, before an "atonic," it is shortened. The difference is exemplified, for the former, in tool,- for the latter, in took.

[blocks in formation]

Exceptions. Good, wood, stood,

which have the oo short, though before a " subtonic."

6. E, as in E-rr.

The just, not overdone, distinction between urn and earn, is the object to be kept in view, in practising on the following words. This class of sounds is so liable to mispronunciation, that it needs close and repeated attention. See remarks on the "tonic " element, e in err, in the discussion of the elementary sounds.

[ocr errors]
[blocks in formation]

The common error in the following class of words, is

* The same element with e in err, though differently spelled.

« PreviousContinue »