that of prolonging it into a "roll," or that of substituting for it the soft sound of r "final." A correct articulation, in this instance, always presents to the ear a firm, clear, and distinct, but very brief sound.

5. R, as in Fa-r: [r final, or before a consonant.] The error most frequent in the articulation of this element, is that of omitting it, through inadvertency. This fault is one of the conspicuous peculiarities of the style of pronunciation prevalent among the uncultivated classes of the city of London. But it is not less so, even among educated people, in the United States. The soft r, being one of the few liquid consonants which our language possesses, should never be omitted in enunciation. At the same time, it should never be converted into the opposite r, as in rap, as it often is, in the style of foreigners; neither should it ever be dwelt upon, or prolonged in sound. It is properly but a "vanish," in its effect on the ear; as its vibrating and murmuring articulation prevents it from becoming forcible or distinct. The tongue should execute it with a delicate motion adapted to its slight and evanescent character. Ire Ore Lure Bur hire core mire door

Bar

Hare

dare

car

Ear
fear

pure

cur

fare

mar hear

sure

pur

Exercise on words containing both sounds of R.

[The difference in the sounds of the hard and the soft r,

should be exactly observed.]

6. Ng, as in Si-ng; [or n, before g hard or k.]

Hanging Ringing Lancing Mangling Haranguing twanging winging glancing dangling prolonging swinging bringing dancing wrangling besprinkling

7. B, as in B-a-be.

The forcible execution of this, and the two following elements, in a very clear and compact form, is often indispensable to the full effect of vivid emotion.

12. Z, as in A-z-ure, [or s, as in measure.]

Seizure Measure Vision Composure Derision

leisure

hosier grazier

[All "atonics," from their utter want of vocality, need

great force and precision in their articulation.]

* Yay, not "ye." + Yes, not "yiss." In these and a few other words, the style recommended by Walker, is now obsolete.

3. C, hard, and K, as in C-a-ke; and Q, as in Q-ueen.

5. S, (sharp,) and C, soft, as in C-ea-se.

Mass Source

Ceaseless sister

assistance

The common faults in the enunciation of syllables, consist in a slack, obscure articulation of the single elements of which they are composed, and, in addition, the fault of negligently allowing a vowel sound to intervene between the consonants; thus "bălă" for bla. True taste will never allow a slovenly style of articulation, but will always maintain a neat, clear, and exact sound of every element, in whatever combination it may occur.

Bl, cl, f, gl, pl, sl, spl.

Blame, bleed, blow, blew, black, bled, bliss, blot, blind, blest.

Claim, clean, clime, close, clew, clap, cleft, clip, clot. Flame, flee, fly, flow, flew, flat, flock, flit.

Glare, gleam, glide, glow, gloom, glad, glim, gloss.

Place, plea, ply, plow, plat, plot, please.

Slay, sleep, slide, slow, slack, slept, słip, slew.

Br, cr, dr, fr, gr, pr, spr, tr, str, shr.

[The following words need attention to a clear, distinct enunciation of the hard r,-free, however, from prolongation.]

Brave, bread, brink, broke, brisk, brow, brook, brink. Crave, creep, cried, croak, crest, crook, crop, crust. Drain, dream, dry, drove, drag, dread, drip, drop.