A Grammar of Elocution

3. Let the long vowels be sounded with f, j, k, p, s, í, v, z, th, sh, ch, giving as much prolongation as possible to the vowels, but not more than is necessary for distinctness to the consonants.

4. Let the short vowels be united with the last named consonants, let as much explosive force as possible be given to the syllables made by the junction, without more than usual protraction of either vowels or consonants.

The practice upon these tables may be thought by the indolent somewhat irksome; but the diligent student may assure himself that more is not required than he will find substantially useful in familiarizing his ear with the real sounds of his language, in giving him an intimate knowledge of their vocal capacity, and in obtaining a forcible and precise action of the organs of speech in the pronounciation of syllables.

COMBINATIONS OF CONSONANT ELE-
MENTS.

As the greatest obstacles to a distinct articulation occur in the pronunciation of the consonant elements, we proceed to construct a table of those elements in combination with each other. We do this because it is in giving precision and full force to each elementary sound, and in effecting the difficult and rapid changes which the utterance of a succession of these consonants requires, that a principal difficulty of articulation consists. Exercise in every kind of combination is therefore the proper remedy for an indistinct utterance. All the mere directions in the world, whether found in books or out of them,

will be of no avail: and if this grammar is to be useful, it will be so because it has deviated from the common track by insisting upon practice upon the elements: because it leaves nothing to the student; but puts before him in black and white, a series of exercises which he is to practice with his voice, and which he is to practice, let it be repeated, until the one particular branch of the art over which it is the object of such exercises to give him a complete mastery, is attained.

The articulation, in the use of these tables will, perkaps, at first, be somewhat stiff and formal; as the teacher ought to insist on the exact pronunciation of every element contained in them in the order in which they are found: bnt if the organs of speech are diligently and perseveringly exercised in these difficult combinations, they will, by degrees, acquire facility as well as precision, grace as well as force: and in the end distinctness and ease will be united and permanently secured. Exactness and grace go together in other gymnastic exereises, in fencing, in riding, in boxing; why should they not also be the result of the nobler gymnastics of the voice.

TABLE OF CONSONANT SOUNDS

Bb. bdst.

bl. bld. bldst.

blz. blst.

br.

bs. bst.

IN COMBINATION.

as in for-b'd, pro-b'd'st.

a-ble, trou-bl'd, trou-bl'd'st, troubles, trou-bl'st.

br-and.
ri-bs, rob-b'st.