36. S, as in Measure. Palatic Sounds. 37. K, as in Key; Aspirate. 40. H, as in Hail. Nasal Sounds. 41. N, as in No. 42. NG, as in Sing; N, as in Finger, Sink. Lingual Sounds. Palatic and Dental Sounds, 46. X, as in Ox;† These sounds constitute all the elements of articulation in the English language. The exercises which follow, are merely various examples of these rudiments, as they occur in different combinations. The exercises are also designed for lessons in pronunciation; as this branch, not less than that of articulation, is much neglected in early instruction, and the practice of the one conveniently comprises that of the other. The main purpose of reading and speaking, is to communicate thought. The most important point in elocution, therefore, is a distinct and correct enunciation, without which it is impossible to be rightly and clearly understood. The chief design, accordingly, of this department of education, is, by appropriate exercise, to cultivate the organs of speech, to strengthen and discipline the voice, and, at the same time, to eradicate incorrect habits of utterance, which may have been contracted through early neglect. Enunciation may, for the purposes of instruction, be considered in connexion, 1st, with articulation, or the management of the organs of speech; 2dly, with pronunciation, or the sounds of the voice, regarded as modified by usage, or custom, in the language which is spoken. * See 'exercises,' on the letter R, p. 28. Properly combinations formed by the union of Nos. 37 and 34, and of Nos. 38 and 35. EXERCISES, EMBRACING THE ELEMENTS OF ARTICULATION AND THE RULES OF PRONUNCIATION. The following exercises are chiefly a transcript from Angus's compend of Fulton's system of Orthoepy, and Smart's Practice of Elocution. The words in the tables should be read with great force and distinctness : they may thus be made a useful organic exercise, for imparting strength and pliancy of voice, as well as energy and clearness of articulation; they may serve also for mechanical discipline on inflections, if read in successive portions as marked in a few instances. The grave accent, or falling inflection, (^) denotes the downward slide of voice, as heard at a period; the acute accent, or rising inflection, (') denotes the upward slide, usually heard at a comma. The application of these inflections, is not necessary to practice in articulation, and, if found embarrassing, may be omitted. The early acquisition of them, however, will save much time in future lessons; and since the words in these exercises must all be articulated with one inflection or other, the inflection actually used, may as well be regular as arbitrary. The punctuation of the examples, is intended to aid the application of inflections. SOUNDS OF THE VOWELS. A, as in the word Fate: Ai, as in Ail: Ay, as in Lay. The sound of a, mentioned above, is marked by Walker, as the 'first' sound of this letter: it might be conveniently designated as the long name sound, from its quantity or length, and the circumstance of its forming the alphabetical name of the letter. This vowel is not what it would, at first sight, appear to be, a perfectly simple sound: it consists, in reality, of two sounds,-that which, in common pronunciation, commences the name of the letter, (a) and that which, in a prolonged utterance, is heard at its close, and which approaches to the name sound of the vowel e. A clear and just articulation of the name sound of a, has regard to this complexity of its nature, and closes with a very slight and delicate approach to the sound of e, so slight as to be barely perceptible to a very close observation. A common fault, in very bad taste, is to give this complex sound in a manner too analytical,—in the worst style of theatrical singing; thus, Faieel, faieeth; for fail, faith. A le áce àge, aim day bail, dale fail say, pave tape hail, haze may gaze, late maid nay, vail make fame, tail pay lade, jade gay sail, fate faith daily, fade make gate, take mail sale. A, as in Far: Au, as in Launch. Marked as the 'second' sound of a, in Walker's notation. There are two extremes of sound, occasionally heard, which must be avoided in the pronunciation of the following words,-that of a too broad, and nearly like a in all; thus Fawrm, fawther, smawrt, &c., for farm, father, smart; and a too short, resembling the sound of a in mat, thus: Fărm for fârm, &c. A`rm àh há hàrm, bar car far par, tar aunt daunt gaunt, haunt jaunt taunt father, saunter gauntlet barb hark, mar garb harp dart, cart park marl snarl, barn arch harsh balm, palm calf charge charm, psalm farm alarm becalm. Same sound unaccented: Harmonious carnation incarnation singular popular regularly. A, as in Fall: Aw, as in Awe: Au, as in Laud. The 'third' sound of a, in Walker's notation. The error to be avoided in the following class of sounds, is that of making a to resemble o; thus, oll for all. Sometimes this error is so broad and coarse as to divide the sound into two parts; the first of which is the above o, and the second the u in up: ōull, föull, for all, fall. These faults should be carefully avoided, as slovenly and vulgar. All hall ball cáll fàll, gall pall tall wall ward, warm wharf quart thwart false, warn walk chalk qualm halt, war warrior haw daw maw, jaw saw law raw draw, straw brawl drawl dawn lawn, awning yawn daub fraud gauze, vault vaunt fault aught taught, fraught sauce daughter halter lawful. A, as in Fat. The 'fourth' sound, in Walker's notation. There are two extremes of error to be avoided in the following words,-that of a too flat, and divided into two sounds; thus, mayun, for măn,-and that of a too broad; thus, pauss* for păss. Bàt cát hát màt pát sát, rat vat blab sack lad staff, had mall tan dram scrap pass, have has glass class mass grass, asp grasp clasp vast, past fast, last mast ash hash sash mash, waft raft graft grant craft shaft, slant gland latch dance lance glance, trance France chant branch crash slant, man can gather rather alas advance. Same sound unaccented: Abode abound tabate abash America Cuba, cabal caparison calamity traduce diadem calumniate. A, as in Wash. Not separately marked by Walker, but given as the same with the fourth sound of o. The common errors in the articulation of this sound, are that of making it resemble the sound of o in no; thus, whote, or rather wot, for what,-and that of making the a resemble that of the word fat; thus, whatt for what. Wàd squad swáb,‡ wan was wasp, want wast swash, * a, as in parse. The letter liable to error in pronunciation, is marked by italic type, when the word contains more than one of the same name. The practice on inflection is now varied to the commencing series; the voice sliding upward at the terminating word of each clause, in the manner of incomplete expression, suspended or interrupted sense. The application of these inflections, however, is quash quantity quality, squall squat swan, squash waspish qualify, what wash wand. A, Ai, and Ay, before R final, or R, followed by a vowel. The errors commonly made in the following class of sounds, are (1st,) giving a too broad a sound, or the 'fourth' sound, instead of one nearly resembling the 'first' sound; thus ǎer, (a, as in at, nearly,) for air,— and (2d,) giving the long name sound too exactly, or too flat; thus, aer, (a, as in ale,) for air. The true sound of a, ai, or ay, situated as mentioned above, avoids these extremes;-the former, as coarse and vulgar; the latter, as too precise and studied. The true sound approaches nearer to the latter than to the former. It cannot be expressed to the eye, and can only be generally described as the 'first' sound of a rendered a little obscure, by deviating very slightly towards the 'fourth.' Bàre càre dàre fáre, mare pare tare ware, yare air fair lair, hair rare layer prayer, parent apparent repair stare, snare spare careful careless, rarely beware ensnare prepare, compare pair stair daring. E, as in Me: Ee, as in Eel: Ea, as in Eat: Ie, as in Field or the 'first' sound of e, in Walker's notation. The errors in the articulation of this sound, arise, chiefly, from not observing the nature of the consonant which follows it, and consequently making it too long or too short. E, as a final sound, or occurring before a liquid, is long, as in Bee, eel, seem, seen; and, before a palatic letter or consonant, it is short, as in Week, seek, sleet. Beè feè thème mète feél, supreme seem team feature plea, yield wield weep seen queen, beef weed not strictly necessary, and may, as mentioned before, be omitted, if found difficult and embarrassing. |