sobriety,.. so-bri-ety,

not reb-ble.

not sarse-nut, nor sarse-nit.

contentedness, con-tent-ed-ness, not con-ten-ted-nuss.

not pru-dunt.

.

not pru-dunce.

er.—The borrowed sound of the joined to the liquid r, making the syllable er.

This sound is between the e in met and the u in curl. It is a vulgarity to sound verse as vurse, mercy as murcy.

The correct sound of ễ is attained by striking the accent lightly, and without dwelling on the er; whereas, in ar, as in curd, the sound is more open, and heavier.

[See Table No. 4.]

NOTE-The definite article the must never have the long

6

sound of e, as in thee, except before a vowel or a silent h.

1.—The short sound of i, as in sin, ci-ty, in the

TERMINATIONS

in-ity-il-ity-itive-ible, and others of similar form.

ir.-The borrowed sound of i joined to the liquid r, making

9

the syllable ir distinct from ur, as in sir, which is a lighter and closer sound than cur.

Virtue must not be called vurtue, nor third thurd, &c.

7

[See Table No. 4.]

.-The full and round, open sound of in the

1

or.-The intermediate sound of o,with r in the termination or, unaccented, which must be kept distinct from ur.

9

68

U. i.-The diphthongal sound of ü, like iu, as in pure, has the same sound as iew in view, in the following

SYLLABLES AND TERMINATIONS:

ue-uit-ude-uce-use-uke-ume-une-ure, (accented)-ual-unar-ular-uble.

When any of the above terminations are compounded with r; and when ure is compounded with s, as in sure, and its derivations, in which cases the pure tonic sound of the u prevails,

C

like oo in poor, but less broad somewhat, and more rapidly ac

must be carefully distinguished from diphthongal sounds, and the sound of each vowel be duly given, as

ea, as in area (air-y-a.)

ies, as in species (speeshy-es,) series (seery-es.)

io, as in violate (vi-o-late,) vi-o-lence, &c.

Having gone through the Tables of Practice in the above sounds, let the reader practise the CONTRAST TABLES, to make the distinction between them clearer to the ear.

The above terminations and syllables are those on which the greatest carelessness exists in the articulation of the tonic sounds, and therefore I have selected them for practice; but it is equally necessary to observe the due sounds of the tonics, whether they occur in commencing, middle, or terminating syllables.

In reading the tables, be particular first to get the correct tonic sound of the vowel, as given in the keyword, and bear in mind that articulation of a sound

does not imply accentuation of the syllable; that is part of

PRONUNCIATION.

Pronunciation distinguishes the educated gentleman from the vulgar and unpolished man.

Pronunciation is made up of articulation and accentuation; when both are perfect, the individual has a correct and elegant pronunciation.

Custom, as Horace has truly said, "arbitrium est et jus et norma loquendi"-custom is the arbiter and criterion of what is correct in speech; but then it is the custom of the polite and elegant part of the world, (not of the mere vulgar,) that must guide us; and of which the Roman poet, writing, as he did, to the cultivated intellects of the Augustan age, must be understood to speak.

The custom of vulgar thousands cannot sanctify their errors; nor can the daily practice of thousands change folly into wisdom, any more than it can corrupt

or give authority to any similar improprieties.

The pulpit, the senate, and the bar, ought, from the advantages of education generally possessed by their members, and from their social position, to be the