Chapter 2

Each of these can he uttered with great force, so as to give a distinct expression of its sound, although the voice be suddenly suspended, the moment the sound is produced. This is done by putting the lips, teeth, tongue, and palate in their proper position, and then expelling each sound from the throat in the same manner that the syllable "ah!" is uttered in endeavoring to deter a child from something it is about to do; thus, a'--a'--a'--.

Let the pupil he required to utter every one of the elements in the Table with all possible suddenness and percussive force, until he is able to do it with ease and accuracy. This must not he considered as accomplished until he can give each sound with entire clearness, and with all the suddenness of the crack of a rifle. Care must be taken that the vocal alone be heard; there must be no consonantal sound, and no vocal sound other than the one intended.

At first, the elementary sounds may be repeated by the class in concert; then separately.

TABLE OF VOCALS. (13)

Long Sounds.

Sound as in

a hate e err a hare i pine a pass o no a far oo cool a fall u tube e eve u burn

Short Sounds.

Sound as in

a mat o hot e met oo book i it u us

Diphthongs. oi, oy, as in oil, boy. ou, ow, as in out, now.

REMARK I.--In this table, the short sounds are nearly or quite the same, in quantity, as the long sounds. The difference consists chiefly in quality. Let the pupil determine this fact by experiment.

REMARK II.--The vocals are often represented by other letters or combinations of letters than those used in the table: for instance, a is represented by ai as in hail, by ea as in steak, etc.

REMARK III.--As a general rule, the long vocals and the diphthongs should be articulated with full, clear utterance; but the short vocals have a sharp, distinct, and almost explosive utterance. Weakness of speech follows a failure to observe the first point, while drawling results from carelessness with respect to the second.

SUBVOCALS AND ASPIRATES (13)

Subvocals are those sounds in which the vocalized breath is more or less obstructed.

Aspirates consist of breath only, modified by the vocal organs.

Words ending with subvocal sounds may be selected for practice on the subvocals; words beginning or ending with aspirate sounds may be used for practice on aspirates. Pronounce these words forcibly and distinctly, several times in succession; then drop the other sounds, and repeat the subvocals and aspirates alone. Let the class repeat the words and elements, at first, in concert; then separately.

TABLE OF SUBVOCALS AND ASPIRATES. (14)

Subvocals. as in

b babe d bad g nag j judge v move th with z buzz z azure (azh-) w wine

Aspirates. as in

p rap t at k book ch rich f life th smith s hiss sh rush wh what

REMARK.--These eighteen sounds make nine pairs of cognates. In articulating the aspirates, the vocal organs are put in the position required in the articulation of the corresponding subvocals; but the breath is expelled with some force, without the utterance of any vocal sound. The pupil should first verify this by experiment, and then practice on these cognates.

The following subvocals and aspirate have no cognates:

SUBVOCAL as in

l mill ng sing m rim r rule n run y yet

ASPIRATE.

h, as in hat.

SUBSTITUTES. (14)

Substitutes are characters used to represent sounds ordinarily represented by other characters.

TABLE OF SUBSTITUTES. Sub for as in

a o what y i hymn e a there c s cite e a freight c k cap i e police ch sh machine i e sir ch k chord o u son g j cage o oo to n ng rink o oo would s z rose o a corn s sh sugar o u worm x gz examine u oo pull gh f laugh u oo rude ph f sylph y i my qu k pique qu kw quick

FAULTS TO BE REMEDIED. (15)

The most common faults of articulation are dropping an unaccented vowel, sounding incorrectly an unaccented vowel, suppressing final consonants, omitting or mispronouncing syllables, and blending words.

1. Dropping an unaccented vocal.

EXAMPLES.

CORRECT INCORRECT

gran'a-ry gran'ry a-ban'don a-ban-d'n im-mor'tal im-mor-t'l reg'u-lar reg'lar in-clem'ent in-clem'nt par-tic'u-lar par-tic'lar des'ti-ny des-t'ny cal-cu-la'tian cal-cl'a-sh'n un-cer'tain un-cer-t'n oc-ca'sion oc-ca-sh'n em'i-nent em'nent ef'i-gy ef'gy ag'o-ny ag'ny man'i-fold man'fold rev'er-ent rev'rent cul'ti-vate cult'vate

2. Sounding incorrectly an unaccented vowel.

EXAMPLES.

CORRECT INCORRECT

lam-en-ta'-tion lam-un-ta-tion ter'ri-ble ter-rub-ble e-ter'nal e-ter-nul fel'on-y fel-er-ny ob'sti-nate ob-stun-it fel'low-ship fel-ler-ship e-vent' uv-ent cal'cu-late cal-ker-late ef'fort uf-fort reg'u-lar reg-gy-lur

EXERCISES. (16)

The vocals most likely to be dropped or incorrectly sounded are italicized.

He attended divine service regularly. This is my particular request. She is universally esteemed. George is sensible of his fault. This calculation is incorrect. What a terrible calamity. His eye through vast immensity can pierce. Observe these nice dependencies. He is a formidable adversary. He is generous to his friends. A tempest desolated the land. He preferred death to servitude. God is the author of all things visible and invisible.

3. Suppressing the final subvocals or aspirates.

EXAMPLE (16)

John an' James are frien's o' my father. Gi' me some bread. The want o' men is occasioned by the want o' money. We seldom fine' men o' principle to ac' thus. Beas' an' creepin' things were foun' there.

EXERCISES. (17)

He learned to write. The masts of the ship were cast down. He entered the lists at the head of his troops. He is the merriest fellow in existence. I regard not the world's opinion. He has three assistants. The depths of the sea. She trusts too much to servants. His attempts were fruitless. He chanced to see a bee hovering over a flower.

4. Omitting or mispronouncing whole syllables.

EXAMPLES.

Correct is improperly pronounced

Lit'er-ar-ry lit-rer-ry co-tem'po-ra-ry co-tem-po-ry het-er-o-ge'ne-ous het-ro-ge-nous in-quis-i-to'ri-al in-quis-i-to-ral mis'er-a-ble mis-rer-ble ac-com'pa-ni-ment ac-comp-ner-ment

EXERCISE

He devoted his attention chiefly to literary pursuits. He is a miserable creature. His faults were owing to the degeneracy of the times. The manuscript was undecipherable. His spirit was unconquerable. Great industry was necessary for the performance of the task.

5. Blending the end of one word with the beginning of the next.

EXAMPLES

I court thy gif sno more. The grove swere God sfir stemples. My hear twas a mirror, that show' devery treasure. It reflecte deach beautiful blosso mof pleasure. Han d'me the slate. This worl dis all a fleeting show, For man' sillusion given.

EXERCISES. (18)

The magistrates ought to arrest the rogues speedily. The whirlwinds sweep the plain. Linked to thy side, through every chance I go. But had he seen an actor in our days enacting Shakespeare. What awful sounds assail my ears? We caught a glimpse of her. Old age has on their temples shed her silver frost. Our eagle shall rise mid the whirlwinds of war, And dart through the dun cloud of battle his eye. Then honor shall weave of the laurel a crown, That beauty shall bind on the brow of the brave.

II. INFLECTION. (18)

Inflection is a bending or sliding of the voice either upward or downward.

The upward or rising inflection is an upward slide of the voice, and is marked by the acute accent, thus, ('); as,

Did you call'? Is he sick'?

The downward or falling inflection is a downward slide of the voice, and is marked by the grave accent, thus, ('); as,

Where is London'? Where have you been'?

Sometimes both the rising and falling inflections are given to the same sound. Such sounds are designated by the circumflex, thus, (v) or thus, (^). The former is called the rising circumflex; the latter, the falling circumflex; as,

But nobody can bear the death of Clodius.

When several successive syllables are uttered without either the upward or downward slide, they are said to be uttered in a monotone, which is marked thus, (--); as,

Roll on, thou deep and dark blue Ocean--roll

EXAMPLES. (19)

Does he read correctly' or incorrectly'?

In reading this sentence, the voice should slide somewhat as represented in the following diagram:

Does he read cor-rectly or incorrect-ly?

If you said vinegar, I said sugar,

To be read thus:

If you said vinegar, I said sugar,

If you said yes, I said no.

To be read thus:

If you said yes, I said no.

What! did he say no?

To be read thus:

What! did he say no?

He did'; he said no',

To be read thus;

He did; he said no.

Did he do it voluntarily', or involuntarily'?

To be read thus:

Did he do it voluntarily, or involuntarily?

He did it voluntarily', not involuntarily',

To be read thus:

He did it voluntarily, not involuntarily.

EXERCISES. (20)

Do they act prudently', or imprudently'?

Are they at home', or abroad'?

Did you say Europe', or Asia'?

Is he rich', or poor'?

He said pain', not pain'.

Are you engaged', or at leisure'?

Shall I say plain', or pain'?

He went home' not abroad'.

Does he say able', or table'?

He said hazy' not lazy'?

Must I say flat', or flat'?

You should say flat' not flat'.

My father', must I stay'?

Oh! but he paused upon the brink.

It shall go hard with me, but I shall use the weapon.

Heard ye those loud contending waves, That shook Cecropia's pillar'd state'? Saw ye the mighty from their graves Look up', and tremble at your fate'?

First' Fear', his hand, its skill to try', Amid the chords bewildered laid'; And back recoiled', he knew not why' E'en at the sound himself had made'.

Where be your gibes' now? your gambols'? your songs'? your flashes of merriment, that were wont to set the table on a roar'?

Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; "I dwell in the high and holy place."

FALLING INFLECTION. (21)

RULE I.--Sentences, and parts of sentences which make complete sense in themselves, require the falling inflection.

EXAMPLES. (21)

1. By virtue we secure happiness'.

2. For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven': I will exalt my throne above the stars of God': I will sit, also, upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north'.

3. The wind and the rain are over'; calm is the noon of the day\: the clouds are divided in heaven'; over the green hills flies the inconstant sun'; red through the stormy vale comes down the stream'.

4. This proposition was, however, rejected,' and not merely rejected, but rejected with insult'.

Exception.--Emphasis sometimes reverses this rule, and requires the rising inflection, apparently for the purpose of calling attention to the idea of an unusual manner of expressing it.

EXAMPLES. (21)

1. I should not like to ride in that car'. 2. Look out! A man was drowned there yesterday'. 3. Presumptuous man! the gods' take care of Cato',

RULE II.--The language of emphasis generally requires the falling inflection.

EXAMPLES. (22)

1. Charge', Chester, charge'; on', Stanley, on'.

2. Were I an American, as I am an Englishman, while a single' foreign troop' remained' in my country, I would never' lay down my arms'--never', never', never.'

3. Does anyone suppose that the payment of twenty shillings, would have ruined Mr. Hampden's fortune? No'. But the payment of half twenty shillings, on the principle' it was demanded, would have made him a slave'.

4. I insist' upon this point': I urge' you to it; I press' it, demand' it.

5. All that I have', all that I am', and all that I hope' in this life, I am now ready', here, to stake' upon it.

RULE III.--Interrogative sentences and members of sentences, which can not be answered by yes or no, generally require the falling inflection.

EXAMPLE. (22)

1. How many books did he purchase'?

2. Why reason ye these things in your hearts'?

3. What see' you, that you frown so heavily to-day'?

4. Ah! what is that flame which now bursts on his eye'?

5. Whence this pleasing hope', this fond desire', This longing after immortality'?

Exception.--When questions usually requiring the falling inflection are emphatic or repeated, they take the rising inflection.

EXAMPLES. (22)

1. Where did you say he had gone'?

2. To whom did you say the blame was to be imputed'?

3. What is' he? A knave. What' is he? A knave, I say.

RISING INFLECTION. (23)

RULE IV.--The rising inflection is generally used where the sense is dependent or incomplete.

REMARK.--This inflection is generally very slight, requiring an acute and educated ear to discern it, and it is difficult to teach pupils to distinguish it, though they constantly use it. Care should be taken not to exaggerate it.

EXAMPLES. (23)

1. Nature being exhausted', he quietly resigned himself to his fate.

2. A chieftain to the Highlands bound', Cries', "Boatman, do not tarry!"

3. As he spoke without fear of consequences', so his actions were marked with the most unbending resolution,

4. Speaking in the open air', at the top of the voice', is an admirable exercise.

5. If then, his Providence' out of our evil, seek to bring forth good', our labor must be to prevent that end.

6. He', born for the universe', narrowed his mind, And to party gave up what was meant for mankind.

REMARK.--The names of persons or things addressed, when not used emphatically, are included in this rule.

7. Brother', give me thy hand; and, gentle Warwick!, Let me embrace thee in my weary arms.

8. O Lancaster', I fear thy overthrow.

9. Ye crags' and peaks', I'm with you once again.

Exception 1.--Relative emphasis often reverses this and the first rule, because emphasis is here expressed in part by changing the usual inflections.

EXAMPLES. (23)

1. If you care not for your property', you surely value your life'.

2. If you will not labor for your own' advancement, you should regard that of your children'.

3. It is your place to obey', not to command'.

4. Though by that course he should not destroy his reputation', he will lose all self-respect'.

Exception 2.--The names of persons addressed in a formal speech, or when used emphatically, have the falling inflection.

EXAMPLES. (24)

1. Romans, countrymen, and lovers', hear me for my cause, etc.

2. Gentlemen of the jury', I solicit your attention, etc.

3. O Hubert', Hubert', save me from these men.

RULE V.--Negative sentences and parts of sentences, usually require the rising inflection.

EXAMPLES. (24)

1. It is not by starts of application that eminence can be attained'.

2. It was not an eclipse that caused the darkness at the crucifixion of our Lord'; for the sun and moon were not relatively in a position' to produce an eclipse'.

3. They are not fighting': do not disturb' them: this man is not expiring with agony': that man is not dead': they are only pausing'.

4. My Lord, we could not have had such designs'.

5. You are not left alone to climb the steep ascent': God is with you, who never suffers the spirit that rests on him to fail.

Exception 1.--Emphasis may reverse this rule.

EXAMPLE. (24)

We repeat it, we do not' desire to produce discord; we do not' wish to kindle the flames of a civil war.

Exception 2.--General propositions and commands usually have the falling inflection.

EXAMPLES. (25)

God is not the author of sin'. Thou shalt not kill.

RULE VI.--Interrogative sentences, and members of sentences which can be answered by yes or no generally require the rising inflection.

EXAMPLES. (25)

1. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation'?

2. Does the gentleman suppose it is in his power', to exhibit in Carolina a name so bright' as to produce envy' in my bosom?

3. If it be admitted, that strict integrity is not the shortest way to success, is it not the surest', the happiest', the best'?

4. Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens, To wash this crimson hand as white as snow'?

Exception.--Emphasis may reverse this rule.

EXAMPLES. (25)

1, Can' you be so blind to your interest? Will' you rush headlong to destruction?

2. I ask again, is' there no hope of reconciliation? Must' we abandon all our fond anticipations?

3. Will you deny' it? Will you deny' it?

4. Am I Dromio'? Am I your man'? Am I myself'?

RULE VII.--Interrogative exclamations, and words repeated as a kind of echo to the thought, require the rising inflection.

EXAMPLES. (25)

1. Where grows', where grows it not'?

2. What'! Might Rome have been taken'? Rome taken when I was consul'?

3. Banished from Rome'! Tried and convicted traitor'!

4. Prince Henry. What's the matter'?

Falstaff. What's the matter'? Here be four of us have taken a thousand pounds this morning.

Prince H. Where is' it, Jack, where is' it?

Fal. Where is' it? Taken from us, it is.

5. Ha'! laughest thou, Lochiel, my vision to scorn?

6. And this man is called a statesman. A statesman'? Why, he never invented a decent humbug.

7. I can not say, sir, which of these motives influence the advocates of the bill before us; a bill', in which such cruelties are proposed as are yet unknown among the most savage nations.

RISING AND FALLING INFLECTIONS. (26)

RULE VIII.--Words and members of a sentence expressing antithesis or contrast, require opposite inflections.

EXAMPLES. (26)

1. By honor' and dishonor'; by evil' report and good' report; as deceivers' and yet true'.

2. What they know by reading', I know by experience'.

3. I could honor thy courage', but I detest thy crimes'.

4. It is easier to forgive the weak', who have injured us', than the powerful' whom we' have injured.

5. Homer was the greater genius', Virgil the better artist'.

6. The style of Dryden is capricious and varied'; that of Pope is cautious and uniform'. Dryden obeys the emotions of his own mind'; Pope constrains his mind to his own rules of composition.' Dryden is sometimes vehement and rapid'; Pope is always smooth, uniform, and gentle'. Dryden's page is a natural field, rising into inequalities, varied by exuberant vegetation'; Pope's is a velvet lawn, shaven by the scythe and leveled by the roller'.

7. If the flights of Dryden are higher', Pope continues longer on the wing'. If the blaze of Dryden's fire is brighter', the heat of Pope's is more regular and constant'. Dryden often surpasses' expectation, and Pope never falls below' it.

REMARK l.--Words and members connected by or used disjunctively, generally express contrast or antithesis, and always receive opposite inflection.

EXAMPLES. (27)

1. Shall we advance', or retreat'?

2. Do you seek wealth', or power'?

3. Is the great chain upheld by God', or thee'?

4. Shall we return to our allegiance while we may do so with safety and honor', or shall we wait until the ax of the executioner is at our throats'?

5. Shall we crown' the author of these public calamities with garlands', or shall we wrest' from him his ill-deserved authority' ?

REMARK 2.--When the antithesis is between affirmation and negation, the latter usually has the rising inflection, according to Rule V.

EXAMPLES. (27)

1. You were paid to fight' against Philip, not to rail' at him.

2. I said rationally', not irrationally'.

3. I did not say rationally', but irrationally'.

4. I said an elder' soldier, not a better'.

5. Let us retract while we can', not when we must'.

REMARK 3.--The more emphatic member generally receives the falling inflection.

EXAMPLES. (27)

1. A countenance more in sorrow', than anger'.

2. A countenance less in anger', than sorrow'.

3. You should show your courage by deeds', rather than by words.

4. If we can not remove' pain, we may alleviate' it.

OF SERIES. (28)

A series is a number of particulars immediately following one another in the same grammatical construction.

A commencing series is one which commences a sentence or clause.

EXAMPLE. (28)

Faith, hope, love, joy, are the fruits of the spirit.

A concluding series is one which concludes a sentence or a clause.

EXAMPLE. (28)

The fruits of the spirit are faith, hope, love, and joy.

RULE IX.--All the members of a commencing series, when not emphatic, usually require the rising inflection.

EXAMPLES. (28)

1. War', famine', pestilence', storm', and fire' besiege mankind.

2. The knowledge', the power', the wisdom', the goodness' of God, must all be unbounded.

3. To advise the ignorant', to relieve the needy', and to comfort the afflicted' are the duties that fall in our way almost every day of our lives.

4. No state chicanery', no narrow system of vicious politics', no idle contest for ministerial victories', sank him to the vulgar level of the great.

5. For solidity of reasoning', force of sagacity', and wisdom of conclusion', no nation or body of men can compare with the Congress at Philadelphia.

6. The wise and the foolish', the virtuous and the evil', the learned and the ignorant', the temperate and the profligate', must often be blended together.

7. Absalom's beauty', Jonathan's love', David's valor', Solomon's wisdom', the patience of Job, the prudence of Augustus', and the eloquence of Cicero' are found in perfection in the Creator.

REMARK.--Some elocutionists prefer to give the falling inflection to the last member of a commencing series.

Exception.--In a commencing series, forming a climax, the last term usually requires the falling inflection.

EXAMPLES. (29)

1. Days', months', years', and ages', shall circle away, And still the vast waters above thee shall roll.

2. Property', character', reputation', everything', was sacrificed.

3. Toils', sufferings', wounds', and death' was the price of our liberty.

RULE X.--All the members of a concluding series, when not at all emphatic, usually require the falling inflection.

EXAMPLES. (29)

1. It is our duty to pity', to support', to defend', and to relieve' the oppressed.

2. At the sacred call of country, they sacrifice property', ease', health', applause' and even life'.

3. I protest against this measure as cruel', oppressive', tyrannous', and vindictive'.

4. God was manifest in the flesh', justified in the Spirit', seen of angels', preached unto the Gentiles', believed on in the world', received up into glory'.

5. Charity vaunteth not itself', is not puffed up', doth not behave itself unseemly', seeketh not her own', is not easily provoked', thinketh no evil'; beareth' all things, believeth' all things, hopeth' all things, endureth' all things.

REMARK.--Some authors give the following rule for the reading of a concluding series: "All the particulars of a concluding series, except the last but one, require the falling inflection." Exception l.--When the particulars enumerated in a concluding series are not at all emphatic, all except the last require the rising inflection.

EXAMPLES (30)

He was esteemed for his kindness', his intelligence', his self-denial', and his active benevolence'.

Exception 2.--When all the terms of a concluding series are strongly emphatic, they all receive the falling inflection.

EXAMPLES. (30)

1. They saw not one man', not one woman', not one child', not one four-footed beast'.

2. His hopes', his happiness', his life', hung upon the words that fell from those lips,

3. They fought', they bled', they died', for freedom.

PARENTHESIS. (30)