52. David and Goliath, 70. Old Fickle and Tristram Fickle, 76. King Edward, Warwick and Suffolk, (From the French,) 84. Saladin, Malek Adhel, and Attendant, 00. Scene from the Poor Gentleman, 110. Scene from Tamerlane, (British Drama,) J. Home. 287 H. More. 351 399 ARTICULATION consists in giving to every letter its appropriate sound, and to every syllable and word a proper and distinctive utterance. Distinct articulation may be considered the basis of all correct elocution. Hence, the beauty and harmony of conversation, of reading, and of oratory, must depend in a greater degree upon the acquirement and careful observance of articulation, than upon any other principle. The student, therefore, who aspires to the distinction of being a correct and impressive reader or speaker may be assured that he can not study it too minutely, or with too untiring perseverance. As the first step in securing a correct articulation, it will be necessary for the pupil to obtain a correct knowledge of the elementary sounds which the several letters of the alphabet represent. This may be done by carefully studying the following definitions, rules, and tables. QUESTIONS. What are the general divisions of Part First? What is articulation? Of what is articulation the basis? How then should it be studied? What is the first step in acquiring correct articulation? 1. An elementary sound is one of the pure and uncom pounded sounds to which vocal language is reducible, 2. The alphabet is divided into vocals, sub-vocals, and aspirates. 3. The vocals are letters whose elementary sounds can be perfectly articulated. 4. The sub-vocals are letters whose elementary sounds can not be so fully articulated as the vocals. 5. The aspirates are letters whose elementary sounds are formed by propelling the breath more or less forcibly between the teeth and lips. The elementary sounds, which the different letters represent, are considered, by most elocutionists, to be forty in number, and are indicated by the following characters, as given in Webster's Dictionary. 1. A horizontal mark (−) over a, e, i, o, and u, denotes their long sound, as heard in the words āle, eat, ice, ōde, sūe. 2. When no character is placed over the above letters, they have the short sound, as heard in the words mat, met, pin, not, but. 3. Two points () over a, denote its flat or Italian sound, as heard in the word fär. 4. Two points (..) under a, denote its broad sound, as heard in the word ball. 5. Two points (*) over o, denote its middle sound, as heard in the word möve. 6. Two points (..) under u, denote its middle sound, as heard in the word full. QUESTIONS. What is an elementary scund? How is the alphabet divided? What are vocals? What are sub-vocals? What are aspirates? What is the number of the elementary sounds? What does a horizontal mark over a, e, &c., denote ? What sound have these letters when there is no mark over them? What do two points over a denote? What do two points under a denote? What do two points over o denote ? What do two points under u denote > 7. One point (.) under a, denotes that it has the sound of short o, as heard in the word what. 8. A curving mark (~) over e, i, and o, denotes that they have the sound of short u, as heard in the words her, sir, love. 9. A horizontal mark (-) under e, denotes that it has the sound of long a, as heard in the word prey. 10. Two points (·) over i, denote that it has the sound of long e, as heard in the word marïne. 11. One point (.) under o, denotes that it has the sound of middle u, as heard in the word wolf. 12. A horizontal mark (-) drawn through c, denotes that it has the sound of k, as heard in the word cap. 13. A point (·) over g, denotes that it has the sound of j, as heard in the word gem. 14. Th, printed in capitals, denotes that it is a sub-vocal, or has the flat sound, as heard in the word THIS. 15. Th, when unmarked, is an aspirate, or has the sharp sound, as heard in the word thin. 16. Ch, with an irregular mark (~) over the c, has the sound of sh, as heard in the word chaise. 17. Ch, when unmarked, is an aspirate, or has the sound as heard in the word much. 18. S, printed in italic, denotes that it is a sub-vocal, or has the sound as heard in the word his. 19. Two accents after e or i, and before ci and ti, denote that the preceding syllable ends with the sound of sh, as heard in the word precious. QUESTIONS. What does a point under a denote ? What does a curving mark over e, i, and o, denote? What does a horizontal mark under denote? What do two points over i denote? What does a point under o denote? What does a horizontal mark drawn through c denote? What does a point over g denote What does th, printed in capitals, denote? What sound has th when unmarked What sound has ch when an irregular mark is over the c? Ch when unmarked? 8 in italic> What do two accents after e and i, and before ci and ti, denote ? SECTION I. Elementary Sounds. RULE 1. A clear and distinct articulation should be given to the elementary sounds employed in vocal utterance. It is important to remark, in this connection, that elementary sounds differ from each other in two respects; namely, Quality and Quantity. By Quality is here meant, the nature or kind of sound; and by Quantity, its time or length. It should also be observed, that an elementary sound always remains the same in quality, while its quantity may be either long or short; thus, the element of a, in the words wall and wasp, is the same in quality, and differs only in quantity; but in some other examples, as in the words mate and mat, it differs both in quality and quantity, thus constituting two distinct elements. The same is true, to a greater or less extent, in relation to other elements. The following table is designed to present the divisions of the alphabet into vocals, sub-vocals and aspirates; and also to afford the pupil an intelligible and interesting exercise, in articulating the elementary sounds which the letters severally repThis exercise should be attended to with much care, and often repeated, till every member of the class can articulate each element, and analyze, and give the different elements of any word correctly on hearing it pronounced. resent. QUESTIONS. What is the first rule respecting elementary sounds? How do the elementary sounds differ from each other? What is here meant by quality and quantity? Does an element sometimes differ in quantity and not in quality? Give an example. When the elements of the same letter differ both in quality and quan tity, what do they constitute? Give an example. What is the design of the table of elementary sounds? |