LESSON XXII. ACCENT. Accent is the peculiar tone or force given to some letter or syllable of a word. There are three accents, the Acute, the Grave, and the Circumflex. The Acute accent is noted by a mark like this' placed over a letter or syllable, as in the word Epicuréan. The Grave accent is represented by a mark like this` placed over a letter or syllable, as in the word Clessàmmor. The Circumflex accent is distinguished by a mark like this placed over a letter or syllable. Λ The letter or syllable over which either of the accents is placed, is to be pronounced more forcibly than the other parts of the same word, as Rec'ognize, Reuthàmir, Fingâl. The word or syllable over which the acute accent is placed must be pronounced with the rising inflection of the voice; as Rec'ognize, Epicure'an, Ac'ceptable. The word or syllable over which the grave accent is placed must be pronounced with the falling inflection of the voice; as Reuthàmir, Clessàmmor. The word or syllable over which the circumflex accent is placed must be pronounced partly with the rising and partly with the falling inflection of the voice. If it begin with the rising and end with the falling, it is called the falling circumflex; but if it begin with the falling and end with the rising, it is called the rising circumflex. The circumflex accent is sometimes used to express the broad sound of a letter, as in Fingâl, in which the a is pronounced as in the word fall. In every word of more than one syllable there is one (and sometimes more than one) which must be pronounced more forcibly than the others; and the acute accent is often used to show which this syllable is. The syllable thus pronounced is called the accented syllable; as Cap'illary, red'olent, ax'iom. The acute, grave, and circumflex accents are sometimes used to direct the management of the voice in reading sentences; the acute accent indicating the rising, the grave the falling inflection of the voice, and the circumflex both the rising and falling united. When the circumflex is used to indicate a sound commencing with the rising and ending with the falling inflection, it is printed thus, ^; but when the sound commences with the falling and ends with the rising inflection, it is printed thus,, which the pupil will perceive is the same mark inverted. [The pupil may now read the following sentences, recollecting to manage his voice where he observes the respective marks of accent, as directed above.] 405. Did they recite correctly, or ìncorrectly? 406. They recited correctly, not incorrectly. 407. Did they speak properly, or improperly? 408. They spoke prpòperly, not improperly. 409. Did Charles go willingly, or unwillingly? 410. Charles went willingly, not unwillingly. 411. Did you say Epicúrean, or Epicurèan? 412. I said Epicurean, not Epicurean. I know better than to say sô. 413. You must not not say accep'table, but acceptable. 414. You must not pronounce the word recògnize, but récognize. 415. We must act according to the law, not cóntrary to it. 416. Did he say wisdom, or wisdom? 417. He said wisdom, not wisdom. 418. What must the King do now? Must he submít? The King shall dò it: must he be depósed? The King shall be contènted: must he lose 419. I'll give my jewels, for a set of beads; 420. Art thou poór? Show thyself àctive and indùstrious, peaceable and contènted. Art thou wealthy? Show thyself benèficent and charitable, condescénding and humàne. 421. This corruptible must put on íncorruption, and this mórtal must put on immortality., 422. Religion raises men above themselves; írreligion sinks them beneath the brùtes. 423. And if you do, you will but make it blûsh, and glow with shame at your proceedings, Hubert. 424. Hámlet, you have your father much offended. 425. Madam, yôu have my father much offended. 426. If you said so, then I said sô. 427. Nó, say you; did he say Nó? He did; he said Nò. 428. Is the goodness or the wisdom of the divine Being, more manifest in this his proceeding? 429. Shall we in your person crówn the author of the public calamities, or shall we destroy him? 430. From whence can he produce such cogent exhortations to the practice of every virtue, such ardent excitement to piety and devòtion, and such assistance to attain them, as those which are to be met with throughout every page of these inimitable writings? 431. Where, amidst the dark cloud of Pagan philosophy, can he show us such a clear prospect of a future state, the immortality of the sòul, the resurrection of the dead, and the general júdgment, as in St. Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians? 432. Would it not employ a beau prettily enough, if, instead of eternally playing with his snuff-box, he spent some time in making one? 433. Would an infinitely wise Being make such glorious beings for so méan a purpose? Can he delight in the production of such abórtive intelligences, such short-lived reasonable beings? Would he give us talents that are not to be exérted, capacities that are not to be grátified? 434. Whither shall I turn? Wretch that I am! to what place shall I betake myself? Shall I go to the cápitol? Alas! it is overflowed with my brother's blood! Or shall I retire to my hoùse? Yet there I behold my mother plunged in misery, weeping and despairing! 435. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. 436. Art thoú he that should come, or shall we look for another? 437. The baptism of Jòhn, was it from heaven,-or of mèn? 438. Will you gó,-or stày? Will you ríde,—or wàlk? Will you go to-dáy,-or to-morrow? 439. Did you see hím,-or his brother? Did he travel for health, or pleasure? 440. Did he resemble his father, or his mother? Is this book yoúrs,—or mìne? 441. Was it armed, say you? 'Armed, my lord. From top to toe? My lord, from head to foòt. 442. Then saw you not his fáce? wore his beaver úp. Oh yes, my lord, he 443. I did not say a better soldier, but an èlder. 444. Aim not to show knowledge, but to acquire it. 445. Did I say gó,—or gò? 446. Hènce!-hòme, you idle creatures, get you home. You blocks, you stones! you worse than senseless things! 447. Get thee behind me, Sátan. Nò. You did not read that right. You should say, Get thee benind me, Sàtan. 448. 'Angels and ministers of gràce, defend us. 449. Jésus, Màster! have mercy on us. 450. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaùnteth not itself; is not puffed ùp; doth not behave itself unseemly; seeketh not her own; is not easily provoked; thinketh no evil. 451. And though I have the gift of pròphecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove moùntains, and have not charity, I am nòthing. 452. I tell you, though you, though all the world, though an angel from heaven should declare the truth of it, I could not believe it. 453. I tell you, though you, though all the world, though an angel from heaven should declare the truth of it, I could not believe it. 454. You wrong me every way, you wrong me, Brutus. 455. You wrong me every way, you wròng me, Brutus. 456. Are you going to Bóston? me? Are you going to Boston? What did you ask 457. They tell us to be moderate; but they, they are to revel in profusion. 458. I see thou hast learned to râil. 459. I know that thou art a scoundrel. 460. Such trifling would not be admitted in the intercourse of men, and do you think it will avail more with Almighty God? LESSON XXIII. EMPHASIS. By emphasis is meant the force or loudness of voice by which we distinguish the principal word or words in a sentence. To emphasize a word means to pronounce it in a loud or forcible manner. The meaning of a sentence, especially if it be a question, often depends upon the proper placing of the emphasis. Thus in the sentence, Shall you ride to town to-day? if the emphasis be placed upon ride, the question will be, Shall you RIDE to town to-day? and it may be answered, No, I shall not ride, I shall walk. If the emphasis be placed upon you, the question then becomes, Shall YOU ride to town to-day? and the answer may be, No, I shall not go myself, I shall send my son. If the emphasis be placed on town, the question then becomes, Shall you ride to TOWN to-day? and the answer may be, No, I shall not ride to Town, but I shall ride into the country. If the emphasis be placed upon day, the question then becomes, Shall you ride to town TO-DAY? and the answer may be, No, I shall not go to-day, but I shall to-morrow. [In reading the following sentences, the pupil will enphasize the words in capital letters.] 461. You were paid to FIGHT against Alexander, "not to RAIL at him. 462. And Saul said unto Michael, Why hast thou DECEIVED me so? 463. Then said the High Priest, Are these things SO? 464. Exercise and temperance strengthen even an INDIFFERENT constitution. |