The "subtonic," ng, is formed by a vocalized breathing, directed against the nasal passage and the back part of the veil of the palate, and by a retracted and elevated position of the lower part of the tongue, which partly shuts the nasal passage, and causes it, at the same moment, to become resonant. VI. "Lingual" Sounds. These elements are so called from their special dependence on the action of the tongue. They are the following: 1. L, as in L-u-ll; 2. R, as in R-ap; 3. R, as in Fa-r. These are all "subtonic " elements. The first is formed by a moderate opening of the mouth, and the utterance of a vocalized sound, modified by raising the tongue towards the roof of the mouth, and pressing the end of it, very gently, against the interior ridge of gum, immediately above the upper fore-teeth. The "subtonic," r, as in rap, is an element formed by vivid and energetic vibration of the tip of the tongue, against the interior ridge of gum, immediately over the upper fore-teeth, forming a partially vocalized sound, clear and forcible, but very brief. It should never extend to a prolonged trill, or roll. This element is sometimes designated as "initial "r, from its occurring at or near the beginning of words and syllables; and sometimes "hard," or rough, r, from its comparative force, as contrasted with r at the end of a word, which is always soft in sound.. This element follows but never precedes a consonant; thus, Pray, brass, crape, green, dread, tread, scream, spread, &c. 66 The "subtonic," r, as in far, is a softer sound, of longer duration, modified by a slight and gentle vibration of the whole fore-part of the tongue, retracted, and rising towards the roof of the mouth, but not actually touching it. The just observance of the true character of this and the preceding element, is, as was mentioned before, a point of great moment in enunciation, and decides its style, as regards taste and culture. The designation of "soft," or smooth," r, is sometimes given to the "final" r; as it is a more delicate and liquid sound, than the "hard," or "initial,” r. This element occurs at the end of words, and before, but never after, a consonant; thus, War, star, fair, ire, ear, oar, farm, barn, card, harp, part, mercy, servant, person, &c. 66 Note. It is one of the great inconveniences of our language, that we have so few letters or characters, by which to designate its sounds; and it is not less a defect in it, that we have the same element sometimes represented by a great variety of letters, and combinations of letters. Thus, the element a, in ale, is heard also in aid, lay, weigh, survey, &c. A, in arm, is heard, also, in aunt. A, in all, is heard, in awe, laud, &c. A, in what, was, wash, &c., is used to represent the same sound with o, as in on, or not. A, as in rare, is heard, also, in air, prayer, &c. E, as in eve, occurs, also, in the sound of ee in eel; ea, in eat; ie, in field; ei, in seize. E, in end, occurs in the form of ea, in head. E, in err, is the same sound which occurs in heard, and in firm. short; thus rhyme, hymn, &c. O, in old, is repeated in oak, course, own, &c. Oo, in ooze, and oo, in foot, recur in the sounds of o, in true; o, in wolf; u, in pull; ui, in fruit, &c. in move; u, The diphthongal sound oi, as in oil, is heard, always, in oy. The sound of u, in use, occurs also in the form of iew in view; eau, in beauty. The diphthong ou, in our, is repeated in the sound of ow in down, &c. F, as a sound, recurs in the form of ph and gh; as in phrase, laugh, &c. J, and g "soft," are, on the other hand, but combinations of the sounds of d, and of z, as in azure. Ch, in church, are but repetitions of the sound of t and sh. The sound of sh is found also in the words, nation, gracious, ocean, &c. C, "soft," is identical with s. S, is, in multitudes of instances, but a repetition of z, as, for example, in houses, diseases, &c. The sound of k is repeated in the form of c, "hard;" ch, as in chorus; and q, as in queen. N, in ink, is identical with ng. X, in either form, is but a repetition, in sound, of ks or gz; thus, ox, example, &c. It is unnecessary, however, to enlarge on these inconsistencies in the forms of our language. It is sufficient, perhaps, for our present purpose, to suggest the fact, that the orthography of words may sometimes afford no guidance to orthoëpy, but, rather, may apparently mislead. The ear should, in all cases, be trained to the utmost exactness and precision, in detecting and seizing the true element of sound, independently of the form or combination of letters, by which it may be represented. WORDS to be practised in the same style as the exercises on syllables, - each component element kept perfectly clear and distinct. One error, often made in the following class of words, is to pro-. nounce them nearly as if written oall, &c. Sometimes, we hear the coarse error of dividing the sound of a, in such words, into two parts thus O-ull, fo-ull, &c. To a cultivated ear, this sound is peculiarly displeasing, as associated with low and slovenly habit Water as in the The two current errors in this class of sounds, are, 1st, local usage of New England, - flattening it down to a in an ; - 2d, as in the custom of the Middle States, making it as broad as a in all. The former style causes the pronunciation of "farm," " "father;" the latter, that of "fawrm,' 99 66 'pawrt,' ""fawther." "părt," Daunt Balm 'Dence,' pess, 99 66 1, a flattened down to e, in end, nearly; thus, the local usage of the Middle States; - 2d, a made as broad as a, in arm; thus, "Dânce," (as if darnce,) the customary fault of New England. There is seldom any error made in the enunciation of such words as the following, except the slight one arising from not distinguishing between the longer sound of ee before a "subtonic," as in feel, and the shorter, before an "atonic," as in feet. The explosive force of the organic action, in executing an "atonic," compresses the preceding vowel: the gentle and gradual sliding of the ee into a "subtonic," allows it a longer duration. Theme Feel Heed Week Feet 5. 00, as in Oo-ze; 00, as in L-oo-k. Deep The sound of this element, needs attention to the same distinction as in case of the ee. Before a "tonic" element, it is prolonged, before an "atonic," it is shortened. The difference is exemplified, for the former, in tool,- for the latter, in took. Cool Boom Moon | Hook Hoop Exceptions. Good, wood, stood, which have the oo short, though before a "subtonic." 6. E, as in E-rr. Boot The just, not overdone, distinction between urn and earn, is the object to be kept in view, in practising on the following words. This class of sounds is so liable to mispronunciation, that it needs close and repeated attention. See remarks on the "tonic" element, e in err, - in the discussion of elementary sounds. The common error in the following class of words, is that of allowing the vowel to approach the sound of a in ale; thus, "taill" for Other errors are such as 66 tell. for measure. 66 stiddy," for steady; maysure," The common error of careless articulation, in this element, makes it approach the a of ale; thus, "sainn," for sin. An opposite error, in foreign style, or in bad taste, gives "seenn," for sin; "ceetee," for city, &c. Din 66 Dim Sometimes carelessly enunciated as a in an, prolonged; thus, der," for air;-sometimes too fastidiously flattened, and reduced to a in ale; thus, "aer" for air. The true sound lies between. Bare Fare 66 The error in enunciating this element, is that of forming the sound in a coarse, guttural style, which makes it approach the sound of o This fault is prevalent in the usage of the Middle States. in on. Up Bud Gum 11. O, as in O-r. Done Three errors are extensively prevalent in the mode of enunciating this element: -1st, a local error of New England, which gives a double sound for a single one, commencing with o in old, and ending with u in up, or a in an, thus "nour," or "nõăr," for nor; 2d, a local error of the Middle States, which makes the sound too broad, and resembling the a in arm; thus, "nûr," for nor; 3d, a long and drawling sound, which has a coarse and slovenly character; thus cawrd, for cord. A prevalent local error in Massachusetts, in the following class of 1 The same element with e in err, though differently spelled. 2 The r of these words is soft, but never silent, as in the style of faulty usage. loast," 99 66 sounds, exists in the words, loss, lost, soft, &c., which are pronounced nearly with o, as in old; thus "loass," soaft," &c., and sometimes with a double, instead of a single sound; thus "loust," &c., for lost. The local error of usage, in the state of Connecticut, verges to the opposite extreme, in such words, and gives, for o, a sound too nearly like that of a in an; thus “lāss," &c., for loss. The common error in the enunciation of this element, is that of making its "vanish " too conspicuous; thus "acel" for ale. An opposite error is not uncommon, that of omitting the delicate "vanishing" sound entirely, which makes the style of enunciation coarse and negligent. The two errors to be avoided in enunciating this element, are, 1st, that of commencing with too broad a sound; thus, "ûece," for ice (dece ;) 2d, that of commencing it with too flat a sound; thus, acce," for ice.- See remarks on "tonic" elements. 66 A prevalent error in the local usage of New England, makes this o too short; thus, "hom," for home. A common error of the Middle States makes the sound too broad; thus "fûrce" for force. The prevailing errors on this element, are "âur," "ăur," and "eur," for our, (o sounding as in done.) The first two of these 1Commonly mispronounced "gawd," "goad," "gõud,” or “gad.” |