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pofe, on the proper pitch and management of the voice. Every perfon has three pitches in his voice; the HIGH, the MIDDLE, and the Low one. The high, is that which he ufes in calling aloud to fome perfon at a distance. The low is, when he approaches to a whisper. The middle is, that which he employs in common converfation, and which he fhould generally ufe in reading to others. For it is a great miftake, to imagine that one must take the highest pitch of his voice, in order to be well heard in a large company. This is confounding two things which are different, loudnefs or firength of found, with the key or note on which we speak. There is a variety of found within the compafs of each key. A fpeaker may therefore render his voice louder, without altering the key: and we fhall always be able to give most body, most persevering force of found, to that pitch of voice, to which in converfation we are accuftomed. Whereas, by fetting out on our higheft pitch or key, we certainly allow ourselves lefs compafs, and are likely to ftrain our voice before we have done. We fhall fatigue ourfelves, and read with pain; and whenever a perfon fpeaks with pain to himfelf, he is always heard with pain by his audience. Let us therefore give the voice full frength and fwell of found; but always pitch it on our ordinary speaking key. It should be a conftant rule, never to utter a greater quantity of voice, than we can afford without pain to ourfelves, and without any extraordinary effort. As long as we keep within thefe bounds, the other organs of fpeech will be at liberty to discharge their several offices with eafe; and we shall always have our voice under command. But whenever we tranfgrefs these bounds, we give up the reins, and have no longer any management of it. It is a useful rule too, in order to be well heard, to fix

our eye on fome of the most distant perfons in the company, and to confider ourfelves as reading to them. We naturally and mechanically utter our words with fuch a degree of ftrength, as to make ourselves be heard by the perfon whom we addrefs, provided he is within the reach of our voice. As this is the cafe in conversation, it will hold alfo in reading to others. But let us remember, that in reading as well as in conversation, it is possible to offend by speaking too loud. This extreme hurts the ear, by making the voice come upon it in rumbling indiftinct masses.

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By the habit of reading, when young, in a loud and vehement manner, the voice becomes fixed in a ftrained and unnatural key; and is rendered incapable of that variety of elevation and deprefsion, which constitutes the true harmony of utterance, and affords eafe to the reader, and pleafure to the audience. This unnatural pitch of the voice, and difagreeable monotony, are moft obfervable in perfons who were taught to read in large rooms; who were accuftomed to ftand at too great distance, when reading to their teachers; whose inftructers were very imperfect in their hearing; or who were taught by perfons, that confidered loud exprefsion as the chief requifite in forming a good reader. Thefe are circumftances which demand the serious attention of every one to whom the education of youth is com-mitted.

SECTION II.

Diftinctness.

In the next place, to being well heard and clearly underfood, diftinctnefs of articulation contributes more than mere loudness of found. The quantity of found necessary to fill even a large space, is fmaller than is commonly imagined:

and, with diftinct articulation, a perfon with a weak voice will make it reach farther, than the strongest voice can reach without it. To this, therefore, every reader ought to pay great attention. He must give every found which he utters, its due proportion; and make every fyllable, and even every letter in the word which he pronounces, be heard diftinctly; without flurring, whispering, or fupprefsing any of the proper founds.

An accurate knowledge of the fimple, elementary founds of the language, and a facility in exprefsing them, are fo necessary to distinctnefs of exprefsion, that if the learner's attainments are, in this respect, imperfect, (and many there are in this fituation,) it will be incumbent on his teacher, to carry him back to thefe primary articulations; and to fufpend his progress, till he become perfectly master of them. It will be in vain to prefs him forward, with the hope of forming a good reader, if he cannot completely articulate every elementary found of the language.

SECTION III.

Due Degree of Slowness.

In order to express ourselves distinctly, moderation is requifite with regard to the speed of pronouncing. Precipitancy of speech confounds all articulation, and all meaning. It is fcarcely necefsary to obferve, that there may be also an extreme on the oppofite fide. It is obvious that a lifeless drawling manner of reading, which allows the minds of the hearers to be always outrunning the speaker, must render every fuch performance infipid and fatiguing. But the extreme of reading too fast is much more common; and requires the more to be guarded against, because, when it has grown up into a habit, few errors are more difficult to be corrected. To pronounce with a proper degree of

flownefs, and with full and clear articulation, is necefsary to be ftudied by all, who wish to become good readers; and it cannot be too much recommended to them. Such a pronunciation gives weight and diguity to the fubject. It is a great afsiftance to the voice, by the paufes and refis which it allows it more easily to make; and it enables the reader to fwell all his founds, both with more force and more harmony.

SECTION IV.

Propriety of Pronunciation.

AFTER the fundamental attentions to the pitch and management of the voice, to difiinct articulation, and to a proper degree of flowness of speech, what the young reader muft, in the next place, fiudy, is propriety of pronunciation; or, giving to every word which he utters, that found which the beft ufage of the language appropriates to it; in -oppofition to broad, vulgar, or provincial pronunciation. This is requifite both for reading intelligibly, and for reading with correctnefs and ease. Infiructions concerning this article may best be given by the living teacher. But there is one obfervation, which it may not be improper here to make. In the English language, every word which coufifis of more fyllables than one, has one accented fyllable. The .accent refts fometimes on the vowel, fometimes on the confonant. The genius of the language, requires the voice to mark that fyllable by a fironger percufsion, and to pass more flightly over the reft. Now, after we have learned the proper feats of these accents, it is an important rule, to give every word juft the fame accent in reading, as in common difcourfe. Many perfons err in this refpect. When they

read to others, and with folemnity, they pronounce the fyllables in a different manner from what they do at other times. They dwell upon them, and protract them; they multiply accents on the fame word; from a mistaken notion, that it gives gravity and importance to their subject, and adds to the energy of their delivery. Whereas, this is one of the greatest faults that can be committed in pronunciation: it makes what is called a pompous or mouthing manner; and gives an artificial affected air to reading, which detracts greatly both from its agreeableness, and its imprefsion.

Sheridan and Walker have published dictionaries, for afcertaining the true and best pronunciation of the words of our language. By attentively confulting them, particularly "Walker's Pronouncing Dictionary," the young reader will be much afsifted, in his endeavours to attain a correct pronunciation of the words belonging to the English language,

SECTION V.

Emphafis.

By Emphafis is meant a fironger and fuller found of voice, by which we diftinguish fome word or words, on which we defign to lay particular firefs, and to show how they affect the rest of the fentence. Sometimes the emphatic words must be diftinguished by a particular tone of voice, as well as by a particular firefs. On the right management of the emphafis depends the life of pronunciation. If no emphafis be placed on any words, not only is dif courfe rendered heavy and lifelefs, but the meaning left often ambiguous. If the emphafis be placed wrong, we pervert and confound the meaning wholly.

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