LESSON V.

INFLECTIONS OF THE VOICE.

1. In expressing the thoughts and emotions of the mind, the voice slides up or down, from a given point, on certain emphatic vowel sounds. These slides are called INFLECTIONS. They may be thus defined:

INFLECTIONS are turns or slides of the voice, on certain emphatic vowel sounds, heard in reading and speaking; as, Will you go' or stay?

2. In reading the above example, the voice begins low in sounding the o in go, and suddenly rises; and it begins at the same point where it closed in sounding o in go, and slides downward on the a in stay.

3. These slides of the voice, occur on the vowel sounds of accented syllables, and not on the entire word, as is sometimes supposed. Besides, the words, on which these slides principally occur, are emphatic, though they may, to a very slight degree, be given to unemphatic words.

4. There are properly but two Inflections;—the Rising and the Falling. These sometimes unite and form the Circumflex, or wave slide. The want of an inflection constitutes a Monotone, or uniformity in sound. Hence, under this head, there are four modifications of the voice;-the RISING INFLECTION, the FALLING INFLECTION, the CIRCUMFLEX, and the MONOTONE.

5. The RISING INFLECTION is an upward turn or slide of the voice, or the voice ends higher than it begins. It is marked thus, (').

1. Are all apos'tles? Are all proph'ets? Are all teach'ers? Are all workers of miracles?

What are Inflections? On what sounds and words do inflections occur How many inflections are there? How is the Circumflex formed? What constitutes the Monotone? How many modifications of voice are considered under the head of inflections? What are they? What is the Rising Inflection ?

2. Canst thou by searching find out God'? Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfec tion?

NOTE.-Though the inflections occur on the vowel sounds of accented syllables, yet for convenience, the signs denoting them, are placed at the end of the syllables.

6. The FALLING INFLECTION is a downward turn or slide of the voice, or the voice ends lower than it begins. It is marked thus, (`).

EXAMPLES..

1. Who can number the clouds' in wisdom?

2. Who provideth for the ra`ven his food?

3. How shall they call on him, in whom they have not believ`ed? and how shall they believe in him, of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preach'er? and how shall they preach, except they be sent ?

7. The CIRCUMFLEX is a union of the two inflections, beginning with the falling, and ending with the rising. It is marked thus, (~).

EXAMPLES.

1. They follow an adventurer whom they fear,-wě serve a monarch whom we love.

2. They do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but wě, an incorruptible.

To wrong the dead, to wrong myself and you,

Than I will wrong, such honorable men.

8. The Circumflex, if properly used, is very expressive ;— yet there is danger in using it too frequently, or of employing it in instances, in which the direct rising or falling inflection would prove more expressive. In some instances, it has been thought that the circumflex is formed by beginning with the rising inflection, and ending with the falling. But in such cases, the direct falling inflection will be found far more appropriate. This practice of seesawing, as it may be styled, should be avoided as at variance with good taste.

9. The Rising Inflection and Circumflex are nearly allied, and it is not uncommon that the one may be substituted for

What is the Falling Inflection? What is the Circumflex? What is said of the rising inflection and circumflex?

the other, and the sense be as well expressed. But it is not so in regard to the falling inflection and the circumflex; for while the circumflex implies condition, the falling inflection expresses any thing positively.

10. The MONOTONE is a uniformity of sound on a succession of syllables. It is marked thus, (−).

EXAMPLES.

1. Death! Great proprietor of all! 'tis thine
To tread out empires, and to quench the stars.

2. He weeps!—the falling drōp pūts out the sun;

He sighs! the sigh earth's deep foundations shakes.

3. Then the earth shōōk and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wrōth. There went up a smoke out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured; eoals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens also, and came down; and darkness was under his feet. And he rode upon a chērub, and did flý; yeã, he did fly upon the wings of the wind. He made darkness his secret place; his pavilion rõūnd about him were dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies. At the brightness that was before him, his thick clouds passed, hail-stones and coals of fire.

11. The intensity of inflection, necessary in expressing the various sentiments and emotions of the mind with propriety, is variable; and the degree of intensity must be determined by the sense and circumstances. For instance, the repetition of a word or clause, requires a more intense inflection than when first uttered. Also, expressions of strong feeling or earnestness, are indicated by a corresponding intensity in the degree of inflection.

12. It is often thought a matter of little or no importance, to be able to distinguish the various inflections which the appropriate reading of a passage may require, or to be able to give at pleasure whatever inflections sentiment may demand; but when it is considered that the inflections of the voice in read

ing a passage, have the important influence of determining or varying its sense, it cannot be regarded as a matter of indif

What is the Monotone? By what is the intensity of inflection determined? What influence does the inflection of voice frequently have on the sense of a passage?

ference. For example, if the rising inflection is given on the word "pauper," in the following passage, the sense will be totally perverted.

A person who neglects his business, if he does not become a pauper, will not be likely to amass wealth.

13. By the use of the rising inflection on pauper, the passage is made to mean that if he should become a pauper, he would amass wealth!—an absurdity. But if an intense falling inflection is employed on the same word, instead of the rising, the sense is obvious.

14. To determine in all cases the proper inflections and the degree of intensity, which should be employed in the reading of a passage, requires much practice, and the exercise of judg

ment and discrimination.

LESSON VI.

1. THE Inflections of the voice in appropriate reading or speaking, being governed by sentiment, conform to certain leading principles which are set forth in the following

GENERAL RULES FOR THE USE OF INFLECTIONS.

RULE I.

Direct questions, or those which may be answered by yes or no, usually take the rising inflection, but their answers, generally, the falling.

EXAMPLES.

1. Are they He'brews? So am I. [or yes.] Are they Is'raelites? So am I. Are they the seed of A'braham?

So am I'.

2. Think'st thou the mountain and the storm

Their hardy sons for bondage form' ?

Doth our stern wintry blast instill
Submission to a despot's will' ?

No! we were cast in other mold

Than theirs by lawless power controlled.

3. Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Ple'iades ?

Or loose the bands of Ori'on?

Give an example? What inflection do direct questions take?

Canst thou bring forth Mazza'roth in his season?
Or canst thou guide Arctu'rus with his sons'?
Knowest thou the ordinances of heav'en?

Canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth' ?
Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds',
That abundance of water may cover thee' ?
Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go',
And say unto thee, Here we are'?

4. Is honor's lofty soul forever fled'?

Is virtue lost'? Is martial ardor dead' ?

Is there no heart where worth and valor dwell' ?
No patriot WAL'LACE? No undaunted TELL' ?
Yes', Freedom, yes! thy sons, a noble band,
Around thy banner, firm, exulting stand.

5. What have I come here to mimic nature in her grandest en'terprise, and add my caricature of one of the wonders of the world to those which I here see'? No`.—I give up the vain attempt. I will look on these mighty cataracts, and imprint them where they alone can be represented,- -on my mind.

6. To purchase heaven has gold the pow'er?

Can gold remove the mortal hour' ?

In life can love be bought with gold'?
Are friendship's pleasures to be sold'?
No-all that's worth a wish-a thought-

Fair virtue gives, unbribed, unbought'.

NOTE I. -When the direct question becomes an appeal, and the reply to it is anticipated, it takes an intense falling inflection.

EXAMPLES.

1. Can he be guilty of so great an inconsist`ency? 2. Must we be driven to this dreadful alternative? 3. Is he not a daring adventurer ?

4. Is this reason? Is it law? Is it human'ity?

NOTE II. Exclamations, when they become questions, are expressed, agreeably to this Rule, with the rising inflection,being in the form of direct questions, and susceptible of being answered by yes or no.

EXAMPLES.

1. Servant.-Pray, get you out'!

Coriolanus.-Away!

When do they take the falling inflection? When do exclamations take the falling inflection ?