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u.—The diphthongal sound of ü, like iu, as in pure, has the same sound as iew in view, in the following

SYLLABLES AND TERMINATIONS:

ue-uit-ude-uce-use-uke-ume-une-ure, (accented)-ual-unar-ular-uble.

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When any of the above terminations are compounded with r; and when ure is compounded with s, as in sure, and its derivations, in which cases the pure tonic sound of the u prevails,

C

like oo in poor, but less broad somewhat, and more rapidly accented, as

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must be carefully distinguished from diphthongal sounds, and the sound of each vowel be duly given, as

ea, as in area (air-y-a.)

ies, as in species (speeshy-es,) series (seery-es.)

io, as in violate (ri-o-late,) vi-o-lence, &c.

Having gone through the Tables of Practice in the above sounds, let the reader practise the CONTRAST TABLES, to make the distinction between them clearer to the ear.

The above terminations and syllables are those on which the greatest carelessness exists in the articulation of the tonic sounds, and therefore I have selected them for practice; but it is equally necessary to observe the due sounds of the tonics, whether they occur in commencing, middle, or terminating syllables.

In reading the tables, be particular first to get the correct tonic sound of the vowel, as given in the keyword, and bear in mind that articulation of a sound

does not imply accentuation of the syllable; that is part of

PRONUNCIATION.

Pronunciation distinguishes the educated gentleman from the vulgar and unpolished man.

Pronunciation is made up of articulation and accentuation; when both are perfect, the individual has a correct and elegant pronunciation.

Custom, as Horace has truly said, "arbitrium est et jus et norma loquendi"-custom is the arbiter and criterion of what is correct in speech; but then it is the custom of the polite and elegant part of the world, (not of the mere vulgar,) that must guide us; and of which the Roman poet, writing, as he did, to the cultivated intellects of the Augustan age, must be understood to speak.

The custom of vulgar thousands cannot sanctify their errors; nor can the daily practice of thousands change folly into wisdom, any more than it can corrupt

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or give authority to any similar improprieties.

The pulpit, the senate, and the bar, ought, from the advantages of education generally possessed by their members, and from their social position, to be the

standard authorities to which we might appeal with certainty, (for our language is continually undergoing change, addition, and improvement ;) but, unfortunately, the gentlemen of the learned professions are frequently so careless in their own pronunciation as rather to require admonition, (medice, sana te ipsum,) than to be looked to as authorities; so that they may, (from their own inaccuracies) be considered a Court of Errors, but not of Appeal. We must, therefore, rely upon such lights as we have, and the assistance of those who, well educated in other respects, make their own language their particular study.

The following are a few very common examples, (which it is absolutely necessary to correct,) of

ERRONEOUS PRONUNCIATION,

by mal-articulation or false accentuation.

OMISSION OF SUB-TONICS OR ATONICS.

g in ing, as in comin' for coming, speakin' for speaking, &c.

ts in sts, as insis' for insists, persis' for persists, &c.

OMISSION OF A MIDDLE OR DOUBLE SUB-TONIC.

m in mm, as imaculate for im-maculate, &c.

n in nen, as proness, for prone-ness, &c.

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per'-fume (v.) for per-fu'me

per-fu'me (n.) for per-fume

mischie'v-ous for mis'-chiev-ous adverti'se-ment "adver'-tisment

pre-ce'-dent(n.) for pre'-ce-dent se-rees(series) for see-ry-es, &c. pre'-ce-dent(adj.)" pre-ce'-dent

REFINEMENTS IN PRONUNCIATION.

The syllables car, gar, and guar, are, in polite and refined pronunciation, softened thus:

car is made kya'r, as kyart (cart,) kyar-pet (carpet.) gar and guar, gya'r, as gya'rd (guard,) gya'rden (garden,)&c. Also, before a long and accented i or y, the letter k makes key, as keyi'nd (kind,) skey-i' (sky,) &c.

Such are a few points which I particularly notice, because it is in them that errors most prevail. The nature of this book does not pretend to go into the whole theory of pronunciation: my object is, practically to correct certain prevalent faults of articulation and pronunciation.

[See Practice on Pronunciation.]

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