8 vanish o. This sign is also frequently mute in its diphthongal figure, as in awe: here are three vowel signs with one elemen 1 7 tary sound, viz. the tonic sound heard in all. Again, in low, 7 the w is mute, and also in bow (arcus), though heard in the 18 verb to bow. We shall see hereafter the sub-tonic character of W and Y. 4 6 AI.—this diphthong is composed of a and i, as in pain, ail, which are distinguishable to a fine ear from the pure tonic 4 4 in ale, pane, &c.; but the distinction is really very slight— still it exists. 16 OI-as in boy, voice, is a i. OU-as in our, out, &c., is of a complex nature, and appears to be triph-thongal. It seems to my ear to be compounded of 218 aou; but I am not quite clear as to its elements. For reference to the eye, I shall distinguish it thus, ou (to denote its triphthongal character) in the following 1 2 EXERCISE ON THE TONICS. 4 .. 5 9 All art is nature better understood. 1 4 That there is a Power above, all natüre cries All pale with pain he fainted in the place. And Eve in Eden ěvěr happy there. Thus infidelity first victims finds. Oh holy hope, to live beyond the tomb. The wonder and the worship of the world. ..8 ...8 ..8 Now law shall bow before the power of arms. 8 Our wounds cry out for help. And burning blushes spread o'er all her cheek. Let the pupil now go through the Table of Tonic Sounds, giving to every element its perfect sound, in a full, loud tone of voice, but without strain or painful effort. This, more than any practice will tend to strengthen and bring out the voice; and next, go carefully through the Exercise on the Tonics, until she shall read them with perfect purity of tonic sound. The careful doing of this at the outset will save the pupil much after-trouble in the matter of articulation. We now pass to the SUB-TONICS (15)-ATONICS (10). 2DT Lingua-dental (teeth closed) D-ash. T-ask. 8Th A-z-ure. Sh-ame. Th Lingua-dental (teeth open) Th-en. Th-in. (hard) (soft) 9Y H Palatine aspirates 10 W-Wh Labial aspirates 11R 12L 13/M Y-et. H-it. W-ild. Wh-en. Lingua-palatine (vibrating) R-ome. R-ide. Lingua-palatine Nasal-labial L-ull. L-ily. M-um. M-ind. N-u-n. N-o-w. E-ng-land. Thi-ng. DIRECTION.-The pupil, or teacher, must pay particular attention to the organic formation of the sub-tonics and atonics, as it will enable him or her easily to correct defects of articulation. OBSERVATIONS. It will be observed that the A-tonics have each their appropriate Sub-tonics, to which they belong, and of which they are the vanish, or last fading sound: thus B, when sounded, after its tone or vocality ceases, fades into P; D into T; G (hard) into K, &c.; as may be perceived by sounding the syllables Bab, Did, Gig, &c. 9. and 10.-Y and W, when initials, lose their full tonic character which they have when final; and become sub-tonic aspirates in their connection with a succeeding tonic, as in ye, yet, we, won. When w is followed by an h, the aspiration is doubled, as wh-o, wh-en, wh-y. The aspiration is made by the flow of breath-in Y over the tongue; in W, through the protruded lips. H. This aspirate deserves a whole chapter to itself, with a view to repairing the neglect and outrages that are hourly offered to it. The omission of this aspirate in its proper place is a gross vulgarism in speech, a mark of inferior education, and is calculated to produce a great prejudice against the offender in the minds of all persons of refinement. How painful it is to hear any one speaking of his "'ouse," or his "'orse," or telling one "'ow 'ard it is to find a good 'orse!" This is a point of vulgarity on which our friends in the United States justly ridicule English people as deficient in the due pronunciation of their native language. It is an error that Americans are never guilty of; at the same time, I must remark that their aspiration of the h is somewhat too strong, (they are indeed a people of strong aspirations!) verging on a fault in the other extreme. They incline to give a nasal, or, more correctly speaking, a naso-guttural tone, as well as an aspirate, to the h, which gives it nearly the sound of k, in their enunciation of such words as house, home, happy, &c. Now, the aspiration should be decided, but light; not forced, though distinct to the ear. ""Twas whisper'd in heaven, 'twas mutter'd in hell, There is, however, a still greater and more unpardonable sin against this much abused aspirate—a vulgarism of even a deeper dye than its total omission; that is, the pressing it into service where it has no right or call to be, and even where it does not appear in the spelling of the word to which it is forcibly prefixed by the arbitrary aspirator. Such a habit is a fatal blot in ordinary conversation, and in public speaking would deform and vulgarise the finest discourse or oration ever delivered. Both these sins of commission and omission are unfortunately too prevalent; and when they are combined in the practice of one and the same individual, how painful to the ear is the perpetually recurring vulgarism! No care, no labour, can be too great to eradicate it. It should be first of all remembered, that in the English language h is always an aspirate, with very few exceptions: as we say an hour, not a hour; an honour, not a honour; and practice is divided between a humble man and an humble man ; an herb, and a herb; a hotel, and an hotel. Next, bear in mind, that the definite article the is pro 9 nounced thu (almost like the u in us) before a consonant or 6 an aspirate; and the (as in thee) before a vowel or silent h; в thus we say, thu man, thu horse, the angel, &c. Now, keeping this steadily in view, let any person who feels conscious of error with regard to this aspirate, diligently and repeatedly practice the following tables, enouncing each cluster of words without pause or rest of breath: |