Графични страници
PDF файл
ePub

pronunciation which prevails without exception, That vocal sounds terminating an accented syllable are long. And as this long sound is never a shut sound, to divide the following words thus, Ga-mut, pe-ril, li-mit, o-live, cu-min, &c., would lead to a wrong pronunciation of the first syllable of these words with respect both to the specific sound of the vowel and its quantity.

The terminations able, ible, &c., are always marked by Mr Sheridan as one syllable, and by Mr Walker as two. I have followed Sheridan, except when these terminations immediately follow an accented syllable, as in the word agree a-ble, to prevent the secondary accent falling upon the b, which it very properly does in the word Com/fort-able. For the same reason I thus divide the word Pri'ma-ry, to prevent the secondary accent falling upon the r, which it naturally does in the word Mer'ce-nar-y.

CONCLUSION.

"Divide and conquer," says Johnson, “is a principle equally just in science as in policy."

From upwards of forty years' experience in Teaching, I have formed the opinion, that to begin a child's instructions with lessons conveying meaning and amusement, may deceive parents and instructors, leading them to believe that the pupil is making rapid improvement; while, upon strict examination, it will be found, that his mind has been taken up with the amusement afforded him; and the words he has appeared to read have made so little impression, that perhaps he will hardly be able to recognise one of them in any other book. With some degree of con

fidence I would suggest, that the most successful mode of instructing children in the principles of the English language, is, to direct their sole attention, for some time, to the different powers of the letters, so that, by means of rules and a simple notation, they may be able to pronounce readily any combination of sounds; which study may be rendered amusing, by causing them, as a daily exercise, to form, by means of Spelling-boxes, those syllables and words which are regular in their construction. When they begin to unite syllables into words, it will be proper to make them acquainted with accent, that they may be able to point out readily the accented syllable, which they should be required to do in every word they are learning to pronounce, till they can do it without hesitation.— Children being thus prepared to begin to read sentences, will make more progress in three months, than those will do in twelve, who, by a fallacious mode of instruction, have apparently made greater progress during the first three months.

I have given lists of such words as exhibit the analogies of the language, and very complete lists of those, whether monosyllables or polysyllables, which are irregular; comprising all the words which Sheridan and Walker have considered as meriting particular

attention.

As exercises in reading, I have, from a small book entitled, "Dictation Exercises, by M. Beasly," borrowed the idea of constructing a few sentences to exemplify words which vary their pronunciation agreeably to their signification, and a few more to exemplify words alike in sound, but different in spelling and signification; which I think will convey a more

accurate knowledge of these words than definitions, many of which are more difficult than the words to be defined. The other exercises in reading which I have given, will tend, I hope, to impress the minds of children with proper views of religion, and make them acquainted with such things as may create a thirst for all useful knowledge.

As an introduction to the study of Elocution, some remarks are given with respect to pausing and the inflexions of the voice, extracted chiefly from Walker's Treatises.-I have also devoted a few pages to the principles of grammar,—an acquaintance with which may perhaps render the masterly performances on that subject more easily understood.

FULTON and KNIGHT's Scheme of the Vowels.
a-Fame can chârm âll.

e-He left her.

i-Find him.

o—Gō not nôrth.

u-Use just rûles.

The short quantity of ā ē ī ō ū—â Â û

is marked by a é ï ø ú—ă Ă ŭ,

LESSONS,

ADAPTED TO

THE CAPACITIES OF CHILDREN.

Of MONOSYLLABLES, pronounced agreeably to General Rules.

RULE I. The vowels when final, or when the syllable terminates in silent e, have their long namesounds, as in

Mate mete mite mote mute.

RULE II. The vowels, when followed by one or more consonants, have their shut sounds, as inFan fen fin fon fun.

Note.-Y, except when it precedes another vowel in the same syllable, has the powers of i, as in-type syb.

[ocr errors]

RULE III. The consonants c and g, have their hard sounds, except when followed by e, i, or y; and then they have their soft sounds, (s and j), as exemplified in the two following lines:Hard, Ca co cu, Ga go gu. Soft, Ce ci cy, Ge gi gy.

* Mr Walker has ventured to combat the opinion of Dr Lowth, and I may add, of Dr Johnson and Mr Sheridan, "That initial w and y are vowels ;" and thinks he has brought a conclusive argument against that opinion, by showing " that they do not admit the euphonic article before them." My argument in support of the opinion thus controverted shall also be short. Mr Walker gives u the sound of initial w in the word quire, and i the sound of initial y in the word alien. Now, either initial w and ỳ are vowels, or u and i, in these words, are consonants; and the combination ou, in the French word oui, pronounced we, must also be a consonant!

RULE IV. The combinations sh, ch, th th, ng, are pronounced as in the following words :

Shin, chin, thy thigh, ring.

RULE V. The united vowels are pronounced as in the following lines :

Â, Haul draw.—a, Fair lay their prey.
ē, Each green field.-ō, Coal.-û, Moon.
ū, Feud flew.-ow, Our cow.-oy,

Join joy.

An Exemplification of the Rules.

1. I Go by, O fy no, so ye cry. Die foe sue, doe cue tie, due lie toe, hie mue vie, blue sloe glue. Babe glebe scribe, lobe tribe cube, ace ice luce, fade glede slide, safe life strife, age gage stage, ake eke dike, joke duke smoke, ale ile hole, mule scale smile, came lime dome, plume blame slime, cane fine hone, tune crane drone, ape pipe hope, bare here ire, ore cure spire, case dose use, ate bite vote, mute prate smite, cave eve hive, cove gyve brave, gaze size doze, scarce borne horde, force forge corse, bronze range strange, haste paste taste. Bathe tithe clothe. Whale whine white, quake quire quote.

2. Crab fib job, cub abb ebb, bad fed kid, mud add odd, nef if off, cliff scoff snuff, bag leg fig, dog jagg egg, back deck lick, cock duck crack, mall cell gill, doll loll scull, am gem skim, from plum cram, an in on, den gun glyn, scan inn bunn, cap step lip, fop up hyp, or for nor, err burr purr, gas yes us, cess kiss gloss, fuss miss dross, at jet cit, cot strut butt, tax vex pix. Alb verb eld hand herd elf turf elk jerk desk curl elm sperm fern scalp camp lisp act eft hilt ant apt pert best bulb curb held grand curd delf scurf silk perk disk furl whelm term hern help limp wisp fact lift belt spent kept vert whist brand surd pelf milk yern whisk hurl film turn kern whelp pact sift melt blunt cropt hurt frost land skulk turk husk yern gulp didst midst erst burst calx mulct.

« ПредишнаНапред »