cise point to any consonant on the circumference, then to the vowel at the center, then to any other consonant, the class giving in concert the sounds to which the leader points, and then pronouncing the word spelled. Spell each word twice. A great number of words may be formed thus, and the number may be multiplied by changing the vowel at the center.

It is not necessary that all the consonants be used in any one diagram. It is best that some be omitted. So also in placing the vowel diagram on the board for vocal drill, it is best to omit those sounds that are very similar to other sounds, such as caret a, short Italian a, short broad a, and tilde i. These finer distinctions confuse beginners.

Pronunciation consists of two things: Articulation and accent. Articulation is the correct utterance of the elementary sounds.

(1). â, ê, ô and û are always followed by r. Examples.-Câre, fâre, pârent, thêre, thêir, fôr, ôr, fôrm, ûrn.

(2). u (ōð) is never heard unless it is preceded by the sound of r, sh, or zh. Sure is not an exception to this rule, for the sound sh is heard. Susan seems to be an exception.

(3). ū is a diphthong. When it begins a syllable it is equivalent to y+oo. When preceded by a consonant it is equivalent to ē + do. There are a few words in which the ū is difficult to utter, and will likely become u (oo). Examples.-Blue, lute, flute. Blue is difficult, bloo is not. Pronounce rue, rule, fruit, dūpe, dūde, dūty, constitution, tutor, student.

(4). û has no equivalent. It differs from ẽ and I. U is a guttural sound. Pronounce earn, ûrn, fir, fûr, ûrge, verge.

(5.) A constituting or ending an unaccented syllable has a brief sound of ä. Exception, A is long when followed by a vowel or diphthong, as chaotic. Pronounce America, alas, Anna, Indiana, aorta.

(6.) E and O constituting or ending a syllable is long. In the accented syllable the quantity is longer than in the unaccented. Examples.-Memorial, event, thē-sis, nōtōrious, society.

(7.) E is silent before n. Given, token.

(8.) C is soft before e, i and y and hard in other cases. Pronounce caret, çite, çider, çelebrate, cot, çynic.

(9.) G is generally soft before e, i and y and hard in other cases. (10.) X followed by an accented vowel or h has the sound of gz. When it begins a word it has the sound of z. In other positions it has the sound of ks.

(11.) Q standing alone has no sound.

(12.) Ai when accented has the sound of ā; when not accented it has the sound of short i. Examples.—Aid, remain, fountain (in), captain, mountain.

ACCENT.

Accent is a stress of voice upon a syllable of a word. Accent is of two kinds, primary and secondary. The primary accent is the stronger. Primary accent is marked with a heavy stroke, the secondary with a lighter stroke. Examples.-Legisla ́ture, Av ́alanche'.

Let pupils accent clearly the following words: Inquiry, accented, coquetry, artificer, complex, idea, execrable, pyramidal.

My first lessons in elocution were received from Prof. J. I. Hopkins. He gave special attention to accent, and the benefits of those lessons are highly valued. To break up difficult accents he would cause the class to accent forcibly all the syllables of a word, then return to the proper accent and give the pronunciation several times. I have found this simple exercise sufficient to correct any incorrect accent. Illustration.-Per'sonification, person'ification, personification, personifi'cation, personifica ́tion, personification'. Now pronounce the word several times with the proper accent personifica'tion.

Take execrable and begin as follows: Execrable', execrable, execrable, execrable. In same manner pronounce peculiarity, congratulation, emphatically, octogenarian.

HINTS TO TEACHERS.

It is one thing to say that there are forty elementary sounds, and quite another thing to show by actual work that there are forty. Ask the class what is meant by saying forty elementary sounds. The probability is that the class will not have any definite meaning. Place a table of sounds on the board. Let this table contain all the vowels and consonants and number of sounds that each has. Then begin to erase or cross out all equivalents.

ILLUSTRATION.

CONSONANTS.

1. b c d f g gh j k l m n p q r s s soft t v W X

X

y z = 25.

0 00 00 ū մ ս (00) û ս = 29.

Now ask the class the number of sounds, and you will likely get the answer, 54.

Rewrite and cut out all equivalents.

b (c hard

k, çs) d f g (g soft=j) j k l m n

p (q has no sound) r s (g = z) t U V W (x = ks,

as u) (o as in wolf = 00) 00 00 (ū

=

y + ōō) ǎ (u as in rue = 50)

û (u_as in put=00) = 16 vowel sounds.

This, now, gives 18 consonants and 16 vowels, or 34 in all. Let children find out other sounds if possible.

DOUBLE CONSONANTS.

ch, as in child, ng, th, th, sh and zh = 6.

Add this to 34 and we have 40, the number of elementary sounds in the English language. Some interest may be created by asking pupils to try to make other sounds.

2. Drill often on the exercises in articulation.

3. Have PRONOUNCING MATCHES.

Pass over to the chapter on WORDS OFTEN MISPRONOUNCED, or to TEST WORDS IN PRONUNCIATION.

Request two pupils to arise and pronounce alternately. When one makes a mistake let the other try it. If he be successful another comes forward to contest. One person may pronounce down several contestants.

bo-po

bu-pu

boo-poo boi-poi.

fŭ-vŭ

foo-voo foi-voi.

ba-pa be-pe bi-pi |

fă-vă fě-vě fi-vi fŎ-vŎ

Ceaseth, approacheth, rejoiceth, ceaseth,
Approacheth, rejoiceth, ceaseth, approacheth,

Rejoiceth, ceaseth, approacheth, rejoiceth.

1. Six brave maids sat on six broad beds braiding broad braids.

2. The rain ceaseth.

3. I saw a saw that could outsaw any saw that I ever saw saw. 4. Up the high hill he heaved a huge round stone.

5. The listlessness and laziness of the government.

6. He thrusts his fists against the posts.

And still insists he sees the ghosts.

7. Socks and shoes shock Susan.

8. I said sex, not sects.

9. Eight great gray geese gazing gayly into Greece.

10. Bring me some ice every hour.

11. Five wise wives weave withered withes.

12. She sells sea-shells; shall she sell sea-shells?

13. A big black bug bit a big black bear.

14. Round the rude ring the ragged rascals ran.

15. Execrable Xantippe exhibited extraordinary and excessive irritability.

16. Thrice six thick thistle sticks thrust straight through three throbbing thrushes.

17. Prithee, blithe youth, do not mouth your words when you wreathe your face with smiles.

18. He rules with regal reign.

19. He sawed six long, slim, sleek, slender saplings.

20. Whelply Whewell White was a whimsical, whining, whispering, whittling, whistler.

21. Some shun sun-shine. Do you shun sun-shine?

22. I said, “a knap-sack strap,” not a “knap-sack's strap.”

23. Henry Hingham has hung his harp on the hook where he hitherto hung his hope.

24. Gibeon Gordon Grelglow, the great Greek grammarian, graduated at Grilgrove College.

25. Did you say you saw the spirit sigh, or the spirit's eye, or the spirit's sigh? I said I saw the spirit's eye, not the spirit sigh, nor the spirit's sigh.

26. Theophilus Thistle, the successful thistle sifter, in sifting a sieve full of unsifted thistles, thrust three thousand thistles through the thick of his thumb; now, if Theophilus Thistle, the successful thistle sifter, in sifting a sieve full of unsifted thistles, thrust three thousand thistles through the thick of his thumb, see that thou, in sifting a sieve full of unsifted thistles, thrust not three thousand thistles through the thick of thy thumb. Success to the successful thistle sifter.

27. Seeing Sam she stopped starching and saluted Sam smilingly. Sam stammered shockingly: "Sp-sp-splendid summer season,