by aspirating the vowel å at the moment of their separation.*

When B is doubled, as in rabbit, the second constituent of the first B is omitted. When B is whispered, the second constituent only is heard. When words in which B is doubled are whispered, the first B is mute.

D consists of a vocal sound and an aspirate. The first constituent is formed with the tip of the tougue pressed against the gums of the upper incisory teeth; the second, by aspirating the vowel u at the moment of its removal.* When D is doubled, as in addition, the second constituent of the first D is omitted. When D is whispered, the second constituent only is heard. When words in which D is doubled are whispered, the first L is mute.

The first

G consists of a vocal sound and an aspirate. constituent is formed with the root of the tongue pressed against the curtain or vail of the palate; the second, by aspirating the vowel å at the moment of its removal.*

When G is doubled, as in haggard, the second constituent of the first G is omitted. When G is whispered, the second con stituent only is heard. When words in which G is doubled art whispered, the first G is mute.

L is a vocal sound, made with the tip of the tongue pressed against the gums of the upper incisory teeth.

M is a nasal sound, made with the lips closed.

N is a nasal sound, formed with the tip of the tongue pressed against the gums of the upper incisory teeth.

NG, as in song, is a nasal sound, formed with the root of the tongue pressed gently against the curtain of the palate.

R is a vocal sound, of which there are two varieties. The first is called the trilled R, and is made by causing the tongue to vibrate against the gums of the upper incisory teeth, while the breath is propelled through the mouth; the second is called the smooth R, and is made with the tip of the tongue elevated towards the centre of the roof of the mouth. R should be trilled when it *Care should be taken not to make the second constituent vocal.

precedes a vowel, as in roll, crush, etc.; but when it follows a vowel, as in air, orb, etc., it should be made smooth.

I have met with a number of individuals who could not trill the R, and others who did it with difficulty. Those who cannot trill it in a graceful manner, had better not attempt it in public; let such, however, not despair-their vocal organs may be rendered flexible by frequent and energetic exercise.

TH, as in then, is a compound of vocality and aspiration, formed with the tip of the tongue resting against the inner surface of the upper incisory teeth.

V is a compound of vocality and aspiration. It is formed with the under lip pressed against the edge of the upper incisory teeth.

W is a vocal sound, formed with the lips contracted as in the act of whistling.

Y is a vocal sound, formed with the lips and teeth a little separated.

Z, as in zone, is a buzzing sound, a compound of vocality and aspiration. It is formed by pressing the tip of the tongue gently against the gums of the upper incisors, and forcing out the breath.

Z, as in azure, is a compound of vocality and aspiration. It is formed with the tip of the tongue nearly in the same position as is z-in zone, though drawn a little further back, and somewhat widened, so as to enlarge the aperture formed by its upper surface and the roof of the mouth, through which the breath is forced.

CHAPTER IV.

THE ASPIRATES.

F, LIKE V, is formed with the under lip pressed against the upper incisory teeth.

H is the inceptive part of a vowel sound, aspirated in a particular way. I may be uttered in as many varieties

B

of ways as there are vowels in the language; each requiring the same posture of the mouth which the vowel itself requires.

K is formed by pressing the root of the tongue against the curtain of the palate, and then aspirating the vowel ů.

2

When this element is doubled, as in fickle (pronouncea fikkl), the first k is mute.

P is formed by closing the lips, and then aspirating the vowel å.

When this element is doubled, as in happy, the first P is mute. S is a hissing sound, and, like z in zone, is formed with the tip of the tongue pressed gently against the gums of the upper incissory teeth. It is nearly the same as z in zone aspirated.

SH is formed with the tongue in the same position as is z in azure. SH is nearly the same sound as z in azure,

aspirated.

T is formed by pressing the tip of the tongue against the gums of the upper incisory teeth, and then aspirating the vowel ů.

When T is doubled, as in attempt, the first T is mute.

TH, as in thin, like th in then, is formed with the tip of the tongue pressed against the upper incisory teeth. It is nearly the same sound as the subvowel TH aspirated.

WH is the inceptive part of the vowel ů aspirated in a particular way. The sound which is produced in the formation of this element, is nearly the same as hů, whispered. WH requires the same posture of the mouth that the vowel å requires.

That hu and wh are not identical, may be proved by pronouncing, alternately, the words hoom and whoom, and observing the contrast between them.

CHAPTER V.

THE POSTURES OF THE MOUTH.

AN accurate knowledge of the positions which the organs of articulation should assume in the formation of the several elements of vocal language, is very important to those who would speak with ease and elegance.

The pupil should exercise his organs of speech, in the most forcible manner, three times a week, and, if possible, even every day, on all the elements. The vowels should be exploded from the throat, both interrogatively and affirmatively, in every range of pitch within the compass of the voice, and with every possible degree of force.

The vowels are exploded in the following manner: make a full inspiration, close the glottis, and contract the muscles of expiration so as to condense the air in the lungs, then utter the element with a sudden and forcible emission of the breath. The sounds thus produced may be denominated vocal thunder; the effect upon an audience is electrical.

This exercise strengthens the vocal organs, and enables the speaker to be heard at a great distance, with very little effort or expenditure of breath. It is also benefi

Icial to health.

CHAPTER VI.

DEFECTIVE ARTICULATION.

ARTICULATION is defective when one or more elements of a word are omitted, or imperfectly formed; or when one element is substituted for another.

Defective articulation is exceedingly common: perhaps there is not one individual in ten thousand whose articulation is perfect. This arises from the neglect of a proper

gymnastic training of the organs of speech in childhood. As soon as children are capable of imitating sounds, they should be taught the elements of vocal language; and, to facilitate their acquisition of this knowledge, they should be made to exercise before a mirror, so as to compare the movements of their own lips with those of the lips of their instructor. By pursuing this course, a good foundation will be laid for a perfect and graceful articulation.

In that part of this work which consists of Exercises in Reading and Declamation, all, or nearly all, the letters representing sounds liable to be omitted, or imperfectly articulated, are italicised. Hence it is not necessary to furnish examples, and treat of the subject minutely, in this place. There are, however, some instances of defective articulation which are not pointed out by the italic letters-these are so important that they deserve special notice. I allude to those cases in which one element is substituted for another. The remainder of this chapter will be devoted to their consideration.

Children are apt to substitute the sound of d for that of g in gay; and the sound of t for that of k or c in cat. Thus, for gay, they say day; for cake, tate, etc.

To enable the pupil to correct these faults, I explain to him the manner in which the sounds of g and k are produced they are formed by pressing the root of the tongue against the soft palate, and not like d and t by pressing its tip against the gums of the upper incisors. I then direct him to pronounce, after me, the elements, d, g and t, k, and the syllables da, ga, and ta, ka, thus:

d, g; d, g; d, g; d, g; d, g; d, g; d, g; d, g; d, g. t, k; t, k; t, k; t, k; t, k; t, k; t, k; t, k; t, k. då, gå; då, gå; då, gå; då, gå; dẻ, gẻ; dẻ, gẻ; &c. tả, kả; tả, kể; tả, kả; tả, kả ; tẻ, kẻ; tẻ, kẻ; &c. The object of this exercise is to contrast the substituted sound with the correct one.

When this plan does not prove successful, I open my mouth as widely as possible, so that the tip of the tongue cannot touch the gums of the upper teeth, and request