Chapter III: Section I: Articulation

Articulation is the art of uttering distinctly and justly the letters and syllables constituting a word.

It deals, therefore, with the elements of words, just as elocution deals with the elements of sentences: the one securing the true enunciation of each letter, or combination of letters, the other giving to each word, or combination of words, such a delivery as best expresses the meaning of the author. It is the basis of all good reading, and should be carefully practiced by the learner.

ELEMENTARY SOUNDS OF THE LETTERS.

VOWEL SOUNDS.

TONICS.

_Element_. _Power_.

1.--1 A as in _A_pe.
2.--2 A " _A_rm.
3.--3 A " _A_ll.
4.--4 A " _A_t.
5.--5 A " C_a_re.
6.--6 A " _A_sk.
7.--1 E " _E_ve.
8.--2 E " _E_nd.
9.--1 I " _I_ce.
10.--2 I " _I_t.
11.--1 O " _O_ld.
12.--2 O " D_o_.
13.--3 O " _O_x.
14.--1 U " _U_se.
15.--2 U " _U_p.
16.--3 U " P_u_ll.
17.--OI " O_i_l.
18.--OU " O_u_t.

CONSONANT SOUNDS.

SUB-TONICS.

19.--B as in _B_at.
20.--D " _D_un.
21.--G " _G_un.
22.--J " _J_et.
23.--L " _L_et.
24.--M " _M_an.
25.--N " _N_ot.
26.--R " _R_un.
27.--V " _V_ent.
28.--W " _W_ent.
29.--Y " _Y_es.
30.--1 Z " _Z_eal.
31.--2 Z " A_z_ure.
32.--NG " Si_ng_.
33.--TH " _Th_y.

A-TONICS.

34.--F as in _F_it.
35.--H " _H_at.
36.--K " _K_id.
36.--P " _P_it.
38.--S " _S_in.
39.--T " _T_op.
40.--CH " _Ch_at.
41.--SH " _Sh_un.
42.--TH " _Th_in.
43.--WH " _Wh_en.

21: Soft G is equivalent to J; soft C to S, and hard C and Q to K.
X is equivalent to K and S, as in _box_, or to G and Z
as in _exalt_.

42: WH is pronounced as if the H preceded W, otherwise it would be
pronounced _W hen_. R should be slightly trilled before a
vowel. For further instructions, see Sanders and Merrill's
Elementary and Elocutionary Chart.

SUBSTITUTES FOR THE VOWEL ELEMENTS.

For Long A.

_ai_ as in s_ai_l.
_au_ " g_au_ge.
_ay_ " l_ay_.
_ea_ " gr_ea_t.
_ei_ " d_ei_gn.
_ey_ " th_ey_.

For Flat A.

_au_ as in d_au_nt.
_ea_ " h_ea_rt.
_ua_ " g_ua_rd.

For Broad A.

_au_ as in p_au_se.
_aw_ " l_a_w.
_eo_ " G_eo_rge.
_oa_ " gr_oa_t.
_o_ " h_o_rn.
_ou_ " s_ou_ght.

For Short A.

_ai_ as in pl_ai_d.
_ua_ " g_ua_ranty.

For Intermediate A.

_ai_ as in h_ai_r.
_ea_ " b_ea_r.
_e_ " wh_e_re.
_ei_ " th_ei_r.

For Long E.

_ea_ as in w_ea_k.
_ei_ " s_ei_ze.
_eo_ " p_eo_ple.
_ey_ " k_ey_.
_ie_ " br_ie_f.
_i_ " p_i_que.

For Short E.

_a_ as in _a_ny.
_ai_ " s_ai_d.
_ay_ " s_ay_s.
_ea_ " d_ea_d.
_ei_ " h_ei_fer.
_eo_ " l_eo_pard.
_ie_ " fr_ie_nd.
_ue_ " g_ue_ss.
_u_ " b_u_ry.

For Long I.

_ai_ as in _ai_sle.
_ei_ " sl_ei_ght.
_ey_ " _ey_e.
_ie_ " d_ie_.
_oi_ " ch_oi_r.
_ui_ " g_ui_de.
_uy_ " b_uy_.
_y_ " tr_y_.

For Short I.

_e_ as in _E_nglish.
_ee_ " b_ee_n.
_ie_ " s_ie_ve.
_o_ " w_o_men.
_u_ " b_u_sy.
_ui_ " b_ui_ld.
_y_ " s_y_mbol.

For Long O.

_au_ as in h_au_tboy.
_eau_ " b_eau_.
_eo_ " y_eo_man.
_ew_ " s_ew_.
_oa_ " b_oa_t.
_oe_ " h_oe_.
_ou_ " s_ou_l.
_ow_ " fl_o_w.

For Long Slender O.

_oe_ as in sh_oe_.
_ou_ " s_ou_p.

For Short O.

_a_ as in w_a_s.
_ou_ " h_ou_gh.
_ow_ " kn_ow_ledge.

For Long U.

_eau_ as in b_eau_ty.
_eu_ " f_eu_d.
_ew_ " d_ew_.
_ieu_ " ad_ieu_.
_ou_ " y_ou_r.
_ue_ " c_ue_.
_ui_ " s_ui_t.

For Short U.

_e_ as in h_e_r.
_i_ " s_i_r.
_oe_ " d_oe_s.
_o_ " l_o_ve.
_ou_ " y_ou_ng.

For Short Slender U.

_o_ as in w_o_lf.
_ou_ " w_ou_ld.

For the Diphthong OI.

_oy_ as in j_oy_.

For the Diphthong OU.

_ow_ as in n_ow_.

There is no pure Triphthongal sound in the language. _Buoy_ is equivalent to _bwoy_. _U_ being a consonant.

SUBSTITUTES FOR THE CONSONANT ELEMENTS.

F.

_gh_ as in lau_gh_.
_ph_ " s_ph_ere.

J.

_g_ " _g_em.

K.

_c_ " _c_an.
_ch_ " _ch_ord.
_gh_ " hou_gh_.
_q_ " _q_uit.

S.

_c_ " _c_ent.

T.

_d_ " face_d_.
_phth_ " _phth_isic.

V.

_f_ " o_f_.
_ph_ " Ste_ph_en.

Y.

_i_ " val_i_ant.

1 Z.

_c_ " suffi_c_e.
_s_ " wa_s_.
_x_ " _X_erxes.

2 Z.

_s_ " trea_s_ure.
_z_ " a_z_ure.
_si_ " fu_si_on.
_zi_ " gla_zi_er.

NG.

_n_ " co_n_ch.

SH.

_ce_ " o_ce_an.
_ci_ " so_ci_al.
_ch_ " _ch_aise.
_si_ " pen_si_on.
_s_ " _s_ure.
_ss_ " i_ss_ue.
_ti_ " no_ti_on.

CH.

_ti_ " fus_ti_an.

B, D, G, H, L, M, N, P, and R, have no substitutes.

The most common faults in ARTICULATION are

I. _The suppression of a syllable; as,_

cab'n for cab-_i_n.
cap'n " cap-_tai_n.
barr'l " bar-r_e_l.
ev'ry " ev-_e_-ry.
hist'ry " his-t_o_-ry
reg'lar " reg-_u_-lar.
sev'ral " sev-_e_r-al.
rhet'ric " rhet-_o_-ric.
mem'ry " mem-_o_-ry.
jub'lee " ju-b_i_-lee.
trav'ler " trav-_e_l-er.
fam'ly " fam-_i_-ly.
vent'late " ven-t_i_-late.
des'late " des-_o_-late.
prob'ble " prob-_a_-ble.
par-tic'lar " par-tic-_u_-lar.

II. _The omission of any sound properly belonging to a word; as,_

read-in for read-in_g_.
swif-ly " swif_t_-ly.
com-mans " com-man_d_s.
wam-er " wa_r_m-er.
um-ble " _h_um-ble.
ap-py " _h_ap-py.
con-sis " con-sis_t_s.
fa-t'l " fa-tal.
pr'-tect " pr_o_-tect.
b'low " b_e_-low.
p'r-vade " p_e_r-vade.
srink-in " s_h_rink-in_g_.
th'if-ty " th_r_if-ty.
as-ter-is " as-ter-is_k_.
gov-er-ment " gov-er_n_-ment.
Feb-u-ary " Feb-_r_u-a-ry.

III. _The substitution of one sound for another; as,_

_uf_-ford for _a_f-ford.
wil-l_e_r " wil-lo_w_.
sock-_i_t " sock-_et_.
fear-l_u_ss " fear-l_e_ss.
cul-t_e_r " cult-_u_re.
prod-u_x_ " prod-u_cts_.
judg-m_u_nt " judg-m_e_nt.
chil-dr_i_n " chil-dr_e_n.
mod-_i_st " mod-_e_st.
_u_p-prove " _a_p-prove.
_w_in-e-gar " _v_in-e-gar.
sep-_e_-rate " sep-_a_-rate.
temp-er-_i_t " tem-per-_a_te.
croc-_e_r-dile " croc-_o_-dile.
t_u_b-ac-c_u_r " t_o_-bac-c_o_.
com-pr_u_m-ise " com-pr_o_-mise.

IV. Produce the sounds denoted by the following combinations of consonants:--

Let the pupil first produce the sound of the letters, and then the word or words in which they occur. Be careful to give a clear and distinct enunciation to every letter.

1. _Bd_, as in ro_b'd_; _bdst_, pro_b'dst_; _bl_, _bl_ and,
a_bl_e; _bld_, hum-_bl'd; bldst_, trou_bl'dst_; _blst_,
trou_bl'st; blz_, crum_bles; br_, _br_and; _bz_, ri_bs_.

2. _Ch_, as in _ch_ur_ch; cht_, fet_ch'd_.

3. _Dj_, as in e_dg_e; _djd_, he_dg'd; dl_, bri_dle; dld_,
rid_dl'd; dlst_, han_dl'st_; _dlz_, bun_dles; dn_,
har_d'n; dr_, _dr_ove; _dth_, wi_dth; dths_, brea_dths;
dz_, o_dds_.

4. _Fl_, as in _fl_ame; _fld_, ri_fl'd_; _flst_, sti_fl'st_;
_flx_, ri_fles_; _fr_, _fr_om; _fs_, qua_ffs_, lau_ghs_;
_fst_, lau_gh'st_, qua_ff'st_; _ft_, ra_ft_; _fts_,
wa_fts; ftst_, gr_ft'st_.

5. _Gd_, as in beg_g'd_; _gdst_, brag_g'dst; gl_, _gl_ide;
_gld_, strug_gl'd; gldst_, hag_gl'dst; gist_, stran_gl'st;
glz_, min_gles; gr, gr_ove; _gst_, beg_g'st; gz_, fi_gs_.

6. _Kl_, as in un_cle_, an_kle_; _kld_, trick_l'd; kldst_,
truck_l'dst; klst_, chuc_kl'st; klz_, wrin_kles; kn_,
blac_k'n; knd_, rec_k'n'd; kndst_, rec_k'n'dst; knst_,
blac_k'n'st; knz_, rec_k'ns; kr, cr_ank; _ks_, chec_ks;
kt_, a_ct_.

7. _Lb_, as in bu_lb_; _lbd_, bu_lb'd; lbs_, bu_lbs; lch_,
fi_lch; lcht_, be_lch'd; ld_, ho_ld; ldst_, fo_ld'st;
ldz_, ho_lds; lf_, se_lf; lfs_, gu_lfs; lj_, bu_lge; lk_,
e_lk; lks_, si_lks; lkt_, mi_lk'd; lkts_, mu_lcts; lm_,
e_lm; lmd_, whel_m'd; lmz_, fi_lms; ln_, fa_ll'n;_ _lp_,
he_lp_; _lps_, sca_lps_; _lpst_, _help'st_; _ls_, fa_lse_;
_lst_, ca_ll'st_; _lt_, me_lt_; _lth_, hea_lth_; _lths_,
stea_lths_; _lts_, co_lts_; _lv_, de_lve_; _lvd_,
she_lv'd_; _lvz_, el_ves_; _lz_, ha_lls_.

8. _Md_, as in doo_m'd_; _mf_, triu_mph_; _mp_, he_mp_;
_mpt_, te_mpt_; _mpts_, atte_mpts_; _mst_, ento_mb'st_;
_mz_, to_mbs_.

9. _Nch_, as in be_nch_; _ncht_, pi_nch'd_; _nd_, a_nd_;
_ndst_, e_nd'st_; _ndz_, e_nds_; _ng_, su_ng_; _ngd_,
ba_nged_; _ngth_, le_ngth_; _ngz_, so_ngs_; _nj_, ra_nge_;
_njd_, ra_ng'd_; _nk_, i_nk_; _nks_, ra_nks_; _nkst_,
tha_nk'st_; _nst_, wi_ne'd_; _nt_, se_nt_; _nts_, re_nts_;
_ntst_, we_nt'st_; _nz_, ru_ns_.

10. _Pl_, as in _pl_ume; _pld_, rip_pl'd_; _plst_, rip_pl'st_;
_plz_, ap_ples_; _pr_, _pr_ince; _ps_, si_ps_; _pst_,
rap_p'st_; _pt_, rip_p'd_.

11. _Rb_, as in he_rb_; _rch_, sea_rch_; _rcht_, chu_rch'd_;
_rbd_, o_rbd_; _rbdst_, ba_rb'dst_; _rbst_, distu_rb'st_;
_rbz_, o_rbs_; _rd_, ha_rd_; _rdst_, hea_rd'st_; _rdz_,
wo_rds_; _rf_, tu_rf_; _rft_, sca_rfd_; _rg_, bu_rg_;
_rgz_, bu_rgs_; _rj_, di_rge_; _rjd_, u_rg'd_; _rk_,
a_rk_; _rks_, a_rks_; _rkst_, wo_rk'st_; _rkt_, di_rk'd_;
_rktst_, emba_rk'dst_; _rl_, gi_rl_; _rld_, wo_rld_;
_rldst_, hu_rld'st_; _rlst_, whi_rl'st_; _rlz_, hu_rls_;
_rm_, a_rm_; _rmd_, a_rm'd_; _rmdst_, ha_rm'dst_; _rmst_,
a_rm'st_; _rmz_, cha_rms_; _rn_, tu_rn_; _rnd_, tu_rn'd_;
_rndst_, ea_rn'dst_; _rnst_, lea_rn'st_; _rnz_, u_rns_;
_rp_, ca_rp_; _rps_, ha_rps_; _rpt_, wa_rp'd_; _rs_,
ve_rs_e; _rsh_, ha_rsh_; _rst_, fi_rst_; _rsts_, bu_rsts_;
_rt_, da_rt_; _rth_, ea_rth_; _rths_, bi_rths_; _rts_,
ma_rts_; _rtst_, da_rt'st_; _rv_, cu_rve_; _rvd_,
ne_rv'd_; _rvdst_, cu_rv'dst_; _rvst_, swe_rv'st_; _rvz_,
ne_rves_; _rz_, e_rrs_.

12. _Sh_, as in _sh_ip; _sht_, hu_sh'd_; _sk_, _sc_an, _sk_ip;
_sks_, tu_sks_; _skst_, fri_sk'st_; _skt_, ri_sk'd_; _sl_,
_sl_ow; _sld_, ne_stl'd_; _slz_, we_stles_; _sm_, _sm_ile;
_sn_, _sn_ag; _sp_, _sp_ort; _sps_, li_sps_; _spt_,
cla_sp'd_; _st_, _st_ag; _str_, _str_ike; _sts_, re_sts_;
_sw_, _sw_ing.

13. _Th_, as in _th_ine, _th_in; _thd_, brea_th'd_; _thr_,
_thr_ee; _thst_, brea_th'st_; _thw_, _thw_ack; _thz_,
wri_thes_; _tl_, ti_tle_; _tld_, set_tl'd_; _tldst_,
set_tl'dst_; _tlst_,set_tl'st_; _tlz_, net_tles_; _tr_,
_tr_uuk; _ts_, fi_ts_; _tw_, _tw_irl.

14. _Vd_, as in cur_v'd_; _vdst_, li_v'dst_; _vl_, dri_v'l_;
_vld_, gro_v'l'd_; _vldst_, gro_v'l'dst_; _vlst_,
dri_v'l'st_; _un_, dri_v'n_; _vst_, li_v'st_; _vz_,
li_ves_.

15. _Wh_, as in _wh_en, _wh_ere.

16. _Zd_, as in mu_s'd_; _zl_, daz_zle_; _zld_, muz_zl'd_;
_zldst_, daz_zl'dst_; _zlst_, daz_zl'st_; _zlz_,
muz_zles_; _zm_, spa_sm_; _zmz_, cha_sms_; _zn_, ri_s'n_;
_znd_, rea_s'n'd_; _znz_, pri_s'nz_; _zndst_,
impri_s'n'dst_.

V. Avoid blending the termination of one word with the beginning of another, or suppressing the final letter or letters of one word, when the next word commences with a similar sound.

EXAMPLES.

His small eyes instead of His small lies.
She keeps pies " She keeps spies.
His hour is up " His sour is sup.
Dry the widow's tears " Dry the widow steers.
Your eyes and ears " Your rise sand dears.
He had two small eggs " He had two small legs.
Bring some ice cream " Bring some mice scream.
Let all men praise Him " Let tall men pray sim.
He was killed in war " He was skilled in war.
Water, air, and earth " Water rare rand dearth.
Come and see me once more " Come mand see me one smore.

NOTE.--By an indistinct Articulation the sense of a passage is often liable to be perverted.

EXAMPLES.

1. Will he attempt to conceal hi_s acts?_
Will he attempt to conceal hi_s sacks?_
2. The man ha_d o_ars to row he_r o_ver.
The man ha_d d_oors to row he_r r_over.
3. Can there be a_n a_im more lofty?
Can there be _a n_ame more lofty?
4. The judge_s o_ught to arrest the culprits.
The judge_s s_ought to arrest the culprits.
5. Hi_s i_re burned when she told him he_r a_ge.
Hi_s s_ire burned when she told him he_r r_age.
6. He wa_s a_wed at the works of labor a_nd a_rt.
He wa_s s_awed at the works of labor a_n d_art.
7. He wa_s tr_ained in the religion of his fathers.
He wa_s st_rained in the religion of his fathers.

MISCELLANEOUS EXAMPLES.

1. _Br_avely o'er _th_e _b_oi_st_e_r_ous _b_i_ll_ow_s_,
_H_is _g_a_ll_a_nt_ _b_a_rk_ _w_a_s_ _b_o_rn_e.
2. _C_a_n_ _cr_a_v_e_n_ _c_owa_rds_ e_x_pe_ct_ to
_c_o_nq_ue_r_ _th_e _c_ou_ntr_y?
3. _Cl_i_ck_, _cl_i_ck_, _g_oe_s_ _th_e _cl_o_ck_; _cl_a_ck_,
_cl_a_ck_, _g_oe_s_ _th_e _m_i_ll_.
4. _D_i_d_ _y_ou _d_esi_r_e to _h_ea_r_ _h_i_s_ _d_a_rk_
a_nd_ _d_o_l_e_f_u_l_ _dr_ea_ms_?
5. "_F_ir_m_-_p_a_c_e_d_ a_nd_ _sl_ow, a _h_o_rr_i_d_
_fr_o_nt_ _th_ey _form_,
_St_i_ll_ a_s_ _th_e _br_ee_ze_; _b_u_t_ _dr_ea_df_u_l_
a_s_ _th_e _st_or_m_."
6. _Th_e _fl_a_m_i_ng_ _f_i_r_e _fl_a_sh_ed _f_ea_rf_u_ll_y
i_n_ _h_i_s_ _f_a_c_e.
7. _Th_e _gl_a_ss_y _gl_a_ci_e_rs_ _gl_ea_m_e_d_ i_n_
_gl_owi_ng_ _l_igh_t_.
8. _H_ow _h_igh _h_i_s_ ho_n_o_rs_ _h_ea_v_e_d_ _h_i_s_
_h_augh_t_y _h_ea_d_!
9. _H_e _dr_ew _l_o_ng_, _l_e_g_i_bl_e _lin_e_s_ a_l_o_ng_
_th_e _l_ove_l_y _l_a_ndsc_a_p_e.
10. _M_a_ss_e_s_ of i_mm_e_ns_e _m_a_gn_i_t_u_d_e _m_o_v_e
_m_a_j_e_st_i_c_a_ll_y _thr_ough _th_e _v_a_st_ e_mp_i_r_e
of _th_e _s_o_l_a_r_ _s_y_st_e_m_.
11. _R_ou_nd_ _th_e _r_ou_gh_ a_nd_ _r_u_gg_e_d_ _r_o_cks_
_th_e _r_a_gg_e_d_ _r_a_sc_a_l_ _r_a_n_.
12. _Th_e _str_i_pl_i_ng_ _str_a_ng_e_r_ _str_aye_d_
_str_aigh_t_ _to_wa_rd_ _th_e _str_u_ggl_i_ng_ _str_ea_m_.
13. _Sh_e u_tt_e_r_e_d_ a _sh_a_rp_, _shr_i_ll_ _shr_ie_k_,
a_nd_ _th_e_n_ _shr_u_nk_ _fr_o_m_ _th_e _shr_i_v_e_l_e_d_
_f_o_rm_ _th_a_t_ _sl_u_mb_e_r_e_d_ i_n_ _th_e _shr_ou_d_.
14. _F_or _f_ear o_f_ o_ff_ending _th_e _fr_ight_f_ul
fugitive, _th_e _v_i_l_e _v_a_g_a_b_o_nd_ _v_e_nt_u_r_e_d_
_t_o _v_i_l_i_fy_ _th_e _v_e_n_e_r_a_bl_e _v_e_t_e_r_a_n_.
15. A_midst_ _th_e _m_i_sts_, _w_i_th_ a_ngr_y _b_oa_sts_,
_H_e _thr_u_sts_ _h_i_s_ _f_i_sts_ a_g_ai_nst_ _th_e
_p_o_sts_,
A_nd_ _st_i_ll_ i_ns_i_sts_ _h_e _s_ee_s_ _th_e
_g_ho_sts_.
16. Peter Prangle, the prickly prangly pear picker, picked
three pecks of prickly prangly pears, from the prangly
pear trees, on the pleasant prairies.
17. 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.
18. We travel _sea_ and _soil_; we _pry_, we _prowl_;
We _progress_, and we _prog_ from _pole_ to _pole_.