Chapter V: Section III: Inflections

INFLECTIONS are turns or slides of the voice, made in reading or speaking; as; Will you go to New [Transcriber's Note: Two missing lines in printing, page 25 in original.] or to [Transcriber's Note: Remainder of paragraph is missing.]

All the various sounds of the human voice may be comprehended under the general appellation of _tones_. The principal modifications of these tones are the MONOTONE, the RISING INFLECTION, the FALLING INFLECTION, and the CIRCUMFLEX.

The Horizontal Line (--) denotes the Monotone.
The Rising Slide (/) denotes the Rising Inflection.
The Falling Slide (\) denotes the Falling Inflection.
The Curve (\_/) denotes the Circumflex.

The MONOTONE is that sameness of sound, which arises from repeating the several words or syllables of a passage in one and the same general tone.

REMARK.--The Monotone is employed with admirable effect in the delivery of a passage that is solemn or sublime.

EXAMPLES.

1. O thou that rollest above, round as the shield of my fathers: whence are thy beams, O sun, thy everlasting light? OSSIAN.

2.
'Tis midnight's holy hour, and silence now
Is brooding, like a gentle spirit, o'er
The still and pulseless world. Hark! on the winds
The bells' deep tones are swelling; 'tis the knell
Of the departed year.
PRENTICE.

3. God came from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of His praise.

4. Before Him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at His feet. He stood and measured the earth: He beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: His ways are everlasting. BIBLE.

5. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth His handy work. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. ID.

6.
How brief is life! how passing brief!
How brief its joys and cares!
It seems to be in league with time,
And leaves us unawares.

7. The thunder rolls: be hushed the prostrate world,
While cloud to cloud returns the solemn hymn. THOMSON.

REMARK.--The inappropriate use of the monotone,--a fault into which young people naturally fall,--is a very grave and obstinate error. It is always tedious, and often even ridiculous. It should be studiously avoided.

The RISING INFLECTION is an upward turn, or slide of the voice, used in reading or speaking; as,

s?
n/
o/
s/
s/
é/
Are you prepared to recite your l/

The FALLING INFLECTION is a downward turn, or slide of the voice, used in reading or speaking; as,

\d
\ò
\i
\n
What are you \g?

In the falling inflection, the voice should not sink below the _general pitch_; but in the rising inflection, it is raised above it.

The two inflections may be illustrated by the following diagrams:

1.
\ì
\m
y, \p \p
l/ \r \r
t/ \u \ú
n/ \d \d
e/ \e \e
d/ \n \n
ú/ \t \t
r/ \l \l
Did he act p/ or \y? He acted \y.

2.
\ù
\n
y, \w \w
l/ \i \i
g/ \l \l
n/ \l \l
i/ \i \í
l/ \n \n
l/ \g \g
í/ \l \l
Did they go w/ or \y? They went \y.

3.
r,
e/
h/
g/
í/
If the flight of Dryden is h/ Pope continues longer on the

r,
e/
t/
h/
\w g/
\ì í/
\n r/
\g. If the blaze of Dryden's fire is b/ the heat of Pope's is

\c
\ò
\n
\s
\t
\a
\n
more regular and \t.

4. Is honor's lofty soul forever fled'?
Is virtue lost'? Is martial ardor dead'?
Is there no heart where worth and valor dwell'?
No patriot WALLACE'? No undaunted TELL'?
Yes`, Freedom, yes`! thy sons, a noble band,
Around thy banner, firm, exulting stand`.

REMARK.--The same _degree_ of inflection is not, at all times, used, or indicated by the notation. The due degree to be employed, depends on the _nature_ of what is to be expressed. For example; if a person, under great excitement, asks another:

t?
s
e
n
r
a
Are you in e the degree of inflection would be much greater,

t?
s
e
n
r
a
than if he playfully asks: Are you in e The former
inflection may be called _intensive_, the latter, _common_.

RULES FOR THE USE OF INFLECTIONS.

RULE I.

Direct questions, or those which may be answered by _yes_ or _no_, usually take the rising inflection; but their answers, generally, the falling.

EXAMPLES.

1. Will you meet me at the depot'? Yes`; or, I will`.

2. Did you intend to visit Boston'? No`; or, I did not`.

3. Can you explain this difficult sentence'? Yes`; I can.

4. Are they willing to remain at home'? They are`.

5. Is this a time for imbecility and inaction'? By no means`.

6. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets'? I know that thou believest`.

7. Were the tribes of this country, when first discovered, making any progress in arts and civilization'? By no means`.

8. To purchase heaven has gold the power'?
Can gold remove the mortal hour'?
In life, can love be bought with gold'?
Are friendship's pleasures to be sold'?
No`; all that's worth a wish, a thought,
Fair virtue gives unbribed, unbought.

9. What would content you`? Talents'? No`. Enterprise'? No`. Courage'? No`. Reputation'? No`. Virtue'? No`. The man whom you would select, should possess not one, but all of these`.

NOTE I.--When the direct question becomes an appeal, and the reply to it is anticipated, it takes the intense _falling_ inflection.

EXAMPLES.

1. _Is_` he not a bold and eloquent speaker`?

2. _Can_` such inconsistent measures be adopted`?

3. _Did_` you ever hear of such cruel barbarities`?

4. _Is_ this reason`? _Is_` it law`? _Is_ it humanity`?

5. _Was_` not the gentleman's argument conclusive`?

RULE II.

Indirect questions, or those which can not be answered by _yes_ or _no_, usually take the _falling_ inflection, and their answers the same.

1. How far did you travel yesterday`? Forty miles`.

2. Which of you brought this beautiful bouquet`? Julia`.

3. Where do you intend to spend the summer`? At Saratoga`.

4. When will Charles graduate at college`? Next year`.

5. What is one of the most delightful emotions of the heart`? Gratitude`.

NOTE I.--When the indirect question is one asking a repetition of what was not, at first, understood, it takes the _rising_ inflection.

EXAMPLES.

1. When do you expect to return? Next week.
When_ did you say'? Next week.

2. _Where_ did you say William had gone'? To New York.

NOTE II.--Answers to questions, whether direct or indirect, when expressive of indifference, take the _rising_ inflection, or the circumflex.

EXAMPLES.

1. Did you admire his discourse? Not much'.

2. Which way shall we walk? I am not particular'.

3. Can Henry go with us? If he chooses'.

4. What color do you prefer? I have no particular choice'.

NOTE III.--In some instances, direct questions become indirect by a change of the inflection from the rising to the falling.

EXAMPLES.

1. Will you come to-morrow' or next day'? Yes.

2. Will you come to-morrow,' or next day`? I will come to-morrow.

REMARK.--The first question asks if the person addressed will _come_ within the two days, and may be answered by _yes_ or _no_; but the second asks on _which_ of the two days he will come, and it can not be thus answered.

RULE III.

When questions are connected by the conjunction _or_, the first requires the _rising_, and the second, the _falling_ inflection.

EXAMPLES.

1. Does he study for amusement', or improvement`?

2. Was he esteemed for his wealth', or for his wisdom`?

3. Sink' or swim`, live' or die`, survive' or perish`, I give my hand and heart to this vote. WEBSTER.

4. Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath-days', or to do evil`? to save life', or to kill`?

5. Was it an act of moral courage', or cowardice`, for Cato to fall on his sword`?

RULE IV. Antithetic terms or clauses usually take opposite inflections; generally, the former has the _rising_, and the latter the _falling_ inflection.

EXAMPLES.

1. If you seek to make one rich, study not to increase his stores' but to diminish his desires`.

2. They have mouths',--but they speak not`:
Eyes have they',--but they see not`:
They have ears',--but they hear not`:
Noses have they',--but they smell not`:
They have hands',--but they handle not`:
Feet have they',--but they walk not`.
BIBLE.

NOTE I.--When one of the antithetic clauses is a _negative_, and the other an _affirmative_, generally the negative has the _rising_, and the affirmative the _falling_ inflection.

EXAMPLES.

1. I said an elder soldier` not a better'.

2. His acts deserve punishment` rather than commiseration'.

3. This is no time for a tribunal of justice', but for showing mercy`; not for accusation', but for philanthropy`; not for trial', but for pardon`; not for sentence and execution', but for compassion and kindness`.

RULE V. The Pause of Suspension, denoting that the sense is incomplete, usually has the _rising_ inflection.

EXAMPLES.

1. Although the fig tree shall not blossom', neither shall fruit be in the vine'; the labor of the olive shall fail', and the fields shall yield no meat'; the flocks shall be cut off from the fold', and there shall be no herd in the stalls'; yet will I rejoice in the Lord`, I will joy in the God of my salvation`. BIBLE.

NOTE I.--The ordinary direct address, not accompanied with strong emphasis, takes the _rising_ inflection, on the principle of the pause of suspension.

EXAMPLES.

1. Men', brethren', and fathers', hear ye my defense which I make now unto you. BIBLE.

2. Ye living flowers', that skirt the eternal frost'!
Ye wild goats', sporting round the eagle's nest'!
Ye eagles', playmates of the mountain storm'!
Ye lightnings', the dread arrows of the clouds'!
Ye signs' and wonders' of the elements'!
Utter forth GOD`, and fill the hills with praise`!
COLERIDGE.

NOTE II.--In some instances of a pause of suspension, the sense requires an intense _falling_ inflection.

EXAMPLE.

1. The prodigal, if he does not become a _pauper_`, will, at least, have but little to bestow on others.

REMARK.--If the _rising_ inflection is given on _pauper_, the sense would be perverted, and the passage made to mean, that, in order to be able to bestow on others, it is necessary that he should become a pauper.

RULE VI. Expressions of tenderness, as of grief, or kindness, commonly incline the voice to the _rising_ inflection.

EXAMPLES.

1. Mother',--I leave thy dwelling';
Oh! shall it be forever'?
With grief my heart is swelling',
From thee',--from thee',--to sever'.

2. O my son Absalom'! my son', my son Absalom'! Would God I had died for thee', Absalom', my son', my son'! BIBLE.

RULE VII. The Penultimate Pause, or the last but one, of a passage, is usually preceded by the _rising_ inflection.

EXAMPLES.

1. Diligence`, industry`, and proper improvement of time', are material duties of the young`.

2. These through faith subdued kingdoms`, wrought righteous-ness`, obtained promises`, stopped the mouths of lions`, quenched the violence of fire`, escaped the edge of the sword`, out of weakness were made strong`, waxed valiant in fight', turned to flight the armies of the aliens`.

REMARK.--The rising inflection is employed at the penultimate pause in order to promote variety, since the voice generally falls at the end of a sentence.

RULE VIII. Expressions of strong emotion, as of anger or surprise, and also the language of authority and reproach, are expressed with the _falling_ inflection.

EXAMPLES.

1. On YOU`, and on your CHILDREN`, be the peril of the innocent blood which shall be shed this day`.

2. What a piece of workmanship is MAN`! How noble in REASON`! How infinite in FACULTIES`!

3. O FOOLS`! and _slow of heart_ to believe all that the prophets have written concerning me`! BIBLE.

4. HENCE`, HOME`, _you idle creatures_`, GET YOU HOME`, YOU BLOCKS`, YOU STONES`, YOU WORSE THAN USELESS THINGS`!

5. Avaunt`! and quit my sight`! let the earth hide thee`! Thy bones are marrowless`; thou hast no speculation in thine eyes which thou dost glare` with. SHAKSPEARE.

6. Slave, do thy office`! Strike`, as I struck the foe`!
Strike`, as I would have struck the tyrants`!
Strike deep as my curse`! Strike`, and but once`! ID.

RULE IX. An emphatic succession of particulars, and emphatic repetition, require the _falling_ inflection.

EXAMPLES.

1. _Beware_` what earth calls happiness; BEWARE`
All joys but joys that never can expire`.

2. A great mind`, a great heart`, a great orator`, a great career`, have been consigned to history`. BUTLER.

REMARK.--The stress of voice on each successive particular, or repetition, should gradually be increased as the subject advances.

The CIRCUMFLEX is a union of the two inflections on the same word, beginning either with the _falling_ and ending with the _rising_, or with the _rising_ and ending with the _falling_; as, If he goes to ____ I shall go to ____.

The circumflex is mainly employed in the language of irony, and in expressing ideas implying some condition, either expressed or understood.

EXAMPLES.

1. You, a beardless youth, pretend to teach a British general.

2. What! shear a wolf? a prowling wolf?

3. My father's trade? ah, really, that's too bad!
My father's trade? Why, blockhead, are you mad?
My father, sir, did never stoop so low,--
He was a gentleman, I'd have you know.

4. What! confer a crown on the author of the public calamities?

5. But you are very wise men, and deeply learned in the truth; we are weak, contemptible, mean persons.

6. They pretend they come to improve our state, enlarge our thoughts, and free us from error.

7. But youth, it seems, is not my only crime; I have been accused of acting a theatrical part.

8. And this man has become a god and Cassius a wretched creature.