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struction; and the converse fault, namely, that of commencing the explosives nasally, is equally, if not more common. The three nasals are also very often faultily finished explosively, from a momentary occlusion of the nares before the articulative action is finished. We have noticed the peculiar liability of NG to be thus terminated by G. (See page 47). The voice, in forming N, must be pure and unmixed with aspiration. The least contraction of the nostrils, or their partial obstruction from any cause, will create sniffling. If the nostrils are pinched while forming N, the explosive effect of D with a nasal resonance will be produced. This sort of sound is caused by cold in the head,-when the voice enters the nostrils, but meeting with obstructions to its egress, the breath collects in the pharynx, and the removal of the tongue from the palate is attended by a degree of the explosiveness of D. If the nostrils are altogether clogged up, it will be impossible to avoid this ambiguous effect, but a pure formation of voice, and an effort of expansion in the nasal passages, will, in a great measure, obviate the sniffling which so commonly results from this troublesome cause. Many persons habitually form the nasals with much of the character of these cold-obstructed sounds. This peculiarity impresses the utterance very strongly; it is altogether incompatible with effective speaking. It may arise from some organic defect,-from polypi,-from excessive snuff-taking,habit growing out of frequent liability to colds. Except where it originates in structural affections, it may be entirely removed by careful practice of the imperfect elements.

-or from

He

N is almost invariably a source of great difficulty to the Stammerer. will generally have perfected the explosives, and nearly all the other articulations, before he can master this letter, and perhaps L. The impediment on N may be of a fourfold nature,—combining the difficulties which arise from mismanagement of the chest and organs of respiration,-of the glottis and sonorous agents,―of the tongue and articulative organs,—and of the lower jaw. Without further indicating the nature of the difficulties this element may present, we may at once prescribe a means of practice for the acquirement of its true formation, independently of all previously existing faults. Let the Stammerer exercise himself with persevering hopeful energy in the way we recommend, above all, endeavouring to understand the principles on which he is working, and he will not be long in attaining command over all the processes at fault in his impeded utterance of N.

Let him, with a glass before him, open his mouth as widely as he can, and retain it at its greatest opening, while he places the tongue on the palate, as for D. Here let it rest steadily for some time :-it is in the position for either T, D, or N. Let him now produce a continuous sound, without the slightest motion in any visible part of the mouth. This sound-if the tongue has been obstructively placed on the palate must necessarily pass through the nose. While the organs remain in the position assumed, this sound is a nasal vowel ; it is as clearly a vowel as e, o, or any of the recognised oral qualities of vowel sound. The Stammerer will by this exercise at once effectively counteract the disturbing tendencies of the tongue and jaw; and by strengthening and purify

ing the voice, he will gain glottal power; while, by giving the well formed sound as long continuance as possible, with the chest elevated, he will check the heavy pressure on the lungs, and acquire ease, steadiness, and power of respiration.

The voice may also be exercised in the production of short and quickly uttered explosive jets of N-sound-as well as of the continuous stream-but, throughout, keeping the tongue, lips, and teeth perfectly motionless.

These exercises will perfect the articulative position of N. Let the Stammerer, when these have been sufficiently practised, add to them the action which completes the articulation,—by rapidly removing the tongue from all points of upward contact. If the current of voice be continued, the removal of the tongue will admit the breath into the mouth, and some vowel will be produced. Those vowels which are formed with the tongue backwards, present less difficulty with N and the other lingua-palatal articulations, than the vowels which require the approximation of the tongue to the palate,—on account of the greater scope which they afford to the articulative action. Thus no, (g)naw, &c. are much more easily uttered than (k)nee, (k)nit, nay, &c. Let the Stammerer therefore in adding the vowels to N, begin with the least difficult,reiterating each syllable frequently without any break in the continuous flow of glottal sound.

Thus

noo, noo, noo, &c.;
nah, nah, nah, &c.;

no, no, no, &c.;

naw, naw, naw, &c.; nay, nay, nay, &e. ; ne, ne, ne, &c. nunununun, &c.; nanananan, &c. nenenenen, &c.; ninininin, &c.

nonononon, &c.;

At this stage he must carefully watch that no unnecessary action—especially of the jaw-accompany that of the tongue. The teeth should remain as steady as if the jaw were hingeless, till the tongue can perform its office independently, and with satisfactory rapidity and energy. This exercise should be followed up by reading words with N initial; and then by practising the combinations in which N occurs, or any exercises containing the elements-which present a difficulty.

N, like the other liquids, (see page 139) presents several marked varieties of quantity. It is extremely short when followed by a breath articulation, as in paint longer when before a vocal articulation, as in pained—and longest when final or before another liquid, as in pain and painless.

N initial combines only with Y. N unites with no initial articulation but S, as in snow. It occurs, however, before nearly all articulations in separate syllables; as in rainbow, enjoy, endure, unfold, ingratitude, enhance, inquire, enclose, unkennel, inlet, inmost, unknown, unpardoned inroad, insult, intact, invalid, unwise, inure, frenzy, enshrine, panther, meanwhile. N is found also in the following final combinations :—with d as in bend, dzh as in hinge, s as in hence, t as in bent, z as in lens, tsh as in bench, th as in plinth. The nasal articulations are very liable to be exchanged in some combinations, so as organically to correspond to, and fluently combine with, the articulations with which they

stand connected. Thus n before a labial articulation in the same syllable, will be changed to m; and before k or g into ng,-as in Banff, pronounced Bamff, ink, bank, &c. pronounced ingk, bangk, &c. A similar tendency is manifested in the vulgar pronunciation of such words as length, strength, &c., where the ng before the lingua-dental articulation th is changed into n. This, however, is to be avoided because not sanctioned by the best usage.

Combinations of N and L present an articulative difficulty; in overcoming which, considerable lingual power must be acquired. The following arrangements should be practised in rapid iterations. Pronounce each group of syllables with the accent of a word. (See page of accents).

na la la na na la na la na la

na la la na la na na la-with e, i, o, oo.

The other lingual continuous formations may be added. Thus:

[blocks in formation]

Initial. Knee, neap, neither, niece, knees, neat, knead, kneel, near, nip, nibble, nimble, niveous, knit, ninny, niggard, niche, nay, nape, neighbour, name, knave, nasal, nature, nadir, nail, nepotism, nebula, nemorous, nephew, nether, nest, net, knell, neck, negligent, nap, navigate, nascent, nathless, gnash, gnat, narrow, knack, nag, natch, nasty, nard, narcotic, nerve, number, nothing, nuzzle, nudge, nut, none, null, nurse, nurture, gnaw, nausea, nautical, naufrage, naumachy, normal, north, knob, nominate, novice, nostril, nosle, knotty, nodule, nonage, nor, noxious, notch, knowledge, no, noble, gnomon, note, node, nones, knoll, noon, nook, noodle, noose, nigh, knife, knives, nice, knight, nidor, nine, nigrin, nous, noun, noy, noyance.

Ny.-New, newspaper, newt, neuter, neurology, nubile, nucleus, nudity, nugatory, nuisance, numerate, numismatic, nutation, nutriment, nubilous.

Between Vowels.-Venial, arena, penal, verbena, pinnace, minister, finical, dinner, linnet, guinea, feigning, lanated, zany, raining, energy, penny, benison, menace, fennel, venerable, senator, zenith, tenor, denizen, lenity, rennet, kennel, annals, pannel, banish, manacle, flannel, vanity, sanative, janitor, tanner, inanimate, laniate, canister, hanaper, channel, panado, punning, money, funnel, sunny, runnel, cunning, gunner, honey, brawny, fawning,

tawny, dawning, bonnet, monastery, sonnet, astonish, donative, nonage, chronicle, honour, honest, owner, ponent, donor, moonish, sooner, tuner, lunar, lunatic, pining, briny, miner, refiner, shining, china, clownish, crowning, poignant, joinery, coinage.

Before a Breath Articulation.-Plinth, terebinth, anthelminthic, synthesis, Corinthian, tenth, panther, cantharides, canthus, month; expanse, manse, advance, stance, chance, dance, lance, rancid, handsome, pensive, commence, fence, whence, thence, tense, dense, against, hence, prince, mince, evince, wince, since, linseed, rinse, responsive, monstrous, sconce, once, dunce, runcinate; bunting, affront, wont, stunted, frontispiece, vaunt, want, print, mint, flint, wintry, stinted, tint, dint, lint, hint, chintz, penthouse, bent, meant, eventful, went, scent, gentleman, tent, lent, rent, pantry, banter, mantelpiece, phantasm, grant, slant, saunter, sha'nt, chant, jaunt, taunt, daunt, can't, gaunt, haunt, learnt, painting, feint, attainted, mayn't, won't, pint, mounting, fountain, counted, accountant, pointer, jointed, anointed; mansion, expansion, pension, mention, ascension, gentian, tension, dimension, essential, licentious, apprehension, prevention, provincial, conscience, conscious; pinch, bench, tench, wrench, stanchion, branch, staunch, launch, craunch, haunch, paunch, punch, bunch, lunchion, hunch, munch.

Before a Voice Articulation.—Inborn, unbosom, anvil, envious, invious, invoice, convict, unwell, ennui, pansy, stanza, Wednesday, frenzy, kinsman, bronze, dens, fins, cranes, guns, bones, pans, means, lines, tunes, crowns, coins, dingy, fringe, avenger, vengeance, injury, spongy, range, lounge, feigned, gleaned, mined, bind, crowned, coined, owned, surround, tuned, andiron, endless, endive, index, indigo, indolent, indurate, undulate, under, pander, bandy, manducate, jaundice, dandy, landscape, glandular, candent, pendulum, fender, vendible, send, tendon, rhododendron, spindle, brinded, vindicate, window, thinned, rescind, tinder, kindled, hindrance.

Na syllable.-Happen, stiffen, even, heathen, leaven, seven, often, hasten, fasten, listen, patten, mitten, mutton, button, written, cotton, lighten, oaten, madden, bidden, ridden, sodden, denizen, venison, benison, dozen, prison, mizen, risen, cozen, fatten, kitten, bitten, rotten, glutton, frighten, tighten, lighten, heighten, hidden, ridden, trodden, hoiden.

N final. Demesne, intervene, ravine, ween, scene, sheen,

nineteen, terrene, serene; pin, bin, ermine, levin, fin, whin, win, thin, amaranthine, ursine, mountain, murine, akin, begin, chin; pain, bane, fain, vane, ta'en, deigu, ascertain, mundane, arraign, murrain, when, wen, then, ten, den, again; pan, ban, fan, van, than, sedan, began; barn, tarn, darn; fern, cavern, concern, learn, stern, yearn; pun, bun, fun, one, sun, shun, horizon, tun, dun, none, run, spurn, burn, adjourn, turn; auln, pawn, brawn, fawn, sawn, dawn, lawn, born, morn, thorn, adorn, forlorn, corn, horn, upon, wan, shone, John, don, yon, gone; borne, mourn, worn, torn, shorn; own, depone, sown, shown, alone; spoon, boon, moon, swoon, soon June, tune, noon, rackoon; pine, woodbine, repine, mine, nine, divine, wine, thine, sign, resign, shine, tine, dine, kine, chine; town, down, noun, crown, clown, gown; loin, coin, groin.

Sh.

This element is heard when the point of the tongue, from its forward position at S, is drawn inwards, so as slightly to enlarge the aperture through which the breath hisses. The shape, too, of the passage, is altered by the middle of the tongue rising within the arch of the palate. The general appearance of the tongue is more thick and bulky than for S. This cannot be observed during the articulation of the elements, for the teeth are not sufficiently apart, but if the mouth be opened after S and Sh, without moving the tongue from the articulative positions, the difference in the elevation and apparent bulk of the tongue will be evident. The observation in this way of the position of the tongue is of much use in facilitating the correction of faults in articulation. We have said that the point of the tongue is drawn inwards from its position at S-but the kind of sound heard in Sh may be produced with the point of the tongue merely depressed, or even advanced to the lower teeth. The breath is then modified by the approximation of the middle of the tongue to the interior of the front rim of the palatal arch; but this formation is a faulty one, because it does not easily combine with other lingual articulations. The tongue, from its conformation, cannot pass with facility from one to another of its positions, unless it is kept free from contact with the bed of the jaw. Let the student place the tongue in the position for S, and then, while the current of breath flows uninterrupted, let him gradually draw back the tongue-keeping the point at a uniform elevation—and he will modify the hiss into Sh. Let him practise this action till he can pass from S to Sh, thence to S, then back again to Sh, and so on alternately, repeatedly during one continued expiration. The formation of Sh is very generally faulty from an unnecessary accompanying projection of the lips. The action of the tongue is not sufficiently firm

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