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with a short sound of a, as in ale, instead of i, in in. The appropri ate sounds are as mentioned above.

The compound element u, as in use, although obviously formed of a short quantity of e, in eve, and of oo, in ooze, is entitled to a place in the classification of the elements of our language, not merely as being a sound represented by a distinct character, as in the name of the letter u, but as constituting a peculiar diphthongal element.

"SUBTONIC " ELEMENTS.

These elements are so denominated by Dr. Rush " from their inferiority to the tonics,' in all the emphatic and elegant purposes of speech, while they admit of being 'intonated,' or carried concretey,' (continuously,) through the intervals of pitch."

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The first six of the "subtonic" elements, l, m, n, r (hard,) r (soft,) and ng, have an unmixed " vocality throughout the seventh, eighth and ninth, b, d, g, have a "vocality," terminating in a sudden and explosive force of sound: the remaining "subtonics,' v, z, zh, y, w, th, j, have an "aspiration," (whispering sound of the breath,) joined with their vocality.

The fourth of these elements, r, as in rap, differs from the fifth,r, as in far, in having a harder and clearer sound, executed by a forcible but brief vibration of the tip of the tongue, against the first projecting ridge of the interior gum, immediately over the upper teeth; while the latter has a soft murmuring sound, caused by a slight vibration of the whole forepart of the tongue, directed towards the middle part of the roof of the mouth.

The common errors of careless usage, substitute the "soft" for the "hard" r, and omit the “soft "r, entirely; thus "fah," for far. Another class of errors, consists in rolling, or unduly prolong

1 In arranging the "subtonics," words have, in as many cases as practicable, been selected for examples, which contain a repetition of the element under consideration. The design of this slight deviation from Dr. Rush, is to present each element as impressively as possible to the ear.

2 Added to Dr. Rush's arrangement, for the reasons mentioned in subsequent observations on this element.-See last paragraph but one of this page.

ing, the sound of the "hard" r, and substituting the hard, for the "soft" sound.

The greater prolongation of sound, which takes place in the ave rage of singing notes, or in impassioned recitation, renders a slight comparative" roll" of the "hard" r unavoidable, at the beginning of a word. But it is a gross error of taste, to prolong this sound, in the style of foreign accent, as in French and Italian pronunciation, or to substitute the rough sound of the "hard" r, for the delicate murmur of the "soft" r.

The "subtonic" elements numbered 13 and 14,-y, as in ye and w as in woe, are, it may be remarked, not properly separate elements from e, in eve, and oo in ooze, but only extremely short " quan tities" of the same 66 qualities " of vowel sound which are exhibited in these words. They require, however, a closer position of the organs for their execution; and, hence, for the purposes of practical instruction, they may be advantageously studied as distinct elementary sourds.

"ATONIC"

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ELEMENTS.

These elements are thus designated by Dr. Rush, from their want of" tonic" property, "their limited power of variation in pitch." "They are all, properly, aspirations, and have not the sort of sound called vocality.' They are produced by a current of the whispering breath, through certain positions of parts, in the internal and external mouth."

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To some persons the foregoing analysis may seem unnecessarily minute. But exactness in articulation cannot exist without close discrimination and careful analysis. Many of the worst errors in the enunciation of words, are owing to slight oversights about the true sound of a letter. Without strict attention to details, there can, in this particular, be no security for accurate execution. The very common error, for example, of reading or singing the word faith as if it were written "fai-eeth," is merely an act of negligence regarding the "vanish," or final portion of sound, in the diphthong, ai,

1 Wh, which Dr. Rush has recognized as a distinct element, are but apparently such. They differ, in no respect, from the separate elements, w and h, -only that, in the modern orthography of words, they are inverted, as to their order. The ancient orthography of the language, placed them as they stand in orthoëpy,- Hw; thus Hweat, Hwen, &c.

which, although it is unavoidably analyzed by the voice, in the utterance of singing, to a greater extent than in that of reading, should never be dissected, in the unnatural style which has just been mentioned.

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We have omitted, as will have been observed, - that part of Dr. Rush's analysis which presents the "tonic" elements a, as in awe, (identical with a, in all,) a in arm, and a in an, as diphthonga' Correct reading and appropriate singing, alike forbid the "vanish" of these sounds to be rendered apparent to the ear. It is one of the acknowledged improprieties of enunciation, which permits the word awe to terminate in any form approaching, -even in the most distaut degree, the negligent style of "awer."

Let it be admitted that the "vanish," or final portion of the sund, in such elements, is but an unavoidable, accidental" vocule," inseparably attached to the "radical" or initial sound, when we utter it by itself; and it becomes, from its very nature, a thing which judgment and taste would alike require to be sunk out of notice to the ear, in the enunciation of syllables, or words.

The preceding arrangement of the elementary sounds of the anguage, as presented by Dr. Rush, exhibits them in a manner very clear and distinct, as results of organic action, - or as sounds formed by the voice. But to ascertain their character, with perfect accuracy of knowledge, for the purposes of vocal practice and culture, it becomes important to examine them closely, in connection with the exact position and movement of the organs, during the process of

execution.

Classified, in this light, the audible elements of our language may be conveniently designated by the terms in use previous to Dr. Rush's arrangement. We will commence with the

VOWELS AND DIPHTHONGS.

These elements, generally, are formed by the act of "expiration" modified into vocality by the larynx, and the adjoining organs, aided by the tongue, the palate, the lips, &c., which give definite and distinctive character to the sounds of the voice, as rudiments of speech.

The enunciation of vowels and diphthongs, demands attention -rincipally to the free and expansive opening of the mouth, together with a strict attention to the action of the particular organ, or organs, by which each element receives its peculiar character as a definite sound. Much attention, in the execution of these sounds, is required to the action of the organs at the moment of commencing and at that of closing each sound. The sound of the voice in the utterance of the first audible portion of articulate sounds, Dr. Rush has termed the radical," (initial,) movement: the sound uttered in the concluding portion of an articulation he has termed the "vanishing," (final,) movement. Each of these points of articulate sound, demands the closest discrimination, as regards both the voice, and the motion or action of the organs. If the latter is not exact, the former will be

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more or less incorrect or vague, confused, and indefinite. The "radical" movement always demands clearness, force, precision, and spirit, in the execution: the "vanish" requires nice and delicate finish, perfect exactness, but no undue marking or prominence. It should resemble, in its effect on the ear, that of a light but definite touch on the piano.

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"In just articulation, the words are not to be hurried over, nor precipitated, syllable over syllable; nor, as it were, melted together into a mass of confusion: they should be neither abridged, nor proonged, nor swallowed, nor forced, and, if I may so express myself, shot from the mouth: they should not be trailed nor drawled, nor let slip out carelessly, so as to drop unfinished. They are to be delivered out from the lips, as beautiful coins newly issued from the mint, deeply and accurately impressed, perfectly finished, neatly struck by the proper organs, distinct, sharp, in due succession, and of due weight.""

The precision and force of the "radical" portion of a sound, are gained by deep inspiration, and a preliminary rallying, or gathering of impulse on the organs, -somewhat as we brace the muscles before the exercise of jumping or diving, and then causing an instantane-ous explosion of the accumulated and compacted breath, in the form of clear, cutting sound. In practising the following elements, this explosive, radical movement should be carried up from the slightest style of a suppressed cough to the most violent exertion, or the loudest style of coughing The preliminary practice of a repeated actual cough is the best preparatory discipline for the species of organic action which constitutes the “radical” portion of any articu late sound.

VOCAL AND DIPHTHONGAL ELEMENTS,

corresponding to the "tonics" of Dr. Rush, and executed principally by the action of the larynx, with the mouth more or less open.

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CONSONANTAL ELEMENTS,

corresponding to the "subtonic" and "atonic" sounds in the cassi fication of Dr. Rush.

I. Labial Sounds.

These are,

in consonance with their designation,

formed by

the action of the lips. They may be enumerated as follows:

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The "subtonic," b, is formed by a firm compression of the lips, which arrests the escape of the breath, and causes, by this occlusion of the mouth, a murmuring resonance of the voice in the cavity of the chest, and in the interior of the head and mouth. The pressure of the lips, in the formation of this sound, is increased to a maximum, or chief point, at which the lips are suddenly opened, and a slight explosive effect produced, which consummates the character of the sound, and causes a "vocule," or slight and obscure vowe、 sound, resembling e, in err, to follow the effort of the organs.

The "atonic," p, is produced by an intense compression of the lips, which prevents the possibility of any audible sound, till the forcible "aspirated," or whispering, explosion, following the maximum of the pressure, is heard, accompanied by the same "vocule" which attends the sound of b, but, in p, is only an aspiration, or whisper.

The precision of these two elements of speech, is dependent, wholly, on the full force of the labial compression, and the intensity of the following explosion, by which they are produced. In impassioned utterance, the force of the organic action, in the articulation of these sounds, must be carried to the utmost degree, and executed with instantaneous precision, and the most vivid effect.

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The "subtonic," m, is articulated by a very gentle compression of the lips, attended by a murmur in the head and chest, resembling somewhat, that which forms the character of the "subtonic" b, but differing from it in the sound being accompanied by a free, steady, equable "expiration' through the nostrils. In extremely empassioned utterance, this gentle element is made to assume the character of intensity, by increasing the force of the labial compression to a maximum, and exploding the sound in a manner similar to that of 7. This element is not followed, as b or p, by a “vocule;" its own distinctive character of sound, throughout, being very nearly of the "tonic," or purely vocal, nature.

The "subtonic" element, w, as in woe, is formed by rounding the .ips, as in articulating oo, in ooze, but slightly compressing them, and holding them closer to the teeth: a brief vocal murmur is formed by

1 This and the following element, being formed by means both of the lower p and the upper teeth, are, on this account, sometimes called "labio dentals"

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