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.—1A | as in | Ape. |
| 2.—2A | " | Arm. |
| 3.—3A | " | All. |
| 4.—4A | " | At. |
| 5.—5A | " | Care. |
| 6.—6A | " | Ask. |
| 7.—1E | " | Eve. |
| 8.—2E | " | End. |
| 9.—1I | " | Ice. |
| 10.—2I | " | It. |
| 11.—1O | " | Old. |
| 12.—2O | " | Do. |
| 13.—3O | " | Ox. |
| 14.—1U | " | Use. |
| 15.—2U | " | Up. |
| 16.—3U | " | Pull. |
| 17.—OI | " | Oil. |
| 18.—OU | " | Out. |
| CONSONANT SOUNDS. | ||
| SUB-TONICS. | ||
| | ||
| 19.—B | as in | Bat. |
| 20.—D | " | Dun. |
| 21.—G | " | Gun. |
| 22.—J | " | Jet. |
| 23.—L | " | Let. |
| 24.—M | " | Man. |
| 25.—N | " | Not. |
| 26.—R | " | Run. |
| 27.—V | " | Vent. |
| 28.—W | " | Went. |
| 29.—Y | " | Yes. |
| 30.—1Z | " | Zeal. |
| 31.—2Z | " | Azure. |
| 32.—NG | " | Sing. |
| 33.—TH | " | Thy. |
| A-TONICS. | ||
| | ||
| 34.—F | as in | Fit. |
| 35.—H | " | Hat. |
| 36.—K | " | Kid. |
| 36.—P | " | Pit. |
| 38.—S | " | Sin. |
| 39.—T | " | Top. |
| 40.—CH | " | Chat. |
| 41.—SH | " | Shun. |
| 42.—TH | " | Thin. |
| 43.—WH | " | When. |
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.