We shall take up the different kinds of inflection and illustrate them with appropriate exercises. The student should consider the aim and value of each kind of inflection and then proceed to practice orally the exercises, listening intently to his voice to see that it responds.
Kinds of Inflection
Falling Glide in the voice indicates a complete and positive assertion. For example:
“The Prince’s banner wavered, staggered backward, hemmed by foes!”
A command, although punctuated with a question mark, is rendered with a falling glide in the voice. For example:
“Halt! who goes there?” “Speak, what trade art thou?”
Rising Glide in the voice indicates incompleteness and doubt. For example:
“How ‘the fellow by the name of Rowan’ took the letter, sealed it up in an oilskin pouch, strapped it over his heart, in four days landed by night off the coast of Cuba from an open boat, disappeared into the jungle, and in three weeks came out on the other side of the island, having traversed a hostile country on foot, and delivered his letter to Garcia, are things I have no special desire now to tell in detail.”
Circumflex Glide indicates a twist in the voice which reflects a like twist in the mind.