The real difficulty in phonics lies in the fact that the pronunciation of the English language abounds in inconsistencies. Its letters have no fixed values and represent different sounds in different words.
While there are but twenty-six letters in the English alphabet there are forty-four elementary sounds in the English language.
Thus far but one sound for each consonant has been taught and emphasized. Incidentally the fact that some of the letters have more than one sound has been discovered, as c in city, g in gentle,—but now definite teaching is given concerning them. The new sound is taught with its diacritical mark and the reason given, e.g. "c before e, i, or y is soft."
When a reason or rule for marking is given, lists of words illustrating the rule should be sounded and pronounced. The teacher marks the word as the reason is given. Lists of words may be marked by the pupils as a dictation exercise.
The above use of diacritical marks does not apply to the pernicious practice of marking words to aid in pronunciation, but to show the purpose of marks, which is merely to indicate the sound.
Teach that the sound of the letter depends upon its position in the word, and not upon the diacritical marks.
REASONS FOR SOUNDS
1. When there is one vowel in the word and it is at the last, it is long.
| me | he | my | sky | |||
| be | the | by | cry | |||
| we | she | fly | try |
2. One vowel in the word, not at the last, is short; as, mat, nest, pond.