[38] Dr. Sheridan has coined a word for these combinations; he calls them digraphs, that is, double written.
[39] Vocal and aspirate.
[40] On the stage, it is sometimes pronounced with i long, either for the sake of rhime, or in order to be heard. Mr. Sheridan marks it both ways; yet in common discourse he pronounces it with i short, as do the nation in general.
[41] The most significant words, and consequently the most important, are nouns and verbs; then follow adjectives, pronouns, auxiliary verbs and participles.—Particles are the least important.
[42] I consider these terminations as single syllables.
[43] Such is the tendency of people to uniformity, that the commonalty, for the most part, form the word regularly, and pronounce it commonality. Analogy requires that both these words should end in ity; but custom has established them as exceptions.
[44] From this remark we must except some derivatives from the Greek; as geography, philology, antithesis, hypothesis, &c. which have but one accent. Etymology requires these words to be accented on the first and third syllables; but the genius of the language, or the analogy of termination has prevailed over etymological reasons. Etymology however resumes her rights in the derivatives, geographical, philological, &c. where each radical syllable is distinguished by an accent.
[45] To prove the utility of accent in marking the signification of words, it is only necessary to advert to the two words omission and commission. These words have the accent on the second syllable; but when we use them by way of contrast, we lay a strong accent on the first syllable of each, by which the opposition of sense is distinguished. "Sins of o'mission and com'mission." Thus when we use the word regain, we often lay an accent on re almost equal to that on gain; because the sense of the word depends much, or rather wholly, on the particle.
[46] In the following passage, alliteration or the similarity of the weak syllables, has a very bad effect. "We tread, as within an enchanted circle, where nothing appears as it truly is."——Blair Serm. 9.
A difficulty of pronunciation is obvious in the following sentence, "This caution while it admirably protects the public liberty, can never bear hard upon individuals." Change the accent from the first to the second syllable of admirably, and the difficulty vanishes.