. An
Accent
is marked thus (á), to shew where the emphasis must be placed, as
negléct
; or to shew that the consonant following must be pronounced double, as
hómage
. To these may be added the long ( ¯) and short ( ˘) marks, which denote the quantity of syllables, as wātĕr.
RULES FOR READING.
When you have gained a perfect knowledge of the sounds of the letters, never guess at a word on sight, lest you get a habit of reading falsely. Pronounce every word distinctly. Let the tone of your voice be the same in reading as in speaking. Never read in a hurry, lest you learn to stammer. Read no louder than to be heard by those about you. Observe to make your pauses regular, and make not any where the sense will admit of none. Suit your voice to the subject. Be attentive to those who read well, and remember to imitate their pronunciation. Read often before good judges, and thank them for correcting you. Consider well the place of emphasis, and pronounce it accordingly: For the stress of voice is the same with regard to sentences as in words. The emphasis or force of voice is for the most part laid upon the accented syllable; but if there is a particular opposition between two words in a sentence, one whereof differs from the other in parts, the accent must be removed from its place: for instance,
The sun shines upon the just and upon the unjust