Sentences.—These phrases, or groups of words somewhat connected in idea, make sentences; and a sentence gives complete sense. As syllables make words, and in words you have an accented syllable; as words make phrases, and in phrases you have an emphatic word: so, in sentences composed of phrases, you have an important phrase; and this important phrase must be impressed upon the mind of the listener more strongly than any other. This is done by slightly added force and a trifle higher pitch; and, as you will readily see, the emphatic word of the important phrase is the emphatic word of the whole sentence. Thus you have the structure of sentences; and, if you proportion your force well, you will not fail to give the meaning correctly. In the following sentence, the phrases are separated by commas; the emphatic words are in SMALL CAPITALS; the secondarily emphatic words are in Italics. First understand what the sentence means, then speak it as you would in earnest conversation, and you will be likely to give it correctly.
"We ALL of us, in a great measure, create our own HAPPINESS, which is not half so much dependent upon SCENES and CIRCUMSTANCES as most people are apt to IMAGINE."
In this sentence the important phrase is, "create our own happiness;" and the other phrases must be and are, by a good reader, subordinated to this one. This subordination of phrases to the principal one is made by lowering the pitch slightly, and lessening the force slightly on the subordinate phrases. It is naturally done if you'll talk the sentence understandingly.
In the following sentences,—
1st, Sound each element of a word separately.
2d, Pronounce each word separately, with proper accent, being careful to give each element correctly.
3d, Read in phrases, remembering that each phrase should be pronounced as a long word, without pause, and with emphasis.
4th, Read in sentences, subordinating all other phrases to the principal phrase.
1. When sorrows come, they come not single spies,
But in battalions.
2. There's such divinity doth hedge a king,
That treason can but keep to what it would,
Act little of his will.