The following syllables should be practised in the same modes as the elements in the preceding exercises. Both or all of the component sounds, should, in each case, receive distinct attention.

Bl, cl, fl, gl, pl, spl;

Br, cr, fr, gr, pr, spr, tr, str, shr ;

Sm, sn, sp, st.

Final Syllables.

ld, lf, lk, lm, lp, Ise, ls, (lz,) It, lve; m'd, nd, nce, ns, (nz,) nk, (ngk,) nt ;

rb, rd, rk, rm, rn, rse, rs, (rz,) rt, rve ; rb'd, rk'd, rm'd, rn'd, rs'd, rv'd;

sm, (zm,) s'n, (zn,.) sp, st;

ks, ct, k'd, (kt,) f'd, (ft,) p'd (pt ;)

d'n, k'n, p'n, v'n;

ble, (bl,) fle, (f,) gle, (gl,) ple, (pl,) dle, (dl,) tle, (tl,) rl;

lst, nst, rst, dst, rdst, rmdst, rndst ;

bl'd, pl'd, rl'd;

ngs, ngst, ng’d;

bles, (blz,) cles, (clz,) fles, (flz,) gles, (glz ;)

sms, (zmz,) s'ns, (znz,) sps, sts;

stles, (slz,) stens, (snz.)

WORDS,

to be practised in the same style as the preceding exercises on syllables, - each component element kept perfectly clear and distinct.

One error, often made in the following class of words, is to pronounce them nearly as if written oall, &c. Sometimes, we hear the coarse error of dividing the sound of a, in such words, into two parts thus O-ull, fo-ŭll, &c. To a cultivated ear, this sound is peculiarly displeasing, as associated with low and slovenly habit.

The two current errors in this class of sounds, are, 1st, as in the local usage of New England,

flattening it down to to a, in an ; — 2d, as in the custom of the Middle States, making it as broad as a in all. The former style causes the pronunciation of " fărm," "părt,” “father:" the latter, that of "fawrm," "pawrt,' "fawther."

3. A, as in A-n.

pess,

Common errors: 1, a flattened down to e, in end, nearly; thus, "Dence," " dle States; -2d, a made "Dânce," (as if darnce,) " pâss," the customary fault of

the local usage of the Midas broad as a, in arm; thus,

New England.

There is seldom any error made in the enunciation of

such words as the following, except the slight one arising from not distinguishing between the longer sound of ee before a subtonic," as in feel, and the shorter, before an atonic," as in feet.

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The explosive force of the organic action, in executing an atonic," compresses the preceding vowel: the gentle and gradual sliding of the ee into a subtonic," allows it a longer duration.

Theme Feel Heed

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5. 00, as in Oo-ze; 00, as in L-00-k.

The sound of this element, needs attention to the same distinction as in the case of ee.

it is prolonged, - before an 66 difference is exemplified, for latter, in took.

Before a "tonic element, atonic," it is shortened. The the former, in tool, — for the

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which have the oo short, though before a subtonic."

6. E, as in E-rr.

The just, not overdone, distinction between urn and earn, is the object to be kept in view, in practising on the following words. This class of sounds is so liable to mispronunciation, that it needs close and repeated attention. See remarks on the "tonic " element, e in err, in the discussion of the elementary sounds.

The common error in the following class of words, is

* The same element with e in err, though differently spelled.

that of allowing the vowel to approach the sound of a in ale; thus "taill" for tell.

The common error of careless articulation, in this element, makes it approach the a of ale; thus, "sainn," for sin. An opposite error, in foreign style, or in bad taste gives "seenn," for sin; ceetee," for city, &c.

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Sometimes carelessly enunciated as a in an, prolonged; thus, "der," for air; sometimes too fastidiously flattened, and reduced to a in ale; thus "der" for air.

The error in enunciating this element, is that of forming the sound in a coarse guttural style, which makes it approach the sound of o in on. This fault is prevalent in the usage of the Middle States.

Three errors are extensively prevalent in the mode of enunciating this element: - 1st, a local error of New England, which gives a double sound for a single one,

commencing with o in old, and ending with u in up, or a in an, thus "nour,” or nōăr,” for nor: 2d, a local error of the Middle States, which makes the sound too broad, and resembling the a in arm; thus "nâr," for nor: 3d, a long and drawling sound, which has a coarse and slovenly character; thus cawrd, for cord.

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O, as in O-n.

A prevalent local error of Massachusetts, in the following class of sounds, exists in the words, loss, lost, soft, &c. which are pronounced nearly with o, as in 'old; thus "loass," " loast," 'soaft," &c. and sometimes with a double, instead of a single sound; thus "loăst," &c., for lost. The local error of usage, in the state of Connecticut, verges to the opposite extreme, in such words, and gives, for o, a sound too nearly like that of a in an; thus “lãss," &c., for loss.

The common error in the enunciation of this element, is that of making its "vanish" too conspicuous; thus “aeel” for ale. An opposite error is not uncommon, - that of omitting the delicate "vanishing" sound entirely, which makes the style of enunciation coarse and negligent.

The two errors to be avoided in enunciating this ele

*The r of these words is soft, but never silent, as in the style of faulty usage.

+ Commonly mispronounced "gawd," "goad," "gõud," or "gad."