J.

46. Jis always pronounced like soft g, except in the word hallelujah, in which it has the sound of initial y.*

K.

47. K has the hard sound of c, and is used before e and i, where, according to English analogy, c would be soft, as in kept, king, skirt. Before n in the same syllabie, k is always silent, as in knee, know.

L.

48. L has the same liquid sound as in other languages. It is silent in the following words:

But though is mute in psalm and alms, it should be pronounced in psalmist, psalmody, and almoner, because the m is detached from it, and in a different syllable. Le at the end of words, is pronounced as originally written, el.

M.

See note, page iii.

49. M has one uniform sound, as in the examples given in the preceding Table. It is never silent, except in accomptant and comptroller, which are now written accountant and controller.

N.

50. N has one uniform sound, as in the examples given in the preceding Table.

It is mute after m in the same syllable, as column, condemn, hymn, limn. If the n, however, is detached from the m, and carried to the next syllable, it is pronounced, as in condem'nation, solem'nize. But as participles should have the same sound as their verbs, with the addition of the termination ing or ed, it is contrary to analogy to say hym-ning, hym-ned, condem-ning, condem-ned, &c.

P.

51. P has one uniform sound, as in the examples in the preceding Table. Compare the sound of b, with which it is closely allied.

P is mute before s or t in the beginning of words, as in psalm, pseudo, ptisan, Ptolemy. It is also mute between m and t in the middle or end of words, as in empty,† sumptuous, tempt, exempt. It is also silent iu receipt and corps (core.)

PH.

52. Ph has the sound of f, and is found only in words derived from the Greek, as in Philip, philosopher, and phantom. In nephew and Stephen, it has the sound of v; in diphthong, triphthong, and naphtha, the p only is heard; while in apophthegm, phthisis, and phthisical, both letters are silent, (pronounced ap'-o-them, ti'-cis, tiz-zi-cal.) In sapphire, the first P is dropped in the pronunciation.

Q.

53. Q has the power of k, and is always, as in other languages, followed by u, pronounced like w, as in quake, quest, quill, quote, (pronounced kwake, kwest, &c.) But in a few words derived from the French, the u after q is silent, as in coquet, etiquette, harlequin, masquerade, quadrille, and quatercousin. Also, in liquor, and in conquer and its compounds, qu has the sound of k.

R.

54. "R (says Dr. Johnson) has the same rough, snarling sound, as in other tongues." Hence it has been called the canine, or "dogs' letter." Its sound is exemplified in the preceding Table.

Re in a final unaccented syllable, is pronounced like weak or unaccented ĕr,‡ as in the following words.

* In this word f is really y, for it represents i, as in Troja for Troia. Compare fot and iota. Empty. This is rather a colloquial pronunciation of these words: on all grave or solemn occasions It would be better to give the p its full sound.

In all languages the letter r is subject to metathesis, or transposition; and hence, in the unaccented See termination re, it has changed places with e. It is, however, still pronounced as if it were after the e. note, page iii.

$.

55. S has a hissing sound, as in the examples given in the preceding Table. Hence it has been called "the hissing letter."

S single at the end of a word, has a grosser sound like that of z, as in has and was, except in gas, this, thus, us, and the termination ous, as in pious. And in all words ending in sion, preceded by a vowel, as in occasion, cohesion, incision, explosion, and confusion, has the sound of ; but if a consonant precede sion, s is pronounced like sh, as in expansion, extension, &c. It has also the sound of z in all words ending in ier, as crosier and hosier; also in the words measure, pleasure, and treasure. It is mute in aisle, isle, island, demesne, puisne, and viscount. In sure and sugar it has the sound of sh.

T.

56. T is allied to d in sound, and has in several words been substituted for it.* Compare their sounds in the examples given in the preceding Table.

T has the sound of sh in all terminations in tion, as in nation and notion, except when s or a precedes, as in bastion, question, mixtion, &c. The same rule applies to terminations in tial, as martial and nuptial, except when s precedes, as in bestial and celestial.

TH.

57. The combination th has two sounds, the one soft or flat, as in thus; and the other hard or sharp, as in think. In some words, as in Thomas, thyme, and asthma, it is pronounced like simple t.

V.

58. Vis allied to fin sound. Compare their sounds as given in the examples in the preceding Table. Vis never silent, except in the colloquial pronunciation of twelvemonth.

W.

59. See this letter under the VOWELS, page v.

In some words w is silent, as in answer. It is always silent before r, as in wrong, wrap, wrist, &c.

X.

60. X begins no English word. It is compounded of ks, and has the same sound, as in tax, fox, sex, (which are pronounced as if written taks, foks, seks.) At the beginning of a word it has the sound of z, as in Xenophon.

Y.

61. See this letter under the VOWELS, page vi.

Z.

62. This letter begins no word originally English. Dr. Johnson says that it has the sound, as its name izzard or s hard expresses, of an s uttered with closer compression of the palate by the tongue, as freeze, poze; but Walker affirms, that if this be the meaning of izzard, it is a great misnomer, for the z is not the hard but the soft s. It is the flat s, and bears the same relation to it as b does to p, d to t, hard g to j, and v to f. It is now called by its French name zed.

Z, like s, goes into an aspiration (zh) before a diphthong or diphthongal vowel after the accent, as in glazier, azure, &c.

*As in many of the irregular verbs, and other contracted words.

ORTHOEPY,

OR THE

CORRECT PRONUNCIATION OF WORDS.

63. The difficulties of PRONUNCIATION arise from the nature of language; the imperfections of alphabets;* and the ignorance, carelessness, or affectation of the generality of speakers.

These difficulties are so numerous, that it would be impossible to notice them all, even in the most cursory manner, in the space which we have prescribed to ourselves.

We shall, however, give a few general principles which will be found to embrace almost all that is useful in practice.

64. The ANALOGIES of the language, the AUTHORITY of lexicographers, and above all, the CUSTOM of the most correct and elegant speakers, are the guides to which we must refer in all cases of difficulty. Nor can these difficulties, in every case, be resolved by such references; for we shall often find analogy opposed to analogy, authority to authority, and custom divided, even among the most elegant speakers. The following passage from "Boswell's Life of Johnson" will serve as an illustration:

"BOSWELL.-It may be of use, Sir, to have a dictionary to ascertain the pronunciation.' "JOHNSON.-Why, Sir, my dictionary shows you the accents of words, if you can but remember them."

"BOSWELL. But, Sir, we want marks to ascertain the pronunciation of the vowels. Sheridan, I believe, has finished such a work.'

"JOHNSON.-Why, Sir, consider how much easier it is to learn a language by the ear, than by any marks. Sheridan's dictionary may do very well; but you cannot always carry it about with you: and when you want the word, you have not the dictionary. It is like a man who has a sword that will not draw. It is an admirable sword to be sure: but while your enemy is cutting your throat, you are unable to use it. Besides, Sir, what entitles Sheridan to fix the pronunciation of English? He has, in the first place, the disadvantage of being an Irishman; and if he says he will fix it after the example of the best company, why, they differ among themselves. I remember an instance: when I published the plan

* A perfect alphabet would imply that the different sounds of the human voice had been carefully analyzed, and accurately ascertained; and that to each of these sounds, so ascertained, a sign or character was attached which should represent that sound and no other. But this is not the case in our, nor indeed in any alphabet. In some cases, we have distinct sounds without proper or peculiar signs to represent them, and in others, we have two or more different signs or characters for the same sound. Our alphabet is, therefore, both defective and redundant. The very first letter of the alphabet, for instance, represents, without alteration or external change, four different and distinct sounds; and with regard to all the other vowels, and several of the consonants, similar observations might be made. Hence the difficulties and inconsistencies in PRONUNCIATION and SPELLING.

† Sheridan's Dictionary was acknowledged, however, even by Walker, "to be generally superior to every thing that preceded it, and his method of conveying the sound of words by spelling them as they are pronounced, highly rational and useful." And Webster, the American lexicographer, thus speaks of his work: "His analysis of the English vowels is very critical, and in this respect, there has been little improvement by later writers, though I think none of them are perfectly correct. But in the application of his principles, he failed of his object. In general, however, it may be asserted that his notation does not warrant a tenth part as many deviations from the present respectable usage in England as Walker's."

for my dictionary, Lord Chesterfield told me the word great should be pronounced so as to rhyme to state; and Sir William Yonge sent me word that it should be pronounced so as to rhyme to seat, and that none but an Irishman would pronounce it grait. Now, here were two men of the highest rank, the one the best speaker in the House of Lords, and the other the best speaker in the House of Commons, differing entirely.'"*

In this case, the pronunciation of Lord Chesterfield prevailed, † though opposed to analogy, because he was considered the most polite speaker of his day; and in all similar cases, the analogies of the language, and the opinions of lexicographers must give way to what is considered the usage of the best and most polite speakers.

65. In cases in which custom or authority is divided, we should give the preference to the pronunciation which is most in accordance with analogy. The word Rome for instance, should be pronounced Rome rather than Room; and this is beginning to be the case, though the latter pronunciation was once thought "irrevocably fixed in the language."‡

66. The three great and prevailing errors in pronunciation are, VULGARITY, PEDANTRY, and AFFECTATION. Against each of these faults we should be constantly on our guard; but most of all against AFFECTATION; for it is by far the most odious.

67. The following excellent observations from Dr. Johnson deserve particular attention.

"For PRONUNCIATION, the best general rule is to consider those of the most elegant speakers who deviate least from the written words. Of English, as of all living tongues, there is a double pronunciation, one cursory and colloquial, the other regular and solemn. The cursory pronunciation is always vague and uncertain, being made different in different mouths by negligence, unskilfulness, and affectation. The solemn pronunciation, though by no means immutable and permanent, is always less remote from the orthography, and less liable to capricious innovation. They [lexicographers] have, however, generally formed their tables according to the cursory speech of those with whom they happen to converse; and, concluding that the whole nation combines to vitiate language in one manner, have often established the jargon of the lower people as the model of speech."

Walker, though he had this caution before his eyes, has not always profited by it; for, in numerous instances, he has given the colloquial, and even vulgar pronunciation as "the model of speech.' For instance, he gives aprun as the pronunciation of Apron; iurn of Iron, and a-pos-sl of Apostle. He also, in large classes of words, favors affected pronunciation; as in the word ed-ju-ca-shun, which he calls "an elegant

And on the same subject, the great Doctor observes of himself—" Sir, when people watch me narrowly, and I do not watch myself, they will find mo out to be of a particular county. In the same manner, Dunning may be found out to be a Devonshire man. most Scotchmen may be found out."

So

Through the same influence the i in the word oblige lost its foreign or French sound. For till the publication of his "Letters," in which this pronunciation is proscribed, oblige was usually pronounced obleege; as by Pope in the following well-known lines:

"Dreading ev'n fools, by flatterers besieged,

And so obliging that he ne'er obi ged" (oblceged.)

See Walker on this word. The pun which he quotes from Shakspeare, as a proof of the pronunciation of the word Rome in his time

"Now it is Rome indeed, and room enough,
Since its wide walls encompass but one man"—

"Rome

may be answered by another from the same author in favor of the other pronunciation. In the first part of Henry VI. A. 3, S. 1, the Bishop of Winchester exclaims, shall remedy this;" to which Warwick retorts "Roam thither then." In Pope, too, authority for both pronunciations may be found, as in the following couplets:

"From the same foes at last both felt their doom;
And the same age saw learning fall and Rome."

"Thus when we view some well-proportioned dome,
The world's just wonder, and even thine O Rome."

If a rule such as is suggested above were followed, these, and all similar anomalies, would soon disappear.

pronunciation of Education."* The following are a few of the numerous examples that occur in his Dictionary. (His pronunciation is given after each word.)

Nor is Walker consistent in his pronunciation of such words. In the following words, for example, the tu is assigned its plain or unaffected sound, and not tshu, as in others.

And in the following words, the learner is left to take his choice between what we think should be called the affected and unaffected pronunciations:

He also calls ke-ard, ke-art, ghe-ard, and re-ghe-ard, polite pronunciations of the words card, cart, guard, and regard.