(11) The tendency to make vowels of unaccented syllables too distinct is a prevalent source of mispronunciation. Sometimes they are not made distinct enough.

There are two degrees of such sounds - obscure long vowels and obscure short vowels.

a. In obscure long vowels the quality remains long but is passed over very lightly.

b. In obscure short vowels the specific quality is lost and is reduced to a neutral sound, the slightly uttered short u (up).

The obscure short vowel is heard in unaccented syllables ending in r. Vowels in such position are all of the same quality.

There are other sources of mispronunciation from wrong use of vowel quality, but the foregoing are the chief ones and will serve to awaken interest in pronunciation and in a more careful use of the dictionary.

SECTION II. ARTICULATION

Articulation is the jointing or linking together of the elements of a word. This term is used chiefly with reference to the execution of consonants.

An accurate and distinct articulation is the basis of good delivery. There is a physical advantage in good enunciation because it requires less breath to speak distinctly than to

mumble. In mumbling the sounds slip out carelessly; there is a waste of breath and hence a waste of vitality. There is also a decided advantage to the audience. If the utterance be indistinct, the audience must strain to understand the words. Under such a strain people grow weary and finally become listless and restless. They should be relieved of this weariness by clear enunciation, and be free to devote themselves to the thought of the speaker.

The law of correct articulation is strength of contact and quickness of release of the articulating organs.

I. ORAL POSITION OF CONSONANTS

Consonants when considered as to their location in the organs of articulation are of three classes,―(1) Labials, (2) Linguals, and (3) Palatals.

(1) Labials are those consonants in which the lips are the flexible part in their formation, e.g. b, p, m, v.

(2) Linguals are consonants in which the tongue is the flexible agent in their production, e.g. d, l, n, r.

(3) Palatals are consonants formed by the action of the soft palate and tongue at the back of the mouth, e.g. g, k, ng.

2. COGNATES

Cognates are consonants that have the same position but different sounds; for example, b and p; ƒ and v; d and t. There are three classes,- (1) Labial Cognates, (2) Lingual Cognates, and (3) Palatal Cognates.

In using cognates or the same sounds in conjunction this law should be observed: When a word ends in a sound with which the next word begins, or if the sounds be cognates, one position of the organs will do for both.

Illustrations of the Conjunction of Cognates

1. They lived_near Five Forks.

2. He has said we want_none.

3. They stop mercy and leap_bounds.

4. Live for others.

5. They hovered_near.

Illustrations of the Conjunction of the Same Sounds
1. The lion_never_runs.

2. Mail lines are with them.

3. Arm me for truth's sake.

4. None knew a lovelier boy.

5. Tell him not to do so.

In practice the student should hold the organs in the same position through both sounds. In the words lion never the

n n

two n's may be represented thus: . The stream of tone instead of being broken is continued and swells out on the separate sounds.

The same is true of the cognates d and n in lived near, only that the sound is changed.

It is a serious fault in the articulation of abrupt consonants, such as b, d, g, p, t, to separate the organs too abruptly at the close of the sound. This is noticeable in such expressions as "don't you," in which one, in trying to avoid the slovenly pronunciation "donchoo," goes to the other extreme and adds an extra syllable, as don-ta-you." Avoid both extremes.

3. EXERCISES IN ARTICULATION

(1) Give each of the following drills three times in succession: ip, it, ik; kiff, kiss, kish; which, church, myth; lil, lol, la; rare, rear, car; form, from, far; jeer, Zeb's, wit; yet, you, yawn; la, sca, tha; ke, koo, ka; soo—e -i-o-ah. Adapted from Churchill's Vocal Exercises.

(2) Sound separately and distinctly each element of the following:

Initial Combinations of Consonants

br(ink), black), dr(ench), dw(ell)
fl(ed), fr(ame), gl(are), gr(ain)
cl(ash), cr(own), qu(ick), pr(ank)
pl(an), tw(eak), sp(ot), spr(ing)
spl(ash), sph(ere), st(and), str(ain)
sn(are), sm(ote), sl(ain), sk(y)

sclave), squ(are), thr(ive), tr(im)

Sound each combination in this manner: b-r-ink, brink;

b-l-ack, black, etc.

(3) In a similar manner practice the following:

Terminal Combinations of Consonants
(pro)bdst, (trou)bl’dst, (cu)rbs, (dee)ds
(mi)dst, (brea)dths, (stran)gl'd, (ju)dg'd
(ra)fflst, (wa)fts, (fi)fths, (ma)sk
(ra)sp, (fi)sts, (mu)lch'd, (bu)lbs
(e)lms, (e)lks, (fe)lt, (di)m'dst
(te)mpts, (bu)rgs, (cu)rv's, (ha)rks't

(bi)rths, (cha)sms, (cry)pts, (bea)ts

Sound each combination thus: pro-b-d-s-t; trou-b-l'-d-s-t;

etc.

(4) Practice the following sentences with strict reference to distinctness of enunciation :

This shall slay them both.

I will show you a ship of state sailing in shallow seas.
It is the first step that costs.

Thou wast struck dumb with amazement.

He was incapable of a mean and questionable act.

Thou prob'st my wound instead of healing it.

His deeds speak his praise.

The breadth thereof was ten cubits.

What thou wouldst highly that wouldst thou holily.

Thou wagg'st thy tongue in vain.

If thou fall'st thou fall'st a blessed martyr.
Thou found'st me poor and kept'st me so.
He brought in Smith's Thucydides.
This meteorous vapor is will-o'-the-wisp.
The sounds of horses hoofs were heard.
He was overwhelmed with whirlwinds.
Thou barb'st the dart that wounds thee.
Thou chuckl'dst over thy gain too soon.
The bleak breeze blighted the bright blossoms.
Flesh of freshly dried flying fish.

A world too wide for his shrunk shank.

The Japanese sink six Russian ships.