The lips. These important aids to articulation, not only give distinctness to utterance, but fullness of effect to the sounds of the voice. Imperfectly used, they produce an obscure mumbling, instead of definite enunciation; and, too slightly parted, they confine the voice within the mouth and throat, instead of giving it free egress and emissive force. In vigorous speech, rightly executed, the lips are slightly rounded, and even partially, though not boldly, projected.

They thus become most effective aids to the definite projection and conveyance of vocal sound; they emit the voice well moulded, and, as it were, exactly aimed at the ear.

The following cuts will give some idea of the variety of opening, and form the teeth, lips, and mouth assume in uttering the long and short vowels. All do not show the teeth quite as much as is indicated in the cut, but all should open them as much :

We may now enter upon the study and practice of the elements of the English language, for the purpose of acquiring

A GOOD ARTICULATION.

A good articulation consists in giving every letter in a syllable its due proportion of sound, according to the standard of pronunciation, and in making such a distinction between the syllables of which words are composed, that the ear shall without difficulty acknowledge their number, and perceive at once to which syllable each letter belongs.

Where these particulars are not observed, the articulation is defective. A good articulation may be acquired by carefully repeating aloud, and in a whisper, the elements of the language. These elements are divided into three classes, Vocals, Sub- Vocals, and Aspirates. Vocals are pure voice, sub-vocals are part voice, aspirates pure breath.

The vowels, or vocal sounds, are arranged in the following table for individual and class practice:

A long, as in ale, fate.
A short, as in at, hat.
A Italian, as in arm, far.
A broad, as in all, fall.
E long, as in eve, mete.
E short, as in end, bend.
I long, as in ice, child.
I short, as in pin, whip.

O long, as in old, dome.
O short, as in ox, not.
O long, as in move, prove.
U long, as in mute, cube:
U short, as in up, tub.
U middle, as in pull, push.
Oi, as in oil, choice, noise.
Ou, as in out, sound.

Speak the word distinctly and then the element, exploding it with variety of force and on different notes of the scale. For flexibility of voice and good articulation, there is no better exercise than the utterance of the vowel elements with the different inflections, first rising, then falling, then the circumflexes. The practice of exploding the vocal elements with a Consonant prefixed, first a Sub-Vocal Consonant, then an Aspirate, is of great value in acquiring control of the mouth, teeth, and lips.

Sub-Vocals or Vocal Consonants should be treated, in the practice, as the Vocals in the preceding table. They are formed by the vibration of the Vocal chords, modified by the organs of speech:

- at d

un,

Prolong the Sub-Vocal Consonants as follows: b and then pronounce the Sub-Vocal without uttering the word. Then give the Sub-Vocals, with the inflections:

b' b d' d g' g j'j l' etc.

The Aspirate Consonants should be repeated according to the table. Be careful not to waste breath, and utter them with no more power than they require in words.

F, as in fit, fame, fife.

H, as in hat, hope, hay.

K, as in kid, car.

P, as in pit, pin, pupil.
S, as in suit, dose.

T, as in top, time, tune.
Ch, as in chat, church.
Sh, as in shun, shade, gash.
Th, as in thin, thank, thick.
Wh, as in when, whit.

The Elements, we repeat, afford a better exercise in Articulation than words connected to form sense. The drill on the Elements should form a daily exercise in all our primary schools. Change the pitch and force often, in reciting them. The student will be well repaid for his trouble, if he would study Webster's and Worcester's Dictionaries, especially the introduction in regard to the Elements of the English language.

If we give the Elements properly, we shall have no trouble with their construction into words and sentences.

We give below, the Elements, classified according to the action of the organs of speech:

ORAL AND LARYNGEAL SOUNDS, (so called because they are formed by the mouth and larynx.)

1. A-ll; 2. A-rm; 3. A-n; 4. E-ve; 5. Oo-ze, L-00-k; 6. E-rr; 7. E-nd; 8. I-n; 9. Ai-r; 10. U-p; 11. 0-r; 12. 0-n; 13. A-le; 14. I-ce; 15. O-ld; 16. Ou-r; 17. Oi-1; 18. U-se (verb, long ;) U-se (noun, short.)

LABIAL, OR LIP SOUNDS- formed by the lips.

1. B-a-be; 2. P-i-pe; 3. M-a-im; 4. W-oe; 5. V-al-ve; ́ 6. F-i-fe.

PALATIC, OR PALATE SOUNDS 1. C-a-ke; 2. G-a-g; 3. Y-e.

-

-formed by the action of the palate.

H-e.

ASPIRATE, OR BREATHING SOUNDS - formed by the breath.

NASAL, OR NOSTRIL SOUNDS-formed by the nostrils. 1. N-u-n ; 2. Si-ng.

LINGUAL, OR TONGUE SOUNDS 1. L-u-ll; 2. R-ap; 3. Fa-r.

formed by the tongue.

SYLLABIC COMBINATIONS

for further practice in articulation.

DIFFICULT COMBINATIONS FOR PRONUNCIATION.
Give the italicized Element distinctly.

fringe

fins

I thrust three thousand thistles through the thick of my thumb.
Man wants but little here below, nor wants that little long.

Foreign travel enlarges and liberalizes the mind.
They were wrenched by the hand of violence.

Their singed tops, though bare, stand on the blasted heath.
The strength of his nostrils is terrible.

A gentle current rippled by.

Do you like herbs in your broth?

Thou barb'st the dart that wounds thee.

Thou barb'd'st the dart by which he fell.

Many arks were seen floating down the stream.

There barked and howled, within, unseen.

The culprit was hurled from the Tarpeian rock.
Words, words, words!

Are the goods wharfed?

It was strongly urged upon him.
Remark'st thou that?

Mark'st thou ?

He snarls, but dares not bite.
Arm'd, say ye? Arm'd, my lord!

They have arms in their hands.

The delinquent was burn'd in the hand.

Wellington learn'd the art of war under his brother, in India.

A boundless song bursts from the grove.

It was union of hearts as well as hands.

Earth's ample breast.

He searched the house for it.

It hurts me.

Thou hurt'st his feelings.

Theophilus Thistle, the successful thistle sifter, in sifting a sieve full of unsifted thistles, thrust three thousand thistles through the thick of his thumb.

Percival's acts and extracts.

He boasts, he twists the texts to suit the several sects.

Amidst the mists, he thrusts his fists against the posts.

The swan swam over the sea; well swum, swan. The swan swam back again; well swum, swan.

He sawed six sleek slim saplings.

Thou wreath'd'st and muzzle'd'st the far-fetched ox.

Avoid the affectations exemplified in the last column of the following

table: