ENUNCIATION AND PRONUNCIATION
The study of the subject of enunciation should come comparatively late in
the development of the pupil, say, beginning with the fifth grade. There
are other fundamentals that the pupil should be well grounded in before
any definite concentration of effort should be put upon enunciation.
The majority of children and adults are backward in mastering the art
of correct speaking, therefore, if the teacher begins by expecting
the pupil to be accurate in enunciation, which is really one of the
finishing touches, he is in danger of deadening forever the desire for
self-expression and enjoyment in speaking.
Pronunciation should precede any drill in enunciation. The pupil is quick
to grasp correctness in right pronunciation, and desires it fully, but
he cares little for enunciation. Most pupils will shy just a little when
you tell them that the proper way to pronounce, or rather to enunciate
the word _education_ is ed-u-ca-tion and not ed-ji-ca-tion. Or, take
the vowel (a) as in ask, which should be pronounced (ạ). Invariably the
untutored will give the vowel the extreme flat sound of (ă) as in hăt,
and will think that he is affected if he give it the proper soft, broad
sound. He will likely think this even if you compromise with the sounds.
So our policy has been to forego acute criticism in enunciation until the
student has acquired considerable momentum in speech-desire. In other
words, we are more interested, during his early studies, that he develop
and cultivate the desire and will to express, than that he express
himself accurately. Then, later, we gradually call his attention to his
slovenly speech. Above all things let us beware of quenching the sacred
fire of spontaneity, for without that all speech loses its charm and
power. Is it not better that the student be stimulated to speech action,
even though it be imperfect in some—even in many—respects, than that he
be conscious of all his defects and never speak at all?
Clearness and precision in enunciation and pronunciation mark the
genuineness and strength of one’s character. Even the brightest person,
if he mispronounce his words, is accused of mediocrity and is suspected
of being unaccustomed to the society of refined and cultured people.
There should be daily systematic drill in childhood when correct speech
habits are most quickly and firmly established. Another great advantage
of early training is that this is the period when the student is least
self-conscious.
There are three essentials for clear and exact enunciation and
pronunciation: First, an acute ear; second, diligent practice; and third,
constant vigilance. These three essentials should be kept constantly in
mind in carrying out the following exercises. We should first see that
the student’s ear can detect the correct, pure resonances, and then
pursue vigorous practice in them. At first this kind of exercise is
tedious and irksome, but with accomplishment comes keen pleasure.
Let us begin with the vowel sounds. For the word exercises we shall take
words often mispronounced as well as poorly enunciated. Thus we shall
be doing two important things: cultivating the ear, and improving word
production.
EXERCISE ONE
The vowels are either long, short, or diphthongal. The resonances of the
long vowels begin at the back, passing through the middle, to the front
of the mouth. Thus:
[Illustration]
The above represents the approximate and relative openings of the mouth
in long vowels.
You notice the mouth aperture is narrow at the back, wide in the middle
and narrow again at the front. For practice AW and AH and OO are the most
valuable because the two chief difficulties of the student are; first, to
open his mouth wide enough, and second, to keep his speech forward on the
lips. Usually his speech is throaty. Practice the following in concert
and individually in order to secure freedom in controlling the mouth:
1. Repeat E A AW AH O OO consecutively on the same pitch.
2. Change the pitch and repeat on each note of the scale.
3. Give a decided rising inflection to each vowel sound.
4. Give a decided falling inflection to each vowel sound.
5. Give a decided circumflex inflection to each vowel sound.
6. Blend them altogether by the straight inflection in a singing
tone.
7. Laugh them He He He He, Ha Ha Ha Ha, Haw Haw Haw Haw, Hah Hah
Hah Hah, Ho Ho Ho Ho, Hoo Hoo Hoo Hoo.
EXERCISE TWO
In pronunciation there is a right and a wrong way. Some people are so
desirous of appearing exact in this matter that they often introduce
superfluous sounds. For example, such persons pronounce evil—ē´vĭl,
instead of ē´vl; towards—tō-wŏrdz´ instead of tō´-erdz.
This habit of introducing an extra sound that is unnecessary reflects
upon the learning of the individual quite as much as the neglecting of
a sound that is necessary. Let us not attempt to foster extravagant
niceties of speech, but let us cultivate in ourselves and our pupils an
appreciation of, and a desire for, pure, substantial, and impressively
spoken English, showing them that the real beauty of our language lies in
its simplicity and its inherent, convincing power.
EXERCISES IN ENUNCIATION AND PRONUNCIATION
Take up the exercises below in the following manner: First, discover the
correct position of tongue, lips and jaw for producing the particular
sound under consideration. Second, repeat the sound many times. See
that you use your organs of speech properly in regard to the positions
indicated at the beginning of each vowel exercise. After the repetition
of each sound, let lips, tongue and jaw relax to normal position. Third,
in repeating the words be sure the _ictus_ or vocal stroke is properly
and decidedly placed.
The main purpose is to develop pure vowel resonance, but inflectional
freedom may be cultivated at the same time, if great care is taken not
to interfere with the correct vocal positions of tongue, lips and jaw.
Beware of a tendency in this direction. (See discussion of Inflection in
another part of this book.)
KEY TO PRONUNCIATION
In showing the correct pronunciation of words in the following exercises,
the simplest method has been adopted. The words are rewritten with a
set of letters which have invariably the same sound and are familiar to
everyone.
_Webster’s New International Dictionary_ and Phyfe’s _Words Often
Mispronounced_ are the principal authorities consulted. The authors
are greatly indebted to these works for help in determining correct
pronunciation. The following table gives the diacritical marks used in
the following pages:
ā fāde
ä fär
å åsk
a̤ ha̤ll
â hâre
ă hăt
[.=a] pref[.=a]ce
a (no mark) final
ē ēve
[.=e] d[.=e]pend
ĕ bĕt
ẽ hẽr
_e_ recent
ī glīde
[.=i] [.=i]dea
ĭ ĭt
ō gō
[.=o] [.=o]bey
ô absôrb
ŏ hŏt
ū blūe
[.=u] [.=u]nite
û sûrge
ŭ bŭt
o̅o̅ o̅o̅ze
o͝o bo͝ok
=Transcriber’s Note:= [.=a] etc were printed as the letter with a macron
above and a dot above that. These particular diacriticals are not used
on any of the following pages, so the decision was taken not to attempt
to represent them in any other way, because there are no corresponding
precomposed characters in Unicode and font support for combining marks
is often poor.
_The Vowel Sound as in “Awe”_
Note: Tongue sags low and should not move; contact[5] is just a little
over half way back of the middle of the mouth; mouth wide; lips well
rounded.
_alder_—a̤l´der, not ăl´der.
_almost_—a̤l´most, not a̤l´must.
_also_—a̤l´so, not ŏl´so.
_always_—a̤l´wāz, not a̤l´wuz.
_auction_—a̤k´shun, not ŏk´shun.
_audience_—a̤´dĭ-ens, not ŏ´jens.
_cauliflower_—ka̤´li-flow-er, not kŏ´li-flour.
_caldron_—ka̤l´drun, not kŏ´drun.
_Chaucer_—Cha̤u´ser, not Chŏw´ser.
_Chicago_—Shi-ca̤´gō, not Shi-kŏ´gō.
_cornet_—kôr´net, not kôr-net´.
_exorbitant_—egz-ôr´bi-tant.
_falcon_—fô´kn, not fŏl´kun.
_for_—fôr, not fur.
_ordeal_—ôr´dēl, not ôr-dēl´.
_ordinary_—ôr´dĭn-ā-rĭ.
_The Vowel Sound as in “Star”_
Note: Tongue sags and is widened; contact is low and in center; mouth
open wide; lips relaxed almost normally.
_arctic_—ärk´tĭk, not är´tĭk.
_arduous_—är´dū-ŭs.
_armistice_—är´mĭs-tĭs, not är-mĭs´tĭs.
_bazar_—ba-zär´.
_encore_—än-kor´, not ĕn´kor.
_en route_—än ro̅o̅t´, not ĕn rout.
_far_—fär, not fŭr.
_father_—fä´thẽr.
_soprano_—sō-prä´nō, not sō-prăn´ŏ.
_staunch_—stänch, not stănch.
_taunt_—tänt, not tănt.
_tzar_—zär.
_tarlatan_—tär´la-tan, not tarl´tan.
_Parsifal_—pär´sif-äl.
_partisan_—pär´ti-zăn.
_particularly_—pär-tik´yū-lẽr-lĭ.
_The Vowel Sound as in “Ask”_
Note: Tongue sags and is a trifle narrower than the above resonance in ä;
mouth open wide; lips relaxed.
_asked_—åskt, not ăskt, nor ăst.
_aversion_—å-vẽr´shun, not a-ver´zhun.
_bass_ (fish)—bås, not băs.
_bath_—båth, not băth.
_chant_—chånt, not chănt.
_contrast_ (vb.)—kon-tråst´, not kon´trăst.
_draft_—dråft, not drăft.
_draught_—dråft, not drăft.
_glass_—glås, not glăs.
_grant_—grånt, not grănt.
_grasp_—gråsp, not grăsp.
_mast_—måst, not măst.
_isinglass_—ī´zĭng-glåss, not ī-zŭn´glăs.
_pianist_—pi-ån´ĭst, not pe´a-nist.
_aft_—åft, not ăft.
_casket_—kås´ket, not kăs´ket.
_The Vowel Sound as in “Can”_
Note: Tongue sags and widens; contact is front; mouth open moderately
wide.
_accept_—ăk-sĕpt´, not ĕk-sept´.
_accurate_—ăk´kū-rat, not ăk´kẽr-ĭt.
_algebra_—ăl´je-bra, not ăl´je-brā.
_ally_—ăl-li´, not ăl´li (n) and (vb).
_and_—ănd, not ŭn, nor änd.
_bade_—băd, not bāde.
_calcium_—kăl´sĭ-ŭm, not kăl´shĭ-ŭm.
_camera_—kăm´e-ra.
_canyon_—kăn´yun.
_catchup_—kăch´up, not kĕch´up.
_chasm_—kăz´m, not kăz´um.
_exact_—egz-ăkt´, not eks-ăkt´.
_flannel_—flăn´nĕl, not flăn´nĕn.
_harass_—hăr´ăs, not har-răs´.
_maritime_—măr´ĭ-tĭm, not mâr´ĭ-tĭm.
_olfactory_—ŏl-făk´tō-rĭ, not ŏl-făk´trĭ.
_The Vowel Sound as in “Fade”_
Note: This is a diphthongal or double sound beginning on arch of tongue
in middle of mouth and moving forward to just back of upper front teeth;
mouth is open wide for first resonance but narrows for second.
_aeronaut_—ā´ẽr-ō-na̤t.
_amiable_—ā´mĭ-a-bl.
_apparatus_—ăp-pa-rā´tŭs, not ăp-pa-ră´tus.
_apricot_—ā´prĭ-cŏt, not ă´prĭ-cŏt.
_chaos_—kā´ōs.
_Danish_—dā´nĭsh, not dă´nĭsh.
_data_—dā´ta, not dă´ta.
_disgrace_—dĭs-grās´.
_heinous_—hā´nŭs, not hē´nŭs.
_naked_—nā´kĕd, not nĕ´kĕd.
_acorn_—ā´kŭrn, not ā´kŏrn.
_patriotic_—pā´trĭ-ŏt-ĭk, not păt´rĭ-ŏt-ĭk.
_plague_—plāg, not plĕg.
_slake_—slāk, not slăk.
_wary_—wā´rĭ, not wâ´ri.
_ignoramus_—ĭg-nō-rā´mŭs, not ĭg-nō-ră´mŭs.
_The Vowel Sound as in “Led”_
Note: Tongue arched; contact at top of arch; mouth moderately open; lips
relaxed.
_access_—ăk´sĕs, or ăk-sĕs´.
_address_—(n) and (vb) ad-drĕs´.
_cemetery_—sĕm´ē-tĕr-ĭ, not sĕmĭ-trĭ.
_centennial_—sĕn-tĕn´nĭ-al.
_equipage_—ĕk´wĭ-pāj, not ĕ-kwĭp´ĕj.
_equitable_—ĕk´wĭ-ta-bl, no ĕ-kwĭ´ta-bl.
_every_—ĕv´ẽr-ĭ, not ĕv´rĭ.
_evident_—ĕv´ĭ-dĕnt, not ĕv´ĭ-dŭnt.
_excellent_—ĕk´sĕl-ĕnt, not ĕk´slŭnt.
_preface_—(n) and (vb) prĕf´ās.
_legislature_—lĕj´ĭs-lāt-yŭr.
_exit_—ĕks´it, not ĕgz´it.
_exist_—ĕgz-ĭst´, not ĕks´ĭst.
_irreparable_—ĭr-rĕp´a-ra-ble, not ĭr-rē-păr´a-bl.
_generally_—jĕn´ẽr-al-ĭ.
_instead_—ĭn-stĕd´, not ĭn-stĭd´.
_The Vowel Sound as in “We”_
Note: Tongue arched to upper forward position; mouth aperture narrow.
This is a single vowel resonance.
_adhesive_—ăd-hē´sĭv, not ăd-hē´zĭv.
_aerial_—ā-ē´rĭ-al.
_appreciate_—ap-prē´shĭ-āt, not ap-prē´sĭ-āt.
_esprit_—es-prē´.
_evil_—ē´vl, not ē´vĭl.
_fealty_—fē´al-tĭ.
_fetish_—fē´tish.
_genii_—jē´nĭ-ī.
_grievous_—grē´vŭs, not grē´vĭ-ŭs.
_guarantee_—găr-ăn-tē´.
_ideal_—ī-dē´al, not ī´dēl.
_immediately_—im-mē´dĭ-at-lĭ.
_remediable_—re-mē´dĭ-a-bl.
_tedious_—tē´dĭ-us, or tēd´yus.
_débris_—dā-brē´.
_hysteria_—hĭs-tē´rĭ-a, not hĭs-târ´rĭ-a.
_The Vowel Sound as in “Creed”_
Note: The tongue is arched upward; tip at base of lower front teeth.
This is a double sound. The mouth has a tendency to narrow on the second
resonance.
_believe_—bē-lēv´, not blēv.
_cleanly_—(adv) klēn´lĭ.
_congenial_—kon-jēn´yal, not kon-jēn´nĭ-al.
_evening_—ē´vn-ĭng, or ēv´nĭng.
_grease_—(n)—grēs.
_grease_—(vb)—grēz, or grēs.
_idea_—ī-dē´a, not ī´dē-a.
_sleek_—slēk, not slĭk.
_The Vowel Sound as in “Glide”_
Note: This is a double sound. Open mouth on first resonance with contact
low and middle, but narrower aperture on second with contact high and
front. Tongue is moderately low on first resonance and then arches and
widens on second.
_bicycle_—bī´sĭk-l, not bī-sīk´l.
_blithe_—blīth (th is sub-vocal).
_decisive_—dē-sī´sĭv, not dē-sī´zĭv.
_defile_—(n) dē-fīl´, not dē´fīl.
_defile_—(vb) de´fīl.
_demise_—de-mīz´, not de-mez´.
_demoniacal_—dem-o-nī´ak-al, not de-mo´nĭ-ak-al.
_derisive_—de-rī´siv, not de´ri-siv.
_device_—dē-vīs.
_devise_—dē-vīz.
_enquiry_—ĕn-kwī´rĭ, not ĕn´kwīr-ĭ.
_horizon_—hō-rī´zŏn.
_incisive_—ĭn-sī´sĭv.
_incisor_—ĭn-sī´zẽr.
_indictment_—ĭn-dīt´mĕnt, not ĭn-dīk´ment.
_acclimate_—ăk-klī´māt, not ăk´klĭm-āt.
_The Vowel Sound as in “It”_
Note: Tongue arched forward high; tip behind lower front teeth; mouth
open wide; contact high and forward.
_bivouac_—bĭv´wăk.
_breeches_—brĭch´ĕz.
_bristle_—brĭs-l, not brĭst´l.
_chivalrous_—shĭv´al-rŭs.
_civil_—sĭv´ĭl, not sĭv´l.
_commiserate_—kŏm-mĭz´er-āt, not kŏm-mĭs´ẽr-āt.
_conflict_—(vb) kŏn-flĭkt´; (n) kŏn´flĭkt.
_considerable_—kŏn-sĭd´ẽr-a-bl, not kŏn-sĭd´ra-bl.
_delivery_—dē-lĭv´ẽr-ĭ, not dē-lĭv´rĭ.
_grisly_—grĭz´lĭ, not grĭs´lĭ.
_gristly_—grĭs´lĭ, not grĭz´lĭ.
_infinite_—ĭn´fĭn-ĭt, not ĭn-fī´nīt.
_itinerary_—ī-tĭn´ẽr-a-rĭ.
_licorice_—lĭk´ō-rĭs, not līk´rĭsh.
_mischievous_—mĭs´chĭ-vŭs, not mĭs-chē´vŭs.
_sinister_—sĭn´ĭs-tẽr, not sĭ-nĭs´tẽr.
_The Vowel Sound as in “On”_
Note: Tongue sags; mouth moderately open; lips rounded; contact low and
back of center.
_accost_—ăk-kŏst´, not ăk-kôst´.
_broth_—brŏth, not brôth.
_choler_—kŏl´ẽr, not kō´lẽr.
_column_—kŏl´ŭm, not kŏl´yŭm.
_combatant_—kŏm´băt-tănt, not kom-bāt´tant.
_chronological_—krŏn-ō-lŏg´ĭk-cal.
_comparable_—kŏm´på-rå-bl, not kŏm-pâr´å-bl.
_conversant_—kŏn´vẽr-sant, not kŏn-vẽr´sant.
_dross_—drŏs.
_economic_—ē-kō-nŏm´ĭk or ĕk-ō-nŏm´ĭk.
_hollow_—hŏl´lō, not hŏl´la.
_homage_—hŏm´āj, not hōm´ĭj.
_honest_—ŏn´ĕst, not ôn´nŭst.
_honorable_—ŏn´ŏr-a-bl, not ŏn´ra-bl.
_hostage_—hŏs´tāj, not hōs´tāj.
_hovel_—hŏv´ĕl, not hŭv´ĕl.
_The Vowel Sound as in “Go”_
Note: Tongue sags; mouth moderately wide; lips well rounded; contact
midway back. This is a single sound “given to all open syllables.”
_associate_—ăs-sō´shĭ-āt, not ăs-sō´sĭ-āt.
_chorist_—kō´rĭst, not kôr´ĭst.
_cognomen_—kŏg-nō´mĕn.
_commodious_—kŏm-mō´dĭ-ŭs.
_comptroller_—kŏn-trō´lẽr.
_Corot_—kō-rō´.
_corporeal_—kôr-pō´rē-ăl.
_decorum_—dē-kō´rŭm, not dē-kôr´ŭm.
_deplorable_—dē-plō´ra-bl, not de-plôr´a-bl.
_diplomatist_—dĭ-plō´mā-tĭst.
_forensic_—fō-rĕn´sĭk, not fôr-ĕn´sĭk.
_indecorum_—ĭn-dē-kō´rŭm, not ĭn-dĕk´ō-rŭm.
_ivory_—ī´vō-rĭ, not īv´rī.
_oral_—ō´ral, not ôr´al.
_stony_—stō´nĭ, not stŭn´ĭ.
_trophy_—trō´fĭ.
_The Vowel Sound as in “Home”_
Note: This is a double sound. The first resonance is identical to the
above single (o) as in (Go), but for the second resonance the contact is
the upper back part of mouth with widening of the tongue.
_Azores_—ăz-ōrz´, not ā-zôrz´.
_brooch_—brōch, not bro͝och.
_console_—kŏn-sōl´.
_corps_ (military)—kōr; (pl.) kōrz.
_cote_—(n) kōt, not kŏt.
_divorce_—dĭv-ōrs´, not dĭv-ôrs´.
_homely_—hōm´lĭ, not hŭm´lĭ.
_oaths_—ōthz (sub-vocal) not ōths.
_sword_—sōrd, not sôrd nor s-wôrd.
_won’t_—(will not)—wōnt.
_yolk_—yōlk or yōk, not yĕlk.
_recourse_—rē-kōrs´.
_shewn_—shōn.
_shew_—shō.
_vaudeville_—vōd´vĭl.
_von_—fōn, not vŏn.
_The Vowel Sound as in “Us”_
Note: Tongue sags; open mouth; contact about half way back and midway
between the upper and lower jaw.
_adult_—a-dŭlt´, not ăd´ŭlt.
_cunning_—kŭn´nĭng, not kŭn´nĭn.
_government_—gŭv´ẽrn-mĕnt, not gŭv´ẽr-mĕnt.
_hundred_—hŭn´drĕd, not hŭn´dẽrd.
_promulgate_—prō-mŭl´gāt.
_pumice_—pŭm´ĭs.
_illustrate_—ĭl-lŭs´trāt, not ill´ŭ-strāt.
_mongrel_—mŭng´grĕl, not mŏng´grĕl.
_muskmelon_—mŭsk´mĕlŏn, not mŭsh´mĕlŏn.
_nuptial_—nŭp´shal, not nūp´shal.
_pumpkin_—pŭmp´kĭn, not pŭnk´ĭn.
_supple_—sŭp´l, not so̅o̅´pl.
_The Vowel Sound as in “Use”_
Note: Tongue arched; mouth well open; contact back of upper front teeth
for first resonance, then to upper back part of mouth for the second;
lips well apart for the first sound and then well rounded and extended
for the second with a slight sagging of the tongue. This is a double
sound.
_blue_—blū, not blo̅o̅.
_rude_—rūd.
_rural_—rū´răl, not rûr´l.
_nuisance_—nū´săns, not no̅o̅´săns.
_newspaper_—nūz´pā-pẽr, not nūs´pā-pẽr.
_Tuesday_—Tūz´dā, not To̅o̅z´då.
_minutely_—mĭ-nūt´lĭ.
_tube_—tūb, not to̅o̅b nor tyub.
_tulip_—tū´lĭp, not to̅o̅´lĭp.
_usually_—ū´zhū-a-lĭ, not ūzh´lĭ.
_virtue_—vẽrt´ū, not vẽr´cho̅o̅.
_stupid_—stū´pĭd, not sto̅o̅´pŭd.
_virtually_—vẽr´tū-al-lĭ, not vert´choo-li.
_virulent_—vĭr´yū-lĕnt.
_vituperate_—vī-tū´pẽr-āt.
_ablution_—ăb-lū´shŭn, not ă-blo̅o̅´shŭn.
_The Vowel Sound as in “Choose”_
Note: Tongue sags slightly with tip at base of lower front teeth; mouth
well open; lips well rounded and extended; contact at upper back part
of mouth. Notice that this (oo) resonance is the same as the second
resonance in (u).
_booth_—bo̅o̅th (sub-vocal).
_Booth_ (name)—bo̅o̅th.
_food_—fo̅o̅d, not fo͝od.
_roof_—ro̅o̅f, not ro͝of.
_coupon_—ko̅o̅´pŏn, not kū´pon.
_room_—ro̅o̅m, not rŭm nor ro͝om.
_broom_—bro̅o̅m, not bro͝om.
_hoof_—ho̅o̅f, not ho͝of.
_spoon_—spo̅o̅n, not spo͝on.
_forsooth_—fōr-so̅o̅th´, not fōr-so̅o̅th´ (sub-vocal).
_poor_—po̅o̅r, not po͝or.
_root_—ro̅o̅t, not ro͝ot.
_coop_—co̅o̅p, not co͝op.
_tour_—to̅o̅r, not tûr.
_tournament_—to̅o̅r´na-mĕnt or tûr´na-mĕnt.
_troubadour_—tro̅o̅´ba-door, not tro̅o̅´pa-dûr.
PART TWO
Identification of the Reader with the Story, or Sympathetic Reading
FIRST STEP. Getting the author’s MOOD. Catching the author’s vision.
Emotional response. Distinguishing between ordinary reading and reading
with author’s emotional appreciation. Emphasizing value of MOOD.
Discussing control of emotion. Repressed feeling versus expressed feeling.
SECOND STEP. Word meaning—relation of word to group. Associative meaning
of words. More vocabulary. Study of tone color. Use of Onomatopœia.
THIRD STEP. Study of Moods. Variety of Moods. Change and inter-change of
Moods in a selection. Human nature and Mood. Colloquial expressions of
the same Mood in classical language.
“Blessings upon all the books that are the delight of childhood
and youth and unperverted manhood! Precious are the sympathetic
tears which dim the page and which it is so wholesome to
encourage in early life as a check to the growth of selfishness
and egoism.”
—HIRAM CORSON, “The Voice and Spiritual Education,” p. 163.