PROSODY treats of the modulations of the voice according to the usages
of the language we speak, and the sentiments we wish to express: hence,
in its most extensive sense, it comprises all the laws of elocution.
Prosody is commonly divided into two parts: the first teaches the true
pronunciation of words, comprising _accent_, _quantity_, _emphasis_,
_pause_, and _tone_; and the second, the laws of _versification_.
_Accent_. Accent is the laying of a peculiar stress of the voice on a
particular letter or syllable in a word, that it may be better heard
than the rest, or distinguished from them; as, in the word _presúme_,
the stress of the voice must be on the letter _u_ and the second
syllable, _sume_, which syllable takes the accent.
Every word of more syllables than one, has one accented syllable. For
the sake of euphony or distinctness in a long word, we frequently give a
secondary accent to another syllable besides the one which takes the
principal accent; as, _'tes ti mo' ni'al_, _a ban'don 'ing._
_Quantity_. The quantity of a syllable is that time which is occupied
in pronouncing it. It is considered as long or short.
A vowel or syllable is long, when the accent is on the vowel; which
causes it to be slowly joined in pronunciation with the following
letters; as, "Fāll, bāle, mōōd, hōūse, fēature."
A syllable is short, when the accent is on the consonant; which causes
the vowel to be quickly joined to the succeeding letter; "as, ănt,
bŏnnĕt, hŭngĕr."
A long syllable generally requires double the time of a short one in
pronouncing it; thus, "māte" and "nōte" should be pronounced as
slowly again as "măt" and "nŏt."
_Emphasis_. By emphasis is meant a stronger and fuller sound of the
voice, by which we distinguish some word or words on which we design to
lay particular stress, and to show how they affect the rest of the
sentence. Sometimes the emphatic words must be distinguished by a
particular tone of voice, as well as by a greater stress.
Emphasis will be more fully explained under the head of Elocution.
_Pauses_. Pauses or rests, in speaking and reading, are a total
cessation of the voice during a perceptible, and, in many cases, a
measurable space of time.
_Tones_. Tones are different both from emphasis and pauses; consisting
in the modulation of the voice, or the notes or variations of sound
which we employ in the expression of our sentiments.
Emphasis affects particular words and phrases; but tones affect
sentences, paragraphs, and sometimes a whole discourse.