th e Stubs; of E ngl i sh i n M i c ro

b y f orei g n W omen Stub ents ,

et am n b b al l .

Lectures in th e English La nguage a n d Litera tur e

b U r L u r a n d T y nive sity ect er s utors .

An Exam ination three ti m es a year a t th e e nd of

h rm d d b th e s for eac te , con ucte y As ociation

th e Education of Wom en in Oxford .

A Libr ar y in Norham Ha ll for th e u s e of Resident

Students ,

Dates of com m encem ent a n d all particul ar s m ay be

obta ined from

T E E B R H N N . U C Mrs . O A C C S ,

N h a m H or all ,

x d O for .

A Va ca ti on Cou r se l a sti ng f ou r weeks i s fiel d

d u ri n t/ze m om! : o u / g f j y . Pronu nc iation Of English

b Forei n r y g e s.

ourse o f Lectur es to th e Students O f Norh a m Ha ll

h e Ph h on t ysiology of Speec .

F. R. . . S B A D Sc . URCH M . EOR E J . O G G , xon ,

® gf o r b

CO . LT D . O ALDEN , BOCARD PRESS .

R H HAM LT N K E N T L N D N : S M P K N A S ALL O . L T D C . O O I I , M , I O ,

1 9 1 1

T MY DE WIFE O AR ,

Th e Pr N h a m H incipal of or all .

2 6 1 4 5 7

P R E F A C E .

“ T H E SE o f lectures , under the title The Physiology Of ” o f Speech , have formed part the Courses for the Study of English in Oxford by Foreign Women Students in which f an examination is held at the end o each term .

I have often been asked by students to print them , and now do so in the hope that thereby their usefulness may be

increased . t However well a language may be learnt, hose whose native tongue it is c an almost always detect slight di ff er en c es o f pronunciation which constitute what is called a “ ” s foreign accent . Frequently it is po sible to tell what country the speaker comes from by the characteristics o f this foreign accent . My opportunities o f collecting material relating to this

subject have been exceptionally good . After the lectures

o f the students were taken in classes twelve, where each in turn read from a book or went through the exercises

an d ro nu n described in the lecture, any peculiarities Of p

c i ati on to were n oted down from week week , a separate

- sheet of the class register being devoted to each student .

1 0 0 I These records , from 9 , when began the system , f until now, have been care ully collated and classified by

an d towns , the towns by districts , and districts by countries ,

n a d the results incorporated in this book . O mitting on the o n e hand those whose foreign accent

was negligible , and on the other hand those who through travelling about o r through living long in other lands could not be considered to represent the characteristic pron u n viii Preface. c iati on O f any particular district , there remained the records of 1 3 0 5 people which have been utili z ed in writing this

book . Merely accidental mistakes have been omitted ,

so o f and also have been the faults beginners , for the simple reason that as all the lectures and classes are given

in English , beginners do not come to these courses . The di ff erences O f pronunciation are due mainly to the fact which is Of great scientific interest—that each nation has its o wn way of managing the muscles that control the

organs of speech , with the result that although the sounds

n o t a n d produced may seem the same , they are identical , ff under certain circumstances the di erences are manifest . I f have tried to explain these di ferences , and to point out

how they may be remedied .

I have not used the phonetic alphabet , because I hold that the niceties of pronunciation of any language c a n only i be acquired by im tating people who pronounce it properly . This book assumes that the reader will either come to

o n e England or learn of some who has been in England .

In dealing for instance with the vowels , the teacher will

an d pronounce , hear the student pronounce , the list of

words given in connection with each vowel sound , until he

is satisfied that i t has been correctly acquired . In those

' lists will be found the {Me-wor d s u sed i n a l l l l ze c/zze/

' ' / i t r on ou n ci n d zrl zon a r i es so E ng {s p g , that having acquired a

o f c a n knowledge the sound , the student get the correct pronunciation o f any word in the language from any one Of

these diction aries . The small numb ers above the vowels used in spelling the mistakes Of pronunciation relate to these lists O f vowel

sounds . They express simply the order in which those

sounds were treated in the lectures , and are intended to enable the student to id entifythe sound which each mistake

has to an English ear . Pref ace. i x

The diagrams have been purposely kept simple so that they may be copied on the blackboard .

Some o f the quaint sentences given as illustrations will l remind o d students O f their own experiences . They will recogni z e the traps set to catch them in o n e fault while f they were thinking o another . They will recall the

ff o f strenuous e orts in our cosmopolitan classes , students of o ne country to surmount the difficulties peculiar to their o wn nation , and the satisfaction with which they pronounced things easy to themselves but impossibly difficult to their next neighbours from another land . And with the memories aroused by the printed words will come the memories Of the ear and of the eye , recalling the very voices and faces

sat An d of those who around the table with us . they will

to a s seem hear once more the tones Of the English voice, I have heard again their voices in going through the O l d class records .

G . J . B .

C O NT E NT S.

L E CT U RE P AG E

T HE PHYSIOLOGY O F SPEECH CONSONANTS

FRIC ATIVES VOWELS

G LI D E s

E ! ERCISES

NATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS

O N BREATHING ACCENTS

E ! AMPLES F O R PRACTICE

PRONUNCIATION SIGNS USED I N THIS BOO K

PRON U NCIATION SIGNS

USED I N THIS BOOK . SH Sherry CH cherry ZH usual I jam 1 broom = r t r u e R tom oRRO w R guttural r

TH Mi n TH this G go glottal catch sing -er singer fi n g-ger finger F i n -gal Fingal gin -jer ginger 1 a father 2 a fall 3 a fat 4 a fate 5 a hare 1 e me 2 6 men 1 1 si r 2 1 pit 3 I mine 1 0 n o t 2 0 n o

0 0 fool 1 u turn 2 11 but 3 u bull 4 u tube

o n o u t

T H E P RO N U N C I AT IO N O F E N G L ISH . .

LECT U RE I .

H O F T E PHYSIOLOGY SPEECH : CONSONANTS .

ANATOMY describes the structure o f the body Physiology seeks to explain the manner Of its working : and as it i s

i mpossible to understand the working o f a machine without.

w O f i ts i s to kno ing something mechanism , it necessary begin the study o f the Physiology o f Speech with the

Anatomy Of the Speech Organs .

1 - 2 These may be divided into ( ) Wind supplying , ( ) Sound

- producing, (3 ) Sound modifying apparatus .

- WIND SUPPLYING APPARATUS .

fi vi z Under the rst head we note an important fact, — that the same organ as is so Often the case in livin g

— : creatures serves two purposes the lungs , which supply

breath without which the voice is silent, convey also to the

o f blood oxygen without which the fire life goes o u t. And because we need n o t always speak but must c o n

ti nu al l of y breathe, the voice is under the control the will , ’ W but the breathing is regulated automatically . e can

o r n increase, diminish , i terrupt it, but only for a time,

and i n - a very few seconds we become conscious o f a

fo r n necessity taki g breath overmastering the strongest will . The proper management of the breath is as important as

th e of t correct pronunciation the words , and will be deal

with in a later lecture . t d n ci ti n f n l i a o o E g sh .

- Air is conveyed to and from the lungs by the wind pipe . Behind the wind -pi pe lies the oesophagus o r gullet through w o . ff hich fo d passes to the stomach Note the di erence .

We must always breathe, but it is quite unnecessary to be

a lways eating . Accordingly the gullet is a soft collapsible

o f tube, the sides which are usually pressed together, but

- f so c the wind pipe is sti fened and jointed , that it an be

z fia t bent, but will not squee e . Imagine a series O f napkin -rings joined with a thin rubber

i - tube , and you have something not unlike the w nd pipe . Yo u c an feel the joints Of it by passing the finger tips up and down the lower part of the throat .

- P SOUND PRODUCING AP ARATUS .

O f - At the upper end the wind pipe you will feel a lump . Try to swallow—i tmoves up and down but returns to its Old place , as if it were something that had stuck i n your throat . T hat is why in every language Of Europe it is known as ’ — th e Adam s Apple the larynx . — In the larynx are the organs of sound , the vocal cords — s ti m m bander which vibrate when the breath is forced between them m uch in the same way as the lips vibrate in

-fi n ers blowing a trumpet . Place the middle an d fore g lightly against the larynx, one on each side of the pro

c ti n O f O f je g edge it, and sing a continuous note low pitch you will feel the vibration o f the vocal cords very distinctly

when you have found the proper position for the fingers .

- F SOUND MODI YING APPARATUS . There are two ways by which the breath can escape when

— an d h i thas left the larynx b y the mouth by the nose . Bot

i z a re used in speech , and their relat ve position and si e, with

i n F i I s. 2 the organs connected with them , are shown g and , which represent diagrammatically a section thro ugh th e

T h e Pr o n u n ci a ti on of En g l i sh .

F I G . T H E RG A N O F P E E H. I . O s S C

h r l t n n i n A t e h a a a e . th e so a a e e , d p B , ft p l t di g E th e th e u u a . C th e e o s. D th e u e . v l , pigl tti , g ll t , ’ ” - l n e . F th e a r n x o r A a m s a e . wi d pi p , l y , d pp

G th e oc a l c o r s . , v d T h e u u a i s ress e a a n s th e a c o f th e h roa t v l p d g i t b k t , r a s i n o n o u n c n D e tc . an d m o s o f th e vo e s p i g B , , , t w l ,

so th a t th e breath ca n n o t esca pe th ro u gh th e n o se . 2 . FIG .

I b u tth e u v u a i s ra n a wa F i . T h e sa m e a s g , l d w y f h e h ro a ea n th e rea h ree fro m th e b a c k o t t t , l vi g b t f h th e n o se a s i n ron o u n c n g , to esc a pe th ro u g , p i M

N G an d fi v e o f th e o e s. N , , v w l 6 T h e Pr on u n ci ati on of En g li sh .

a day with your mouth shut , but you do not know how it is done—your will has not learnt how to give that Order separately . And that is only a single instance out of many connected with pronunciation . The great diffi culty i n the way o f your making the English sounds as the English make them lies in the fact that you m ake the sounds o f your o wn langu age without knowing how you produce them , and that you

G F I . 3 .

O en m ou h sh o n th e so t a l a e a n d u vu l a . p t , wi g f p t h a h h ro a T e ton g u e h id es th e l o wer p r t o f t e t t . have not learnt to put your tongue a n d the other organs o f articulation in a given position by the power o f your will . You shall learn this first simple exercise o f depressing the back of the tongue—but you will perhaps prefer to m make the atte pt in solitude ; O pen your mouth , look in the glass as before, but leaning your head a little forward , and pretend for one moment that you are going to be sick . — The back o f your tongue will go down at once just for

‘ — D o reten d too that moment to a surprising extent . not p T h e Ph ysi ol ogy of Speech . 7

n or too ! a x a n d o often long Try gain ne t day , if y u per severe yo u will soon be able to depress the back o f you r tongue without associating any unpleasant ideas with the

n a ou a r e l i n a t i t n l l ze l so l o s ook i a ss . An d action , g y g g after still further practice you will be able to do so without even looking at it .

a h o w When you have done this , you will have le rnt to open you r m ou rn pr oper ly f or spea ki ng or si ngi ng i n a l a rge One great reason why inexperienced teachers become

FIG . 4 .

O en m o u th w th th e a c o f th e o n u e e resse p , i b k t g d p d , h w e s o i ng th e piglo tti s. hoarse and lose their voi c es after teaching a little while I s that they do not use the full volume o f th e mouth cavity . b u t kee th e b a n d in speaking , , p ack of the tongue high up c an ’ empl oy only the front o f th e mouth . If you Show your throat down to the epiglottis yo u will be able to teach or lecture as l ong as you c a n make any sound with your

o u w n ot . vocal cords , and y ill get hoarse

s o o u i a see. Fig . 4 h ws wh at y w ll be b le to 8 T h u n i t e Pron c a i on of E n g l i sh .

F a r down in the throat , at the base of the tongue , is what looks like the tip of another tongue , pointing upwards .

r e That is the epiglottis . It se v s to protect th e larynx from o f the trickling in liquids , which would cause most violen t coughing . It is of little , if any, use in articulate speech , at a n o f m y rate Europeans . Its ain interest lies in the fact t hat i f you can show it , in your own throat , you have m astered the great problem o f how to hold the mouth in s peaking .

CONSONANTS .

a In making the following sounds , the pass ge to the nose

a n d i . s 1 . closed by the uvula soft palate , as in Fig

B AND P . The simplest of the articulate sounds is that of the letter B . r e Sound the vocal cords , prefe ably with the vowel , and

so o f while doing , close the lips so as to stop the passage

a the breath , and then open them gain . The sound

- produced is e h b e.

By making i t very slowly and with some force , with the

e z fingers touching the larynx , it is easy to r cogni e that the v ocal cords continue to vibrate after the lips are closed till th e pressure of air in the m outh equals the pressure in the ’ lu ngs Also that when the l ips o pen again there is a slight b ut unmistakabl e explosive soun d made by them i n S ‘ addition to the ound of the vocal cords .

This same action of th e lips produces,when the vocal .

h e e r n o t t . c o ds do vibrate , the sound of lett r P d b Ob ’5 ’ To prove this , take the two wor s and pop, and v a a n r n whisp e r th e m o er and over gain in yoder . A perso T h e Ph ysi ol ogy o f Speech : Con so n a n ts . 9 at a little distance will be unable to distinguish o n e from the other .

The next experi ment needs a little practice , but is worth practising . Place the two fingers lightly against the larynx as already ‘ b ob ob ob an d described , and say slowly first then ‘ po po po pfi ‘ ’ b ob ob ob The vibration will p ersist throughout for , but will cease for the fraction of a second at every p i n ‘ popopopfi

Now consider for how short a ti me I t ceases . Perhaps

o f th e tenth part a syllable , and we speak five syllables a

- - P . - . o P P

FIG . 5. D i a gra m sh owing h ow th e vibra ti o ns c ea se d ri ri n g th e ro n u n c a o n o f h p i ti t e l etter P . s econd . Say that for the fiftieth o f a second the sound a ff must ce se to make the di erence between B and P . What wonder that so many p eople from various foreign parts sound the o n e in place o f the other ! And yet the fault is e asily corrected when once it has been pointed o u t

' Apart fro m this the ac ti o n ' th a t produces the sound of B i s so simple that i t is the same in most European languages . In modern Greek the lips are not closed , and th e sound resembles that of V . During the last twenty years or so there has arise n a ’ f o f ashion , mainly among girls schools the Papa , potatoes , ’ o f o an d P poultry, prunes , and prism order, pron uncing B

. by pressing the lower lip against the upper teeth . This. is ' ‘ ’ to b e avoided as a foolish a n d probably temporary fad . 1 0 T h e Pr on u n c i a ti on o f En g l i sh :

D AND T . The tongue i s fitted to the line of the upper teeth both I n so front and at the sides , as completely to stop the o f passage the breath . If any teeth are absent , at that

' to n u e i s As place the g raised so as to stop the gap . with the letter B the vocal cords can be felt vibrating until the

a ti pressure of air i n the mouth re ches a maximum . The p

h a of the tongue, which up to that moment s been pressed

o r with some force against the fron t teeth , the gums , is then suddenly drawn back , and the air escape s with the c t haracteris ic sound .

n ot If the vocal cords do vi brate , the same action produces the lette r T . There is greater varie ty possible in the pronunciation o f

c a o f D and T, be use the tip the tongue can be applied

a ne r the edge of the teeth , or near the gums , and i t can be

- o f made sharp edged o r rounded . The D Ireland and the D o f Spain diff er very noticeably from the normal

European D . G K , , AND QU . If the passa ge of the breath is stopped by the tongue

r o f without using the tip o edge o f it, we get the sound the hard G, or i f the vocal cords are silent , of K

And in this case , considerable variety is possible . Either the middle of the tongue may be pressed a gainst the roof o f a o r b ac k o f the mouth , the h rd palate , the the tongue and the soft palate m a y be brought into con tact . By the

' u h so u n d O f i n first method we prod ce t e G go or egg, or of

s K in cock o r key . By the econd method we make the f sound o O u .

The mispronunciation o f Q i s o n e of the . commonest errors o f a foreign accent . An excellent test senten c e is the foll owing “ ” A quite quiet queen .

E I L CTURE I .

T H E Y L Y O F EE H : PH SIO OG SP C FRICATIVES .

W E th e r i ea ti oes now pass to the discussion of f , or sounds produced by the passage o f the breath through a constricted aperture .

F I G . 6 .

‘ P o si ti o n o f to n gu e d u r i ng S a n d Z .

O f these the simplest is S (see Fig . Briefly it may be described as the sound o f a number o f very shrill whistles giving di ff erent notes blown together . The exact way in which the ton gu e i s held to produce it — d epends very much on the teeth i n fact the loss o f a

, front tooth produces a lisp until th e loser h a s learned to a cco m modate the tongue -action to the n ew state of things i r T h e Ph ys ol ogy of Sp eech : F i c ati v es . 3

s w o f but the normal position is a follo s . The edge the ti p o f the tongue is placed Close behind the fron t teeth , the

r so tongue itself being held slightly hollow like a t ough , that there is a narro w passage for the breath over the edge f o the tongue in the middle , and down between it and the front teeth . Now the quality of the S depends o n the position o f the d o f tongue . If it is too near the e ge the teeth , the S will be thin and hard , and though quite distinct when you are

to close the speaker, will be perfectly inaudible at a little d istance . People from some parts of France sound the S

FIG . 7.

Po siti o n of to ngu e d u ri n g SH and Z H o r C H an d J .

o n e in this manner, and occasionally m eets with it

15 Germany and the Scandinavian countries . The fault n th e o th er best cured by letting the pupil read standi g at _

end of the room , and listening for the initial and terminal S .

Thus smile will be heard as mile , and books as book . Should the opportunity o ff er o f getting close to a great c o f sa public speaker while he is addressing an audien e _ y 1 4 T h e Pr o n u n ci ati o n o f En gl i sh :

00 o o r b e ' 5, more, he will found to hiss the S much more s o r trongly than he would in conversation in a small room . The Jew of the ti m e of Dickens went to the other

n e xtreme and thickened the S till it became SH . I do o t think this is so common as it used to be .

Z .

m Hum and hiss at the sa e time , and you have the sound o f o f h u m Z . Now quite a number people , if told to while

ca n not d o i t , they hiss until you explai n that i t. makes the

f O f e sound o Z . This is another illustration what has b en

vi z . already pointed out , that many people have never learnt to control the move m ents O f the voice organs by the

so will . It is an excellent thing to practise doing .

S H (see Fig . If the edge o f the tip o f the tongue is placed farther u p a gainst the gums instead o f the teeth the sound thickens until instead o f S we have SH . b And this , if we hum , ecomes what ought logically to be

Z H but is in fact the soft French J . It does not occur at an r th e a nd the beginning of y English wo d , English J also the soft G commencing with an explosive sound as if it ‘ ’ Z H . were D Z H. The letter S in usual has the sound of

CH has a sound like TS H .

R (see Fig . There are three kinds of R in the English language— the

. w r whispered burr, hich we shall denote by , the voiced burr re p resented by r, and the trilled R . To make the ,

r u whispered burr , first so nd the letter S , then move the tongue upwards and back o n to the gums unti l the sound e th e ed e O f becom e s SH . Continue the mov ment until g the tong ue is as far back as you can get it, and blow . This

r will give the sound o f . ' i ti es T h e Ph ysi ol og y of Speech : Fr ca v . I 5 Take the following words b S , Z Sue Zoo Zh Sh , Shoe Usual r 1 true drive promise broom crow grow It will be Observed that after a whispered consonan t the r is whispered , but after a voiced consonant i t is voiced .

F I G . 8 .

o f on u e u r n 1 Po sitio n t g d i g . The relation of the burr (r) to the letters SH and S has b o u t as een already pointed . It h really nothing to do with th e trill (R) and it Is un fortunate that letters physiologically s o d ifferen t o s c o n should g by the ame name, their only n ec ti o n being that linguistically they are interchangeable .

s I t I r h A a rule s easie to teach the burr (r) t an the trill (R) .

. T HE . BU RR r ( ) AND (r) .

‘ ‘ One method which h as ' o ften pro ved su c c essf u l is to

' i i m agi n e that a crumb h as stuck to the r o o f o f the mouth

a h o r f o r u sa n S t S . ’ b : T h e L o n o n e r s n a m e f o r th e Zoo o c a l G a r ens d l gi d . 1 6 T h n l i e Pro u n ci a ti on of En g sh .

o ff o f and to try to lick it with the tip the tongue . While

w u rn doing so blo and b . This will produce the sound o f r , if you have imagined the crumb to be j ust as far back f as the tip o the tongue c a n reach . The three positions o f the tongue are used i n saying the words This shrill sound — a n excellen t exercise for teaching the formation o f the

r English . The tongue sweeps up and backwards with

r a continuous motion in passing from S to SH , and to . The reason so m any foreigners have diffi culties with the English r a n d r is that they employ in their o wn language a sound which n o t o n e Englishman in twenty can produce — the guttural R which fo r convenience we will denote by

s the Gothic letter . To make thi , the tongue is kept back almost in the position for Q , the soft palate and uvula l . rea i tv vibrating against the tongue In , the English trilled R an d the German guttural R are two entirely di fferent

m o n e e . letters , only distantly rese bling anoth r in sound It is well to reali z e that the error is as great when the guttural R is used in English as that of Bret Harte’s “ ” “ Chinaman who says all l itee wh en he me ans all ” righ t .

T H E TRILL (R) .

The English trilled R is made by a vibration o f th e

f n front part o the to gue against the gums and front teeth . The following plan is often successful with thos e who find i t difficult . Acquire first a moderate facility with the burr . ‘ ’ r t Whisper several times the word t ee , to get the ongue

- r . rr into the position Then say, louder and louder, ah ,

- - -R-R-R B . ah rrr, ah , making the B very forcibly The sudden explosion of the breath fo r the letter B will w jerk the tongue for ard against the teeth , and the proba

il t o r . b i y is i t will rebound once twice I f it does , it is h ri ti 1 T h e Ph ysi ol o gy of Sp eec : F ca v es . 7

f ’ merely a matter o a few days practice to learn the trill . But it is n o t completely learnt until you can take a deep R breath a n d trill the continuously till it is exhausted , and until you can do this n o t only with the vocal cords vibrating

o r but with them silent, alternately sounding and silent, four or five times in succession with a single breath . If while practising the R the learner reverts acciden tally

B e to the , it is better to do something else for a whil ,

’ otherwise a kind O f n ervo u sn ess comes o n which renders further practice useless . This is very generally the case with those muscular movements n ot completely controlled by the will . — The burr should always be l e arnt first many English c r people sc a c el y ever use the trill . But it is n ot enough to be able to sound the r in o n e o r

o n o two words . A great deal depends the c nsonan t which precedes and the vowel which follows it . ‘ ’ Tree is generally found to be the easiest word , especially if whispered softly . The reason is that both

ee w l for the T and for the sound , the tongue is kept el

' h ' l m f SO t al . o forward , it would entai ore e fort to put it int R the position for . ‘ ’ f Grow is much more di ficult, because the tongue is already in the guttural position ; but the most troublesome — consonan t is P probably because for this letter the fron t

o f n part the to gue is kept low . ’ sa Many foreigners are quite unable to y promise, which becomes with them

f a The di ficulty is best pproached by easy stages, thus

Tree, previous , practice , prawn , pronoun , proof, promise .

‘ r to a c u i r The first three vowels make the much easier q e .

A mistake, which is to be deprecated as an error in

l ea rni n g , consists in the substitution of D for R in such ‘ ’ ‘ ’ - w u -m o d d o w words as to morro , which is prono nced to . 1 8 r i T h e P on u n ci ati on o f E n g l sh .

If the trilled R cannot be acquired it is quite suffi cien t

u s e r n o f to the burr, about which the e should be di ficulty .

Personally , I would rather hear the guttural R than substitute a D for the English R .

N B — . . The English Police Station test for drunkenness “ sa — is to make a man y Truly rural truly rural . It is f “ more di ficult than it looks . Round the rugged rocks

a - the r gged rascal ran is another well known sentence .

F AND V .

I n order to Speak a language without a foreign accent i t is n ot enough to pronounce the component letters and syllables so as to sound a s when spoken by natives : th ey f m ust be produced in the same way . O therwise di ferences are sure to occur when these sounds follow o n e another i n r apid speech . There is n o more striking illustration of this than th e

n Scandinavia F and V . The F is made by resting the upper teeth against the i nner edge of the lower lip and blowing .

V is made i n the same way , but the vocal cords

a . vl b rate, where s in F they are silent But while th e Englishman raises his upper lip well above f the middle o the teeth , the Scandinavian lets his drop till

it almost touches the lower lip . [ See Fig . 9 and Fig .

This makes n o difference to the sound taken by itself. “ ” But suppose a sentence such as Are yo u fond of m usic ?

for M The lips m ust close the , and the Scandinavian has them already so nearly closed that there is nothing left for

H e o n e him to d o . fuses the two sounds into , and says ’ ” Are you fond 0 music ? o r a n d The same thing occurs before B P , before a vowel “ - th e V sound frequently becomes W . Thus Dove of ” “ ‘ ’ ’ ” P eace is pronounced D uw wo Peace .

2 0 n i f l T h e Pro u n ci a ton o E n g i sh .

W .

- The English W is a stumbling block to the foreigner, but rather to the French and German than to the northern races . The French mistake i s usually that they make a vowel of ’ it and pronounce it simply 0 0 . I t i s far more closely

so allied with B . In pronouncing W the mouth is nearly

to closed as cause a considerable increase of air pressure ,

so not great as for B , but easily felt with the fingers lightly touching the cheeks , and it is this that gives the quasi

1 1 FIG . .

T s f r th r r a e t o e pro pe p on u n c i ti o n o f th e E n gl i sh W .

consonant sound of the English W . But to produce it , it is necessary to use a great deal more breath than the

French employ in speaking English . The German mistake is o f a diff erent but interesting

character .

Rest the point of a thin pencil , such as is used with a

dance programme , against the middle of the front teeth , keeping it there by the gentle pressure o f the tip of th e f forefinger on the other end o the pencil . [See Fig . 2 1 T h e Ph ys i ol og y of Speech : Fri c ati v es .

f “ An Englishman will without the least di ficulty say , The ” wool with which we will work , without disturbing the

n fl pe c .

so If a German tries to do , the pencil will be knocked away at once . The Englishman keeps h i s upper lip still a n d a little drawn up , and brings the lower lip up to it ; but the

German keeps his lower lip still , and moves the upper lip down to it . To acquire the English action you may rest the fore finger against the cheek -bones and the two thumbs under

a nd the chin , with the middle and third fingers flexed , push up the upper lip with the tips o f the little fingers held “ two c m s sa about apart . Then y The wool with which ” see - we will work , watching the while to in a looking glass that the lower lip touches the upper lip each time . — N . B n ot . The fingers must be in the corners of the m o f outh , but rather near the m iddle the lip , to prevent it from moving down , thus obliging the lower lip to move up .

wh o By those do not pronounce the W strongly enough , it s hould be practised in conjunction with B thus Bill—Will Bell—Well Ball—Wall Bull—Wool

- This should be done opposite a looking glass , saying the

a n d i words slowly , with strong articulation , try ng to get the lips for the W as nearly as possible into the same position

' a s z . e. for B , yet without sounding B , without absolutely stopping the passage o f the breath .

W “.

a s H w h a s This is often represented being . It , however,

i s n othing to do with H , but simply W with a larger

o f expenditure breath .

- Hold a sheet of note paper loosely by its lower edge, 2 2 T h e Pr on u nci a ti on of E n g li sh :

and let the upper part of it rest upon the lips , throwing the m “ so . head back so ewhat , that it may do Then say Which witch ?” —trying to blow away the paper in the act of

W H T h i s pronouncing the . will of course greatly exaggerate

n c an l h a ve the pronunciatio , but when you do it you wil ffi d no farther di culty with the correct soun . W H is pronounced more strongly in the northern parts of

an d a o f Britain than in the south , in some p rts Scotland

O f has almost the sound F . ‘ ‘ ’ Novelists generally spell why and what wy and ‘ ’ wot to represent the speech of the uneducated , the W H Cockney dialect making no difference between W and .

T H .

The E nglish TH off ers difficulties to all except the f Greeks , and though these di ficulties may have been over

come they are n o t always overcome in the right way .

I remember a French student , who made the sound per

f ec tl o r . y, but always with a slight pause hesitation On enquiry I found she had been taught—and I believe the statement is to be found in books—that the English TH is made by putting out the tongue a n d drawing it in against

the upper teeth , blowing the while . I am quite convinced

that this action will produce the sound , and equally certain — that I n ever make it that way there is not time . Take a “ sentence o f three words This thick thistle . The first TH

c a n so be done , but the second coming after S and the

' th e to n u e third after K , for which g is against the roof of the

mouth , would require a mobility possessed only by the

tongue o f a serpent . Why then is the device successful at all ? Simply because it ensures your doing ignorantly wh at you ought to

o f do set purpose . F o r the normal TH the tongue i s flattened hori z ontally T h e h i ol of P ys og y Sp eech : Fr i c ati v es . an d d applied to all the teeth except the mid le incisors , but leaves a small passage here just at the level of the ed ge !o f the teeth . For S i t is drawn more back towards the middle of ’ so . a s the teeth , and the tongue is not flat Hence , ou t putting the tongue makes it flat, and while being drawn i n it passes through the posi tion for TH , the action taught in

o u to th e these French books will help y make sound , t n o t u s hough it will enable you to e it properly . In the lives o f some o f us there come ti m es when th e i t den tist is alternately a terror and a benefactor . Let be so m e consolation that the ravages b e both increases a n d repairs enable us to speak authoritatively o n some question s of A n o n phonetics . y e in the happy position o f being able to two so remove at will one or front teeth , may do , and ob serve the action of the tongue in sounding TH, SS , TH ,

SS repeatedly . The tongue applies itself to the remaining

o n o n e o n teeth side and gums the other, and selecting the most c onveni en t depression in the gap leaves an aperture by it about three mms wide and o n e m m deep through w i s a hich the breath blown . For TH the floor Of this per

t z . ure , constituted by the tongue, is hori on tal For SS the edge of the tongue is turned down so a s to make a square end to it , and the passage through which the breath comes h issing points vertically downwards along the back o f the teeth . d Broadly speaking , TH is made with the e ge of the teeth

n d of o f . a the upper surface the tongue, close to the edge it SS is made with the en d o f the tongue against the back of the teeth . But the exact action depends o n the shape o f the mouth an d the condition o f the teeth . ‘ ’ —T H a s wh i sm TH has two sounds in thin , which is ’ 6 ‘ pered , like the Modern Greek , and D H as i n this ,

A . when the v ocal cords vibrate , as in the Modern Greek 2 T h e r n u i a i of i h 4 P o n c t o n E n g l s .

One of the faults o f foreigners consists in substituting the

o f i n or one for the other . Sometimes this is the result g

o f ance, and is to be cured by a free use the pronouncing dictionary . I n other cases it belongs to the dialect of the

o f . place they come from , like the substitution B for P

- In these cases pronunciation drill is the only remedy .

— o f Other mistakes are the substitution D for TH , frequent w d i n S eden , Norway, and sometimes Austria , and Finlan

o r and France ; and the substitution of S Z for TH , common in Germany , Denmark , Austria , Russ ia , and France .

The following words should be practised , pronouncing them slowly and forcibly , so that each letter may be audible from the other end of the room Diphthong H eal th seek er Aesthetic Athletic Hearthstone Hearthrug

L . The letter L comprises two motions The front o f the tongue is pressed firmly a gainst th e root or thereabouts of the upper incisors and canines and

i e o r . premolars ( . . all except the back teeth grinders) The middle o f the tongue is narrowed so as to leave n

a o n clear pass ge either side by the upper molars . ’ The front o f the tongue is suddenly drawn away ff from the teeth with a quick explosive e ect . This occurs only when 1 is followed by a vowel or closes

- e . a syllable ; .g . Look , Bella , Well

When L is followed by N , S , Th , M , F , B , D , etc . , only the first action is performed . — e. g . Kiln , vulnerable , Elsie , health , elm , shelf,

Elba , elder .

Health is a good word to practise with . Stand in a

- good light Close to a looking glass , and , holding the lips 2 T h e Ph ysi o logy of Sp eech : Fr i ca ti v es . 5

sa a part with the fingers , y the word very slowly, dwelling

n o n o f t o n the L a d the TH . At the moment transi ion you will see the sides o f the tongue go up and flatten them

ou t so selves as to touch the molars , while the tip changes its shape so as to leave a sm a l l passage by the incisors

o n while still pressing firmly against the teeth each side . Some writers o n phonetics maintain that only o n e side o f the tongue is drawn down in pronouncing L . After e xamining a great m an yI have come to the conclusion that most people place the to n gue symmetrically ; but undoubt ed l o n e y a certain number use side only, just as some

n w o e o n e . n ot people raise eyebrow , or ink with eye It is s o many years since it was the fashion in certain circles to

o n smile with e side of the mouth . People cultivated the h n - abit a d practised doing it . Then a well known surgeon i o n o f had occasion , in a popular lecture the functions the

o n e o f brain , to explain how injury to side the brain causes paralysis o f the corresponding muscles on the other side of

sa d o n e- the body . Whereupon the sweet , , sided smile w u o f ent o t fashion speedily .

: L L (n) .

n o t This special sound belongs to English but to Welsh . For i nthose words spelt with double L i n English the sound is merely that of the ordinary letter .

w so o f a n d There are , ho ever , many names places of people in which the Welsh Ll occurs that it is desirable to

o f master the sound . For the sake distinction it will be r epresented by (ll) .

o f o f W H The relation L to (ll) is precisely that W to . Place your tongue in position for th e first part o f L and blow . The rushing sound , something like and yet unlike o r TH even S , is the Welsh (ll) . — e. g . Llandudno, Llanfairfechan , Llangollen , Llewelyn . 2 6 T h e r u n i i P on c a ton of En gl i sh . The single L is pronounced the same in Welsh as in

English . G is always hard in Welsh ; DD is pronounced a s 66 TH , C H as in German , and W is and U is almost th e same as u in German . One great advantage possessed by the Welsh language is that the words are always pronounced as spelt according to

e r h . t es rules Nea ing Dolgelly one day in the train , I heard a young Londoner explaining to his sisters and his cousins “ and his aunts , the mysteries of the Welsh language . You ” “ would never guess , he said , that they call this place ” D - el ffi oth j y. It would have been di cult for him to make l 2 m o re m i stak s i n n w r I t h u l h a ve n D l - e o e o d . s o d b ee o ge (ll)i

with a hard G . Perhaps the most difficult place name is

Pwllheli . The railway companies used to instruct their

- h l f passengers to call it Pool t e y. O late they have even

m Po r th l o n printed the na e e y. The accent is the second 3 2 2 — - 1 syllable Pu (ll) he i , the H being pronounced .

As . 2 . SOUNDS MADE WITH THE UVULA FREE , I N FIG

M .

“ Keeping the passage from mouth to nose open , go ” through the movements fo r pronouncing B .

a c There are many people who c nnot do this , be ause they have never learnt to recogni z e the sensation of opening and “ ” sa u closing the passage . Yet if we y Prono nce M they

do it at once . With some people it i s enough to say Breathe through

the nose while pronouncing B . For all who wish to teach the pronunc i at i on o f langu a ges it is necessary to learn the voluntary u se of all the muscles

z concer ned . The teacher must be able to recogni e the

signs and causes of faulty pronunciation , and also to

demonstrate the methods of correcting them , just as the

doctor must study diagnosis and therapeutics .

2 8 T h e r u n i i n P on c at o of En g l i sh .

th e m o f G — fi n - passage and aking the sound thus , g ger . I n

— - g inger the N and the G are separate letters thus gin jer .

B — n f N . I o ( . words this type the G is soft before E o r I 2 2 a n d = - e. . a 1 hard before other vowels , g Fingal Fi n g ) . No c a n N definite rules be given . Terminal O has the simple

e. sound and retains it when syllables are added , g . , sing , s a n a inger . Also when N d G are sep rate letters they remain s h i n = h i n h i n = h i ~ e. . : e e es n es eparate in derivatives , g g j, g j , h i n i n = h i n - ge g jing .

N K - = h - - K e r i n k t i n k k . N G . . : is always g think , g , ring ‘ ’ ‘ ’ n h i n k Anything is pronounced a yt g by the uneducated . But to sound the hard G after the N G at the end of a word i n English is the peculiarity of the Austrian and the Hun

z garian , who can be recogni ed by it . O n the other hand it is just as bad a mistak e to leave it

o u t E n - where it ought to be sounded , and to say g land “ instead o f Eng-gland O nly perseverance and th e

pronouncing dictionary will cure such errors .

B —I n G N N . . English is either pronounced simply as N ,

e . . g sign , benign , feign ; or else the two letters belong to

i r n = i n o ran c ff e n o a c e e. di rent syllables , as in g g The

- pronunciation i n g yora n c e is quite wrong . GN is n ever

~ a pronounced N O Y i n n y purely English word . Signor l g s n - e vo t is the nearest approach to this , but here the first m s yllable has n o sound of N G but is si ply N . Some in teresting points arise in connection with this

s eries of sounds .

‘ ’

ffi . 1 . As regards the di culty of pronouncing Gnu In s ounding the hard G the uvula is drawn up and the passage i behind t to the nose is closed , for we can pinch the nose

a n d without altering the sound , at the same time the back o f the tongue is pressed against the soft palate so that th e

passage o f breath through the mouth is also closed . l ri 2 T h e Ph y si o ogy of Sp eech : F cati v es . 9

G n o t I n sounding N , the passage behind the uvula is closed,for we can breathe through the nose , but the back f so o the tongue is pressed against the soft palate, that we do n o t breathe through the mouth . This is shown b y N G . pinching the n ose , which converts to G ‘ ’ th e A beginner, trying to pronounce Gnu , presses back o f the tongue so firmly against the soft palate as to

e t/ze a s a e to th e n o e a l so cl os p s g s .

The remedy is , while practising , to put in a previou s syllab le thus n o go o . Then gradually separate it and finally omit i t

- - o n O O o n o o O . g , g , gnoo , gnoo And when yo u have succeeded yo u can boast of being able to do what scarcely one Englishman i n a hundred can manage ! ‘ ’ The received dictionary pronunciation o f the word ‘ ’ n o o is .

L .

2 o f . The mode forming the L may be studied b y f means o N . With N the tongue is spread out so as to come agains t all the upper teeth . Since the breath passes freely through th e c an nose the sound be continued for some seconds , an d - we can watch what happens with a hand glass , holding the lips apart o n the left side with the middle and third f ‘ ’ fingers o the left hand . Sound the word tunnel very

m u t slowly , passing fro N to L without sounding the vowel , b as if i t were spelt tu n nl e . You will see the sides Of the

' r W fo . n o t see tongue come down the L hat you will , is that at the same ti m e the uvula goes up a n d the passage to the nose is stopped . But you may prove it by pinching the nose, first during the N , which is at once converted to

D , and then during the L , which is unaffected . 3 0 T h e Pr on u n ci ati o n of En g li sh :

T L .

3 . What happens when L is preceded by D or T or N D ?

The normal pronunciation o f T o r D i ncludes the e o f o f f or xplosive drawing back the tip the tongue . But th e L the tip is pressed firmly against the teeth . Do we then replace the tongue ? The usual and natural way in which this sound is made is by drawing do wn the sides o f th e ff m tongue with an explosive e ort, without oving the tip at all . This may be seen by saying the words butler ,

- bundle , battle , puddle , little, etc . , Opposite a looking glass .

a n d n o t o r In all these cases , the T D are really T D but a s pecial sound used only in connection with L .

T h i s ffi fact explains a di culty often felt by the French , ‘ ’ ‘ wh o pronounce the words little people either lit tel ’ ‘ ’ pe o pu l or l i tl In the first case they ins ert

a n d n o t between the T the L a vowel , which does b elong to the English word ; and in the second case they use an

w f o r aspirated L , like a very eak Welsh (ll) the second ‘ n a ti o n s m ake letter . Other the same mistake , but not so often . ‘ ’ Incidentally , spelling reformers may note that little ‘ n ot an d littel are alike in sound .

T N .

4 . Another special sound is used when we pronounce ‘ ’ T N as in button . According to the spelling there

i s o n e should be a vowel between T and N , but it doubtful if ‘ A n d person in a hundred so pronounces it . in ligh t ’ ning the vowel is absent both from spelling a n d pro

i n n u n c ia to . Consider the actions involved — For T the tongue

15 pressed against all the upper teeth , especially the tip

“ o f a ttl ze en d o t/ze T i s it , which f drawn back with a jerk , : 1 T h e Ph ysi olog y of Sp eech Fr i cati v es . 3 l n o u t o f etti g the compressed breath the mouth , the nasal

n passage being kept closed . For N the to gue is pressed against all the upper teeth , the nasal passage being kept

n d o f o e . pen , and at the the N the tongue is drawn back Therefore i n passing from T to N the only thing left to be d one i s to open the nasal passage . Accordingly the c o m

a ir n pressed in the mouth escapes that way, maki g a sound f n otunlike that o T but weaker . ’ ‘ ’ h eard And that is the sound in button and lightning .

! .

m K Z This letter is si ply KS or . I have recently met with a good many cases in which the K sound has been

m —ex ec t=es ec t exc u se = esc u se o itted , thus p p , , exact

e z ac t . , etc ’ a n d This is obviously a learner s mistake , is quite

i . m w eks ek t ek sk u se ek z akt nadmissible It ust be al ays p , , ,

! = e tc . In e z a kt ( rapid speech , exact g . ) LECTURE III .

T HE O F : PHYSIOLOGY SPEECH VOWELS .

n o t e i s VOWELS are properly sounds , but resonanc s , that

sa o f to y echoes sounds .

e a an Sound , like light , is refl cted when it strikes gainst y sm ooth surface ; but whereas in the case of light th e surface

so must be not only smooth but polished , sound waves are many times bigger that for the finest o f the m the wall o f a

- house is as good a reflector as a looking glass is for light .

o r Accordingly , if we shout fire a gun in the Open and

‘ o ff there is a house some distance , we hear the sound repeated after a longer o r shorter interval according as the

o ff An house is far or near . d if there are several houses at

ff o u r di erent distances , all facing way, we shall hear an

echo or reflection from each o f them .

l z Now, what I want you to rea i e is this , that if we have a — — number of echoes si x or eight is quite enough coming

o n e e quickly enough after the other at equal int rvals , they

o f will produce a musi cal note . And the pitch that note will not change when you change the pitch o f the sound

that produces the echo . There used to be in O xford a set o f iron railings near

Worcester College, which illustrated this . There were

boards behind the railings , and if you stamped a little

sharply in walking past , every footfall gave forth a ringing sound like pink ! pink ! pink ! Years ago as a boy I had heard the same thing by

l was o f simi ar railings , and given the explanation it by my T h e Ph ysi ol ogy of Sp eech : Vowel s : 3 3

father . From each iron bar there comes an echo , and as the bars are all the same distance apart the echoes come at corresponding reg u lar intervals . For sound travels 3 3 3 metres per second , and the intervals will be the time

a n d required for sound to travel the extra distance, to fro, between o n e bar and the next . If the b ars are half a — metre apart we shall have 3 3 3 echoes per second if a 666 quarter of a metre, , very nearly corresponding to E

- o n e . natural , third above the tuning fork And if they are only 1 2 % centimetres apart the echoes will be at the rate of

1 2 3 3 per second , giving a note an octave higher . Multiple echoes o f t h is kind are sometimes heard as yo u approach the foot of a flight o f steps i n one o f the under

e o f . ground passag s the Tube Railway They are , however , lo wer in pitch and therefore less distinct than those given n by iron railings, because the distance betwee the steps is greater . We have thus proved that a series o f echoes gives a

o f musical note, the pitch of which depends on the number

n o t O n echoes per second , and the sound that causes the echo . But we m a y have a series o f echoes if the shape of th e enclosure i n which the sound is produced is such that it c a n a n d be reflected backwards forwards between the walls .

Go into a quite empty house a n d clap yo u r hands in each, o f e the rooms . You will h ar shrill echoes pealing roun d the corners of the ceilings each room will give a diff eren t W note . hen the carpets have been put dow n the note will be altered . When the curtains go up the song of the

a n d ceiling corners will be stopped , when the pictures a re hung the voices of the echoes are hushed , and decorous silence reigns henceforth . What a pity it is that anybody ever connected pictures with ideas o f controversial doctrine ! 3 4 T h e Pron u n ci ati on of En g li sh .

Tell me , says the preacher , you who know all about sound , how can I cure this horrible echo i n my church , that makes me unintelligible to half my hearers ?” “ ?” Echo , my dear Sir says the physicist . pictures cover your walls with pictures . “ ?” Hang pictures says the poor man , pictures ! but the odium th eo l ogi c u m “ Ha n th eol o i c u m g the odium g , my dear Sir, says the physicist .

To resume . How are echoes connected with vowel sounds ?

Yo u have probably, as Children , amused yourselves with speaking into a jug and noting the weird tones imparted to

fl o w r- the voice . I have here jugs and e vases of diff erent ' z shapes and si es , and you may hear the characteristic sound given by each as I speak into it . With a little practice yo u might recogni z e by the sound alone which one

I am using . of Now, if you come to think it , that is precisely what we

fo r set o f z want vowels , to produce a recogni able sounds , so th a t we can tell one word from another .

Each nation has its own set of vowels , just as you and I may have diff erent sets o f jugs ; only as all these various m sounds are producible by the same outh , merely by

o f altering the position and shape its parts , so it is necessary for us to learn h o w each nation makes its own characteristic sounds , that we may imitate them . We may classify vowels broadly into those which c a n b e s ounded continuously without change , such as A in father, and those which cannot , such as U in tube, which obviously changes its Character as we proceed , from e 6 becoming 6 .

i s It evident that the first, being simpler, should be s tudied first, more particularly as some of them may turn

6 T h e r n u n i ti n f i 3 P o c a o o En g l sh .

selves , not pure because they cannot be sounded con ti n u o u sl n ot y, yet diphthongs , because they are too short

of to admit any change in sound .

They occur in the words bit , but, bull .

ff r Now of these vowels , five di er f om the rest . Say the words

Father , fall , fool , be , burr , full , and then repeat each one , pinching the nostrils together

so n o ff while doing . It makes di erence to the sound , because for all these vowels the uvula is raised a n d the

a 1 nasal pass ge closed , as in Fig . . Say the words

d o t Bet , bat , , sir , but ,

o n e and repeat each with the nose pinched . It gives a

f or nasal sound , showing that these five vowels the passage

. 2 behind the uvula is open , as in Fig . Before discussing in detail the pronunciation of English vowel sounds by foreigners it is necessary to make so m e

reference to the vagaries of English spelling . One would like to claim that it is o n e o f the duties attached to the possession o f a great literature to preserve the monuments o f its past history by retaining the ancient

m o f o f forms . Unfortunately ost the eccentricities our spelling represent little more than the resourceful initiative

r o f o u r forefathers during the last two o three centuries .

They have given us an orthography which is full of variety ,

sprinkled with reminiscences of antiquity, and enlivened

with surprises . They have vindicated our claim of liberty

n by spelling in o e way and pronouncing in another, and by

z f pronouncing the same spelling half a do en di ferent ways .

I have therefore collected together the various spellings

of each sound , and you are to understand that in each case the sound is that of the first word of the list—always a T h e Ph ysi ology of Sp eech : Vo wels . 3 7 familiar word—and that the rest are pronounced in the

n o t same way , merely i n speaking carelessly or rapidly, but in the most solemn and deliberate speech , exactly as if

as they were s pelt with the same vowel the first word . O l d students will know how to use these lists i n class teaching . First the teacher reads the list through slowly and deliberately . Each student i n turn reads from five to ten words , copying exactly the vowel sound given by the

an d teacher, who listens like a pianoforte tuner , as it were strikes the right note directly there is any divergence from B — t “ ” . ou . it N . . Look for traps

I A . I f f The vowel A of ers little di ficulty to the foreigner . The only divergence from the typical pronunciation I have come across was that o f some Russians who gave it a broader 2 of sound more like A . In some parts England there is a l l a -a tendency to drawl it as though it were , with a falling

o n E s ec i al l i s inflection the second half. p y this the case in

Essex , where the people are called Essex calves from the bleating sound o f their talk . I have come across occasional instances of it from Westphalia and Prussia .

With regard to certain examples , note that not even an ‘ Englishman can be sure o f the pronunciation of a place ’ nam e till he has been told .

I A . Father harp aunt sergeant calf Rather yard drau ght clerk half Lath heart laughter Cherwell psalm Far hearth guard Hertford haulm — E xa mpl e I n a class this list may be taken as follows

1 2 1 2 A reads lines and , B lines 3 and 4 , C lines and ,

so . D lines 3 and 4 , and on 3 8 T h e Pr on u n ci a ti o n o f En g l i sh :

Or to prevent successive pupils having quite the sa m e

—A 1 2 a n d words reads columns and , B columns 3 4 ,

a n d 1 2 a n d C columns 5 , D columns 3 , etc .

Some vowels need very little attention , others require a good deal of practice . A2

s This i a much more difficult vowel . The Poles do not m f 2 1 O o r . possess it , but substitute so e orm of 0 The

so Scandinavian races have something like it , and yet not fi quite identical , that their dif culty in acquiring the English sound is increased thereby . Especially by Norwegians our 2 2 A 0 . is shortened almost to So also do many Austrians ,

notably those from Pilsen , who pronounce all as Germans on the other hand tend rather to the first sound 1 l b l A a . of , making i t

A . storm nought for four ! more M a gdalen College glory cloth

0 0 .

This vowel off ers considerable diffi culties to all th e

Scandinavian group , who substitute for it a modified vowel

made with the tongue pushed farther forward . ‘ In many country districts o f Engl a nd two is pronounced ‘ f w tew to rhyme with e . This sounds somewhat like the

Scandinavian vowel , but is not as a rule identical with it, 4 being simply the substi tution o f U for 0 0 . But in the

North of Ireland we get the real modified vowel .

2 2 l 2 a a en Co l e e O x o r i s r o n o u n c e a e n Co l l e . So M gd l l g , f d , p d M dl j

a l so M agd a l en B ridge a n d M a gda l e n S c h o o l . Bu t a a en S ree a n d M a a en Ch u rch Co n m a r e O x o r M gd l t t gd l , by r k t , f d , 3 2 a re ono u n c e a a e n wh ere a i s a e r sh or a . pr d M gd l , v y t T h e h i l l P ys o ogy of Speech : Vowe s. 3 9

f i s I In German pronunciation o English it rare . have found it in Schleswig and occasionally in Austria . an d Poles Hungarians frequently shorten this vowel .

00 .

l E .

As a rule there is very little di fficulty with this vowel .

u Some few people lengthen it o t unnecessarily, but that i s o f a mere error judgment , easily corrected by observing and c om i ng English custom in the m atter . A far more serious difficulty is felt by a comparatively small number o f — Scandinavians principally Norwegians . 1 They make two syllables o f the long E as if it were l z 2 se -u n followed by a short U : thus seen becomes , mean — 1 2 1 2 -u n a n d = -e f n me , thief the , the seco d syllable having a falling inflection . It is interesting to note that precisely this intonation occurs in the dialects o f Yorkshire a n d Lincolnshire . One i s almost tempted to ask whether it may not be a legacy to u s from the Viking invasions . In any case the peculiarity i d iffI c u l s very persistent and t to correct . i The method most successful , n my experience, is to let the student p ronounce the vowel deliberately i n two 12 syllables , but making the second a short , with a rising 2 2 z— see-i n l - f inflection thus seen , thief the i . After practising this for some time, gradually fuse the two

‘ s l l ab l es i n to y one . The physiological cause o f it is a tendency to relax the muscles of the tongue after forming

' th e vo wel , and before passing to the next consonant .

u c l Sl i e s oos. 0 T h r n u i i 4 e P o n c at on of E n g li sh . Nothing but constant attention and patient effort will

correct the habit . 1 E . Me queen mean deceive key ravine He seen bean leisure quay quinine She feet sea mien Caius College b eer Legend seal a tear thief people bier

- N B . . Quinine is occasionally pronounced in the French z 2 3 K i n é n - e . fashion An ultra British pronunciation is Qui n ine . The best form preserves the sound o f th e O u and accents i’ l : u i n e n e a n the last syllable , thus q . Legend d leisure are also sometimes pronounced as if the vowel o f the first l E 2 syl able were .

Caius College , Cambridge , is pronounced exactly as if it

S . were pelt Keys So also is quay, a place where they

u nload ships . 2 E .

m This sound co es easily to most people . In Saxony 3 a and Russia there is a tendency to pronounce it like . 3 3 o n e va rr Thus ferry fa rry . Among the French often hears y i’ tu l l for very . Russians tend rather to say for tell . So do 3 m t . the Dutch , who also say ma t for

weather read Enclose dead b Red z ealous

3 A . The tendency to substitute E 2 for A3 is so strong among

m z Danes that it is al ost possible to recogni e them by it .

2 4 = m z b u h am m T h a m e s T e , t T e T a . 2 2 l b Z u = l 5 b t z ea l : L l ea l o s z e u , u e . i 1 T h e Ph ys ol og y of Speech : Vowels . 4

z 3 2 sa m e n m a n h e t . They y for , for hat , etc Occasionally s l l 3 a a h a h n d o r the is lengthened to , as in for ha nd ii 2 3 s hortened almost to as i n hu ppy for ha ppy .

n o t Other Scandinavians do the same , but to such a

a n d o f marked degree, in most parts Germany the tendency , though decided , is comparatively slight . It is stronger i n f Austria and in some parts o Russia . A3 The true sound is made with the nasal passage open , and i n m aking it o n e i s conscious o f a certain muscular 2 e ff ort that is relaxed when passing to the sound E 1 P ro 3 g n m e n — ounce slowly the words ma n , , several times then without changing the action in any other way, try to leave 3 2 3 2 a n d u s a n d sa —a —e — — o u t the ms to y simply a e . A fter a little practice yo u will feel the change o f position o f

h o f a n d t e back the tongue the uvula and soft palate . 3 3 It may be noted that the ba a o f a sheep is almost 3 a exactly the English , with a nasal tone added .

Fat shall plaid ll can h Mat ass sal m on lad Man sang Jack badge Than A'nne happy rat In the sentence “ I shall shell peas in a shawl i n chilly w ” ff eather, which a ords excellent practice in vowel sounds , t here are more diffi culties than appear o n the surface . al l Seven nations make seven characteristic mistakes in it ,

ff Y u d i erent . o may find o u twhat they are from this book .

1 0 .

of The sound this vowel , and the sounds most generally , s ubstituted for it , will be found in the sentence “ ” 2 2 3 n o r n u n r n Not nut gnat (nolt t a a t) .

3 4 a : a u su a b u t: l a i n so m e a c es . Pl id pl d lly , p d pl 3 l ’ l b a l = m S m o n sa o n , b u t l sal m sa m . 2 T h e r i 4 P on u nc a ti on of E n g l i sh .

O f i s the three errors the first by far the most common . It is one of the characteristics of the Danish pronunciation f o . English I have met with it in Stockholm , but it is not

of very common in the countries the North . As is the case with the typically English sounds there is a general tendency among foreigners to diverge slightly in

o n e on e direction or the other from the true tone . On the ’ 2 ’ ‘ ’ h n o t n u t 3 and becomes , and on the other hand gna t .

z Sometimes the tendency is very slight . But when a do en people from di ff erent parts of Europe read in succession

the same list of sounds , the contrast makes it easy to

detect . 1 0 . Not what squadron swallow yacht On quantity quality swan knowledge“ Song quarrel quadrangle swamp problem Lot hovel squalid watch novel

2 1 Cases o f the substitution of A for 0 occurred among

o f Russians and Poles . The majority those who tended ? towards the sound o f A came from Saxony o r Austria .

1 I AND UI .

o f When , in the pages a novel , a mother addresses her ‘ ’ daughter as my gurl , everybody knows by instinct that sh e is not o f the caste of Vere de Vere the mere fact that ‘ u r is substituted for ir is a s eloquen t as the omission of ‘ ’ an h or the insertion o f monotonously unpleasant

on e o u t adjectives . Yet I doubt if person of three could

explain the precise diff erence o f pronunciation indicated .

If while saying such words as burst , world , word , or curl ,

n o ff . we pinch the nose , it makes di erence to the sound

s i s But if we do o while saying sir, girl , pearl , a nasal tone

imparted to the vowel . Undoubtedly there are many

5 l ? 2 l b u t a few eo e n l l e . K no wl edg e n o l e by p pl , j

4 4 T h e Pron u n ci ati on of E n gli sh .

t ’ i hat the correct sound is heard in the German ich . It s

th e o f shortest all short vowels , and there must not be the

f o f o f aintest suspicion the sound e in it .

It mystery Pin ph ysi o Spin gypsy Lid minute!

2 U .

As a rule this vowel is pronounced with fair accuracy . I T h e o f A most general tendency is in the direction , so that ’ ’ b l h t a a . but becomes , only shorter Simil rly some b ’ ‘ 3 ’ ecomes salm , and bunker becomes ba nker . 2 i s E so Occasionally the tendency towards , that nuns ‘ ’ s 2 ounds like ne u s .

U 3

Saving a f e w accidental cases where this vowel has been

p ronounced a little too long or a little too short , I have f ound little to correct i n the pronunciation of it , except by those Norwegians and Danes who use the

b l z Ci rc u i tz si rk e t. = 2 2 g l‘ M n u e o f ti m e m i n i t. Bu t m n u e v e sm a m i n u te or i t , i t , ry ll ; l 4 e m h a c a v er ex rem el sm a m i n u te . p ti lly , y t y ll ffi u o s on rom u n er i n th e a m e o f o l . An o s a c e or c B k , g g f y b t l di lt p iti f

wh i ch it i s h a r d to str ik e th e b all if it gets th ere . z i z to u t P u t a n d i ts er a es. I n o l a en e s ro e n en e , d iv tiv g f, g tl t k i t d d p n r o a a a ec th e ba ll i n th e h o l e wh en it h as rea ch ed th e g ree . P b bly di l t 3 ro p nu n c i a ti o n of pu t. T h e Ph ysi o log y of Sp eech : Vo wel s; 4 5

. m odified vowel sound o f 66 . They keep the ton gue too f ar f o r forward in the mouth this vowel also .

3 U . Pull book Sugar look Push good Put wool

3 B -I n w h as u ! . this list the ord pu t its ordinary sig i

c n fi a c e and i ts ordinary pronunciation . ‘Wolf ’ is noteworthy as the only word in the English i language for which there s no rhyme . LECTURE I V.

T H E G o r E : PHYSIOLO Y SPE CH GLIDES .

DI PHTHONGS may be regarded as combination o f pure v - = l : e. . e o o u a e . owels sounded i n succession , g , oi By analogy they might be represented i n musical notation after this fashion

To any one acquainted solely with key -board instruments t a n d his could only mean two notes , each distinct definite , in succession . But to the violinist there may be a third

— l i ssa n d o possibility the g , in which the note changes pitch

to pa ssing without a break from one the other . ff And this gliding sound has a peculiarly penetrating e ect . O ne instr ument doing so makes itself heard amid an

o f orchestra . Something this kind applied to vowels is ‘ — what we mean by a glide neither the o n e note n or the

o n e . other , but the sweep from to the other N o w it is evident that to get this right we must find th e

o n en d o n right note to begin and the right note to , and having done so must be careful to dwell neither on the beginning nor on the end . Take a simple case the country-folk in saying the word Al mile , begin with too broad an and end with too long an

RI o u , and they pass from one to the other much as y pass l i T h e Ph ysi ol og y of Sp eech : G d es . 4 7

1 o n f rom note to note the piano, thus mala ell , inserting a I d rawl in the middle of the A sound . u We might ask , why should this sound neducated , and wh y should it disappear from the speech o f cultivated n o people, though in all probability they get direct training ph o n efi c s ? For the same reason that the slouching walk and th e slov enly dress disappear . Because education and culture carry with them that c o n s ideration for others which is the foundation o f self-respect a n d makes a man take trouble to hold himself well , to behave well , and to speak well . Because to drawl is a sign — o f the la z iness that goes with ignorance and you may note

o n e n o t that to be ignorant need necessarily be poor .

Anyhow, whether there is any truth in these suggestions or n o t a , it is a f ct that the crisp articulation that goes with

a n culture avoids this drawling intonation , d gives full value to the gl i ssa n d o of the glides . 13 4 5 2 A A . The four glides are , , , 0

3 I . This sound does not seem to offer in itself any difficulty to foreigners, but i t would appear that the directions for its

m i su n pronunciation , given in some books , have been d er stood . At any rate the result is that in a good many cases

a s a 63 it is pronounced a long , followed by a long , produc i ng that very eff ect which we carefully teach our own c hildren to avoid. Expressing the sound by a diagram it is thus

a h ch i s to b e a o e i s sh o n i n . T h e fa u lty pronu n c ia tio n w i v id d w 6 T h e tr u e gl id e i s ill u st rat ed by . 8 T h r 4 e P on u n ci a ti on of En g li sh .

Probably a better result would be got by beginning with that shortened form o f AI which is sometimes substituted 2— l — for U (compare b t b a h t; some sal m ) and stop 2 1 I o f E ping with the short instead the long , throwing the whole of the emphasis on the glide . But it has seemed to me that this vowel -sound exists i n

most languages .

n The French eeded no correction , and the German Sonnenschein contained the sound as the English pro nounce it .

Mine defy eye height d Pine a y sight either Defiant ply aisle neitherd Pin t my choir quire

3 B —B 1 o il N . . y the Irish is pronounced ; thus i b t mine moin ; sight so g .

4 A . This vowel Offers more di fficulties to the English the m selves than to foreigners . 3 1 1 o r E m s Some Poles pronounce it , sometimes . A ong t ‘l z ‘ ’ e d . R u ssia ns . I have met with d y for lady Norwegians and Danes make the same mistake as the English o f York — shire and the Fens namely, they make a double sound of 2 t U : i , finishing with an obscure short , thus name ‘’ 4 z‘ 4 - - k m u . n a u break bra , with a falling inflection

i s E This best cured , as was explained under the vowel , by 4 2 n a i m going to the opposite extreme , and practising , 4 9 - h i k e t e . bra , with a rising infl ction until error is cured

o r The more remarkable mistake is purely English , h . t e rather Cockney , and it is comparatively modern I t is f 3 A4 substitution o I for .

d O r eth er n e h e . , t r h h l T e P ysi o ogy of Speech : Gl i d es .

‘ 3 3 ’ f 3 4 ’ A Cockney says a ti dy li dy , instead o a ti dy la dy .

n ot o f B ut you will find any trace this in Charles Dickens .

i n a s 1 8 0 1 88 0 It came , so far I know , between 7 and

n o t 1 8 60 o f h a s certainly before , and the tone it spread a good deal higher than the class in which it commenced .

As a s o n e near can tell , the true sound of the English vowel is found in the Italian interjection Deh

4 A .

h Fate faint eyo t wei ght Name tail pray break Mane d e ign hay yea i Ague persuade pla) er feign

5 A r . This vowel sound is only met with in connection with 3 l th e sa t si r the letter r . Pronounce words , ; then , leaving 3 1 o u t A 1 the consonants , , ; and finally make the glide between th ese two vowels . This gives the sound with some degree of accuracy .

In the north of England where ! the r i s sounded the

i s glide is strongly heard ; in the south , where it omitted , 1 the 1 sound is dwelt upon so much more that the glide becomes practically a diphthong . It should be observed that in all these cases except in the word Sarah it is the burr (r or r ) and n ot the trill (R) that must be used .

Air their mare Hair heir Sarah Lair erewhile tare Chair hare bare

b 4 E o a n s an i n th e Th a m es ron ou n ce a t. y t , i l d , p d l - 4 4 A u e a u a n o f m al a r a . g g , ki d i i 5 l ea r a r a ru s ea r S e r a ea o n . P p , f it p p , w p 5 l T ea r ta r a ren o r to ren b u t ea r te t a ea r ro . , t , d t , t d p E 50 T h e Pr on u n ci ati on o f En g li sh :

0 This is another case in which pronunciation is spoilt by a tendency to drawl . In English dialects we get all sorts Q g o f -o o N a -o N e varieties between Nal , o, and and we are careful to correct these tendencies whenever we come across them in our own people . But somehow an impression seems to have got abroad that something of this 2 0 . kind , especially the second , represents the true English G My experience is that ermans , French , and Italian s pronounce the English O 2 better by the light of nature

o f than from the instructions the books , which tend only to produce that drawl which the cultivated English avoid . f But Russians , Poles , and Austrians requently sub 2 z = 2 i t e . m m . sttu e A O o st a wst e . for , g , or else shorten it, g l n o l e = n o b b l e ; and the Scandinavian group , including A 2 the neighbouring parts of Germany , pronounce it either , 2 2 wn = wn = n f 0 e. . o a a o 0 g instead , or introduce a pre 1 l 3 E = - - w : n o n e a o . liminary sound , thus This , of course,

s i to be strenuously avoided .

2 0 .

N o though toast foe folk note Bold shoulder boat crow brogue1 m ote l Moment dou g h moat quote droll tol So hoax stoat sew coax soul

O U . AI This is one of the real diphthongs , commencing with

and ending with 0 0 . Almost the only error met with is A 1 th e too great lengthening o f the initial , which should be

left as soon as sounded . The occasional substitution by foreigners of O I or 0 2 for n ot is I fancy an accidental error , and due to any O U , ,

‘ difficulty in producing the sound . — f th e I r sh . B rogu e th e pe c u li a r a c c en t o i

T h e Pron u n ci a ti on o f En g li sh .

The following sentences contain examples o f English vowel sounds

A large c u p full of soup .

I shall shell peas in a shawl in chilly weather . w The fashion papers say few girls wear curls n o .

B uythe boys a bonny pony . E L CTURE V.

T HE following exercise may be taken simultaneo usly by th e entire class . It is intended to break down the idea

so m which any people seem to have, that there must be a v owel between one consonant and another, and it does most effectually o bviate the di ffi culty of reproducing a given sequence of sounds in a foreign language which does

n ot happen to be frequent in your own . Write down on the blackboard

B -P S Z SH ZH r r D -T F V T H H R R G -K M N NG W L The teacher signs with the pointer for all to take breath

o f n together, and then points to four these letters o e after

o n another, pausing for about one second each while the i class sound t. The letters are to be taken at random in

an every possible order, each being sounded loudly d con

i n u l s t u o s y a long as the pointer rests on it . And when the pointer moves you must pass from one sound to the next

without a vowel and without a break , thus

N n n n th th th th sssff ff

Vvvvz z z z th th th th rrrr

At first sight it seems a useless and unnecessary ac c om ’ t n tl i pl i sh m en . Yet you cannot talk about a m o s f ishing

o f v s t/zr wn without the first, and every pair glo e o away

involves the second . You are merely learning to do slowly a n d of set purpose what you c an already do casually and

quickly . T h r i i 54 e P on u n c ato n of En g l i sh .

o f Explosives may occur, but cannot course be prolonged . Thus we may have Ngn gn gngkssssffff l l ll

l i n ks a t o r in a chain with the fl , K sssstssssprrrr

x ts r i n ne p ing , or several explosives together, as ’ tkr p , in whipt cream , or you m ay have a sequence to which English words cannot easily be put

h s h n n S h S sh vv vvRRRR g gn gn g . It i s a linguistic gy m nastic that greatly strengthens the

o f muscles articulation .

o f The nation most in need it is the Italian , whose to characteristic it is insert a vowel after each consonant ,

at n f whether in the middle or the e d O a word . None the less English Elementary Schools would be all the better

for it . There h as arisen o f late years a class of phonetic teacher whose o n e Object appears to be the destruction o f the English language under pretext of keeping pace with

- modern phonetics . I have heard third rate teachers de ‘ ’ l i b era tel y advocate the pronunciation six m u n ss fo r six

months . Rapid Change i n the pronunciation o f a nation i s the

z characteristic n ot of Civili ation but of savagery . Max

‘ l l r o f v M ii e used to tell the story a missionary who, ha ing translated part o f the New Testament into the language of

- h e the tribe to whom was sent , came home to have it

p ublished . When , two years later, he returned with the

' al tered so printed volumes , their language had much that

they could n ot understand him . Evidently they went in

- - f or u p to date phonetics . From observations I once made

‘ I On the language of birds , _ came to the conclusion that apart from some few elementary and universally understood T h i e Ph ys olog y of Sp eech . 55

C a t r alls , their association of a definite cry with a p r icula

i s n idea only temporary . A d i ndeed it requires littl e thought to reali z e that it i s the permanence o f the associa tion of ideas and sounds that renders possible the expressio n

o f o f in language the tremendous complexity human thought . But if the thought of o n e generation could not be c o m

' m u n i c ated b ec o m e o f to the next, what would human progress ? The supremacy o f man is bound up i n the permanence

o f l an u a e g g .

Some little practice is needed to acquire the English method o f de aling with two explosives in succession ; as for

c at d o instance , a black , a dead g, an egg gone bad , a bad

Rad b on e . temper , big brother, Lipton , cocktail , , etc

- - sa a a . To y with the Italian , black cat , dead dog , etc ,

o ti n - sa would be wr ng , but it would be equally English to y

- o r -a r - 0 bla cat blak , and dead g might be mistaken for I h o t o u t. dead g, with the left

ff e Where the two letters are di rent , as in Lipton , Rad

' bone , etc . , we pronounce them both , and it will be found th that e difficulty o f doing so is entirely imaginary . When

o f o f it is a matter the repetition the same letter, we make a just recogni z able pause between the forcible stoppage of

a n d a the breath and its sudden release , this is accepted as t reduplication of the le ter . The fault with foreigners generally i s that th ey ' d o not

“ articulate strongly enough to bring o u t the effect . An

' ‘ ’ i n teresti n g exam pl e occurs in the word blackguard . A negro doi n g sentry duty might be referred to as the ‘ black

—a guard , but a blackguard is a disreputable person serious difference o f meaning made by omitting to sound k before ’ b l a ar d . g , and pronouncing the word g

The following sentences should be read aloud , not too 6 T h e ron u n ci ati on of n i h 5 P E g l s .

so slowly , but with forcible distinctness as to be completely

o f intelligible to a person at the other end the room . Some students will find themselves making an unexpected

mistake i n pronouncing them .

E xer ci se s.

Jack Spratt and T o m Pratt had sprats for breakfast i n ’ th e nursery . It was very amusing to hear Jack s prattle ’ S ’ ’ a bout Tom s prat and Tom s prattle about Jack s sprat .

n A pink collar o a white cat . Why do you talk about trifl es ? You should undertake

r to do some useful wo k in London .

We women are weak creatures . [ Besant . ]

If Dick crows when the cock crows , the neighbours will g et very little sleep but if Dick rose when the cock crows so he would n ot sleep late .

m an If Mr . S ith said he swam a river a mile wide, d ’ —M r smiled , which would be wider . Smith s smile, or ’ ? Mr . Smith s mile

H.

The sound of the H i s produced by so altering the shape o f the parts about the root o f the tongue that the passage

c a n o f the breath through the aperture be heard . T here is some variety in the way this is done, and every ‘ gradation o f sound from a scarcely audible rough breath ’ ing to the full throat guttural . The French generally

make it too soft, and some Germans pronounce it more f gutturally than the English , but both for French and or

o n e o f o f o u r Italians it is the difficulties language . And it is the m ore desirable to eradicate the fault because to ’ d rop one s aitches is considered a sign - o f insufficient

e ducation .

Sad to say , it is even a worse fault to put them in where

they are not wanted . l h T h e Ph ysi o ogy of Sp eec . 57

P u nt/i of tells the story a railway director, who hearing ‘ the porter at Acton call out H ac to n ! Hac to n a s the train came in , had him transferred to Hanwell , only to find hi m next week with equal cheerfulness calling out An wel l !

An wel l

The omission o f an 12 may seriously alter the meaning O f ’ a sentence . Thus I hate him in the mouth of a French m a f woman y amount to a con ession of cannibalism .

m l t l e G ota l Ca e/i . When a word begins with a vowel an Englishman begins

o n V ff . it like a note the ioloncello, without any e ort So

c o r does a Fren hman an Italian . But among the Teutonic and Scandinavian nations a considerable number begin it

o f o f with a sort explosive jerk , as though the passage the breath had b een momentarily stopped and then released . In the absence o f a sign for it in the English alphabet it will be represented in this book by quotation marks b etween brackets . The only English word beginning in this way is a groan ; and that we never express in print .

The glottal catch is especially marked in Saxony , where it occurs not merely in words beginning with a v owel but i n the middle of a word before the syllable that bears the accent . —‘ O ne o f the best test sentences is from Tennyson The Brook

For men may come, and men may go,

II But I go O for ever .

It may be asked : What do the English do in such a c ase ? Very much a s the French would . They join the en d o f o n e word to the beginning o f the next when that c an be done , and when two vowels come together, if the

ee first is an sound they interpose the ghost of a Y, and if 8 5 T h e Pr on u n c i ati on of En g li sh .

0 0 o f a e an d the first is an sound , the ghost W betwe n it

the next word . l l Bu tI o w n g ( ) o for (r)ever .

o They do not actually make these sounds , but they g

I f s through all the movements as they were about to do o . ’ o f o r ou You may think a Y W, but y don t actually say it .

—H e see f Thus came to me (y)o f.

Yo u - - w - express your opinions too ( ) openly . But avoid like a superfluous H the following The idea -r-of it ! — This runs in families i s not very common but is wors e

than the itself.

e i s th e Th re no r in either word , and it is merely by

o f c onfusion ideas that one is inserted .

6 0 T h e r P on u n ci ati on of E n g li sh .

! underneath were recorded the va r ious mistakes in pro

n u n c i ati o n as they occurred , in a species of shorthand .

Thus the progress made by each could be observed , and

s o f ffi pecial attention given to points di culty .

In order to write this chapter, the separate leaves of all th e old class registers were sorted o u t a n d arranged by

towns , provinces , and countries , according as there were m any or few from the same place . I then went through each group tabulating the various

e o f rrors according to the letters the alphabet , and from

this tabulation I prepared the account here given . It must be noted that these ‘National Characteristics ’

r n o t o wn elate to the way each nation pronounces , its

language , but English . And I have recorded in most cases

' n ot tl i e cor r ect ou t t/ze nzi sta lees ou m u st pronunciation , y

a voi d . Moreover I have in most cases Spelt the mistake as an Englishman spells it when he wants to represent the

o f sa accent a foreigner, that is to y, merely altering the ffi letter which is wrongly pronounced . But in di cult cases I have given [in square brackets] the correct pronu n

i i n c ato .

PRONUNCIATION S IGNS USED I N THIS BOO K . S H sherry C H Cherry Z H usual J = jam r broom r = t r ue R to m o RRo w R guttural r TH this G go glottal catch sing -er fi n g-ger Fin -gal gi n -jer g 3 4 5 fa l l fa t fa te ba re me e n pi 2 t mi ’ne n o fool z 3 ‘ b u t bu ll tu be oil i T h e Ph ys ol og y of Sp eech . 6 1

SCANDINAVIAN CHARACTERISTICS .

SWEDEN .

i s . a s B , P Seldom confused , but B sometimes omitted ; ’ trou le for trouble (rare) . ’ e D , T . S ldom confused but often weak ; as Lon on fo r ‘ ’ ’ ‘ ’ London ; a the fire for at the fire .

. . Y G , K , Q Q almost always correct In some parts a 2 . K e . a l is inserted between K and the next vowel , g y d h K ts . for called , yO for coach

en d Z, S . S is often dropped at the of a word . Z is some

times substituted for S .

. r Sh , Ch , J There is a tendency to insert an E l sound afte - e. . Ch , g . chee urch for church o f d In the neighbourhood Lund , J is often pronounce

as Y ; thus : o b yec t for object .

B —I n n ever o f N . . English J has the sound Y .

r m r, Is as a rule correct , but is occasionally o itted after ’

e. O er . P ; g. p p for proper

R . The trilled R is usually correct, but occasionally

guttural .

272 . Th , . Are sometimes confused Sometimes D is sub

stituted . ’ Li ttl . L . for little (see p ’ ’ ‘ ’ V o ften . 0 o F, V . Terminal omitted Some that , Lon ’ ‘ v = don . Before a vowel w thus Dove of peace ‘ ’ ’ Dowe 0 peace .

b W = 00 restW was W . In a out half the cases , in the fairly

good .

- a ti on NG . Resignation was pronounced Resing y in som e

places .

Frequent but slight . 6 2 T h e r n u n i P o c ati on of En g li sh .

A 9 ’ 1 1 . Sometimes all was pronounced 0 1 and sometimes 2 l 1 I 0 1 . I I m h l Stockhol it was also pronounced a .

m ii O D . The odified with the tongue forward in th e

: Sc h o ol = ki i l mouth was generally substituted ; thus S . A 3 E 2 2 i’ . Is often pronounced , as he t for hat , me n for

m a n .

I 2 l . Is made too long, as i n we men for women z w n i m e ] .

I 2 z e. n u t n o t. O . Sometimes , but rarely U g . for

4 4 2 A - . Name is frequently pronounced na u m , and age

. 4 0- -u a j.

3 = 1 - I . Life la h e l f.

2 0 Sometimes drawled , as by English peasants ; thus 2 3 2 i‘ h — - h a hope e a o p ; sometimes p. O ccasionally 2 2 o -u 1d gold g , with a strong tendency to the double f sound o the Lincolnshire vowels . There is a general tendency to a sing -song accent

with falling inflection .

NORWAY .

l u . B . P . C p for club , pring for bring (rare)

T b oot D , T . erminal d and ed frequently omitted ; for

hood . ’ Q ’ 2 u i c k z k o o i k u esti o n = k vestsh u n w G , K , Q . Q , q , ackno = ’ — l l l . e a l ed ge a kn o w ed ge i . the explosive consonants

weak . = Z Z , S . Terminal S dropped . S weak . S occasionally .

l i c = sh sti c h oc ki n = h - k n u st e u e. S s e oc i . Sh , Ch , J . J g g

r 3 , . Generally correct, but omitted in some places ; prove ’ ’ p o o .

u If R . Correct , except in Bergen where the g ttural is used . i 6 T h e Ph ys ol og y of Sp eech . 3

h T T n. . , Frequently Th Z or Th D or Th is omitted ‘ ‘ ’ ’ They went with me another way Zey o o en t wi me ’ a n od er ooayf

L . Rather weak .

V I s , F . very characteristic , being omitted before a con

sonant and becoming W before a vowel . B ut the

voiceless F is usually pronounced .

3 4 : a 0 0 a . S W . Is frequently weak away ometimes

V i k . . e. . V c ed it was pronounced as , g wicked This

n did o t occur often . There is a tendency to omit the hard G after the

' - r i n d - e . e stea N G ; .g strong of strong ger ; and also

s u c h ro n u n c i a ti o n s - i fic en t to , p as man y for magnificen t ,

- o ra n c e ing y for ignorance , which are altogether u n

English . These o f course are merely errors of forgetfulness

and not national peculiarities of pronunciation .

2 A . The Norwegian vowel is not quite the same as the 2 English , especially before L . It tends either to O or 1 2 l Q w 0 l U Z 0 . sa $ O W . to Thus , , always d C O . The modified u in substitute for this vowel . Good

: & ii d e il c . g , moon m ne,

‘ 2 - z E l u h . . Has often the double catch mean me 3 2 = 2 A E . : h a h e . Often pronounced as Thus ppy ppy, can — 2 k e n , &c . = ! S . : ex l ai n es l ai n . Is pronounced as imple S Thus p p .

n This is unpardonable , but it is simply ig orance .

5 l = = h r Si r sa r se . I . Sometimes work is pronounc ed ‘ ’ like walk . This also is merely ignorance .

2 1 . Is made too long . f = 2 O . O ccasionally nolt nu t , and wander is sou nded r exactly like wonde . 6 T h e r u i i 4 P on n c a ton of En g l i sh .

4 2 4 3‘ C am e = ka - = - y u m , tabl ta y u ble .

l 1 1 l a h - = - Light elt, time ta h e m .

2 - Is variously pronounced . Sometimes 0 0 0, Q g o - ro -u d boat oot , road sometimes like 2 Q Q n a sm a -O ki n as no , smoking g.

K DENMAR .

t There is a strong tendency, especially in Copenhagen , o m O it consonants before fricatives . ‘ ’ ’ B . P . A damp warm day becomes a dam warm day .

ti tl e = th e o D , T . The right ride tidal . Enj yment of ’ ’ ’ = n m i l = l n i n e e o e n o . L tt i l su sh jy sunshine e . Som e

: = t - times a Y is inserted after T, thus turned y urned .

G, K , Q . Q generally correct . G often substituted for K ,

e. . k and sometimes K for G , or K omitted ; g bac

again bag again , winked winged .

an e Sh , Ch , J . Sh and Ch often confused . After Sh or

‘ 1 3 e h i l d = c h - . c e y frequently inserted ; g . i ld , shoulder

l r &c sh ou d e . y ,

r e. . r, . Frequently correct , sometimes omitted g crowd ’ ’ ’ - o wd m a id e . k , marriage g , broken b oken f R . Occasionally guttural more o ten correct . ‘ ’= es ress. ! . Pronounced S ; thus express p

= Z r T/z . o . , Th Most often Th S Sometimes it is omitted

: : th ose = z oz e thus youthful useful , , with memories ’

r 772. wi m em o i es. Th substituted for ’ ‘ eo el L . Little people, spoken slowly , becomes littell p p ‘ ’ ’ l 2 eO . spoken rapidly li l p p . See page 4

V , F . Terminal V is either elided or changed into W as

v r k = w rtake in the middle of a word . Thus o e ta e o e ; ’ ’ = wi m r an c e c ou r = of importance o po t of se o course . Nation a l Ch a ra cteri sti cs. 65

W . Is sometimes correct , sometimes weak , and occasion ally pronounced as V

Y . Y is sometimes pronounced like the English J ; thus , z h u n young d g . ‘ ’ n Is o t uncommon . Thus the open door ’ open door .

Are M , N . often omitted when forming an end syllable ’ ’

e u nc o m m . .g . , wom

Vowel s o . The Danish accent is heard most str ngly in

the vowels .

I 2 A u . . Casks c sks

2 1 O o r 0 . In the country towns becomes Thus , 2 2 2 2 f u l = f 1 s = ko z l w= l l l = l l a t 0 t, c a u e e, a o , a o .

ii fo r 0 0 . The modified is generally substituted the

T o o = ii wh = ii h . o . t o s English vowel , And also

o f ood = ii d : in the shorter form the vowel u , g g , took

I 3 1 A a th er = a h th er Occasionally becomes , thus g g ,

3 1 3 2 : h a n d = h a h n d ; but far more often A becomes E 2 Q Q h e v sh e Il n r e . have , shall , angry g y

5 ’ o r Sir is pronounced sa r, like the German sehr .

1 As E usual , is too much like One of the strongest characteristics of the Danish 1 2 2 : 0 U . accent becomes Thus , not nu t , shone z z z S u n u vvel b u n n et hu , novel , bonnet , stop 2 2l l u c u e e . st p, College g

3 1 3 A A . Either or (rarely) Thus , Bunker ba nker , 3 3 2 l b a h t some sa m , upon a pu n , but .

3 3 I e. Is pronounced , g . boy by, point pi nt , noise 3 ni z e . 6 6 T h r . e P on u n c i ati o n of E n g li sh .

FINLAND . The accent of Finland has many Scandinavian

ff characteristics , but with certain well marked di er

en c es .

’ ’ . a m u sik D , T Terminal D is Often elided and music , ’ Lu n u n London .

G , K , Q . The tongue is put too far forward for Q, an d ffi the lips are not brought together su ciently . Quite ’ - 3 k oo i te .

Z, S . Frequently S is pronounced Z , but terminal S is

weak and the sign of the plural often inaudible .

Sh , Ch , J . June is often pronounced Yuhe , etc . This is n o ffi simple inadvertence, there being di culty in giving

the correct sound ; but it is a very com mon mistake .

r r , .

R .

T/Z i 272 . s Th , . Are Often pronounced as S , Z, or D Also l 2 o z er confused with Th . Other older u der, 2 2 instead of u the r . ’ L . Little li l .

o f V , F . V is dropped at the end a word , and becomes ‘ ’ of W in other positions . The colour the vulture de ’ l ’ colour 0 de wu tu re .

W . Is entirely without fricative force , being reduced to a ‘ ’ ‘ mere vowel : a pound a week becomes a pound a ’ ’ ‘ ’ ’ l l - n e = wer o o-u u wa s o o-o z o o eek ; every o e y ; .

I s occasionally heard .

N G . The wrong form is often used , and in addition the ‘ following quite impossible pronunciation : dignified ’ ‘ - - ignorance ding yi h ed i n g yo ra n c e .

68 h i f T e Pron u n ci aton o En g li sh .

. a n d D , T T is very generally pronounced as D , occasion

e i h = n i r = r . . n t d e od e ote ally D becomes T ; g g , ,

b ottl e = b o d d l e to n es = i n , spoke in measured measured

= o o d = oo t dones , dead det , g g . Examples occurred m ainly in the North , where also there is a strong tend ’ ency to omit D in London a n d an d ’ ’ ff ec t = a a ed ff ec t. un er, and to pronounce Baden a n d Saxony afforded frequent examples of all

these errors .

1 3 = K ro ra m m = r0 k r i = ik . G e a m b b G , K , Q , p g p , g , flags —fl aks = kl am e . , gleam . Bavaria, Berlin , E Prussia ,

Saxony, Silesia .

: : c o m a n i o n = o m an i o n u n c l e = u n l e K G p g p , g , cry

gry . Examples from Baden , Hesse, Rhein , Schleswig ,

Westphalia . ==K ’w Q . A very general error, the only district from

n ot which examples were noted being Baden .

! . . Pronounced as simple S Thus , extinguish , exact , = kt x l i sti n u i sh ez a . e a n e . p g , , esplain Berlin

Z , S . Three errors are very general throughout the

i s f f n e o o r . country . O the substitution Z S Thus

= = B - fa n z N . . sai z ed fa n c . d , y y ( Ih English C never

has the sound of Z . ) Another is the omission of s ’ a n : sen ses = sen s d es at the end of words , thus , ’ = i n th i ngs th g . And the third is the hard weak S resulting from the placing of the tongue too near th e f so edge o the teeth , the S produced being inaudibl e

so at a little distance , that speech becomes peach , = rm torm . sto , etc

' o f i s n . The pronunciation Ch as Sh fairly commo Sh , Ch , J

and should be easily remedied . In the North J is occasionally sounded as Y ; simply

because the English custom has not been reali z ed .

s From Bavaria , Hesse , and W . Prussia I had instance Nati on al Ch aracteri sti cs. 69

o r : = of the substitution of Ch for J G . Thus gin chin , 2 h u c h a h ts t b rts . judge , barge

i n And the opposite error occurred Baden and Saxony,

i h = ri c h i nk = i r c d e nk . thus g , j In Westphalia the Sh had i n some cases a peculiarly

o f guttural character, examples which occasionally

were to be found in Berlin .

r . 1 . o f r , See p 7 The errors noted occur in all parts

o f o f r Germany . I had examples the substitution d o

r from the Rhine Provinces . This I regard as a te

t a n n e - - l e c . rettab e i . m od d o w g error in g ( g to morrow to ) . R R . Is very generally replaced by the guttural in all

f o f R parts o the Empire . The percentage guttural s

wa s smallest in Baden . i T n. s Th , When correctly pronounced , th e voiced Th

T/z a often substituted for the whispered and vice vers . This is to be remedied by a diligent u se of the pro

n ou n c i n g dictionary . ’ = = h = z at s m t i = T h Z l s e. . t at o e h n so m si n , ; g , g g ;

e o n a very general rror not confined to any e p art .

71 e h = t i = 2 . . t at d a th n ti n Th D and T ; g , g g,

occurred sometimes in Westphalia and W . Pru ssia .

: V, F . V is frequently pronounced as W, thus survey

su r-ooe rovok e = rowok e y, p p but there were some

: cases in Berlin where V was sounded as F, thus above l ab o ff . w 2 0 . W . Is very generally a mere vo el . See p .

s I most com mon in Saxony and Prussia , but is found

all over the Empire .

H . Was omitted in the Rhine Provinces only . Hovered ’ 1 0 vc red .

f so N G . o The repetition the sound of hard G, char

ac teri sti c an d of Austria Hungary, is also met with

occasionally in Schleswig and Prussia . 0 T h e r n u n i ti 7 P o c a on of E n g li sh .

N : M , The slurring of the last syllable i n German , human , ’ ’ ’ woman , etc . Germ , hum , wom ) is most common i n

the North of Germany .

a A2 I There is a gener l tendency to pronounce as A , 1 l = h l rarel z l l a l l a o . thus , y

O D . The modified vowel u is used instead o f O O in

o f Schleswig, and I have found cases it i n Hesse .

ii v t m ii e . Thus too , move

o f E . A certain n umber people all over the country pronounce this vowel much longer than we do in

English . 3 o f a : A . Throughout the whole Germ ny there is a tend 2 3 Q E A = m e n ency to substitute for ; thus man , hat z 2 9 ‘z h d b a d = b e d a n r = e n r o r - e e n r . , , g y g y frequently g y I n Silesia someti mes bat (fl i tter an d i n

1 - 1— Westphalia H arry= H a h re curiously enough the way the villagers in Berkshire pronounce the name

when calling to each other . More often i t was pro

n ou n c ed Hu e y by Germans . E 2 . Correct , except in the North from Friesland to W . 3 3 A : b et= b a t Prussia , where it tends towards ; thus , 3 3 ’ l l 3 = r r f r = f a r r v r va r o r o v a e e r . e y y va r , y y Also in

Saxony . l ‘ ’ r I . Almost everywhere her is pronounced like the ‘ ’ English hair or the German Herr . Similarly Sir

5 i r n a so . Sa r sehr) , person p 1 l u rse = a h se— U r . In Schleswig I found p p probably an — attempt to correct the other error and i n Westphalia 2 l wo rk = wa -i k I found , this being most likely due

to an American teacher .

2 I . All over the Empire there is a tendency to pronounce 2 1 too long . There is also a very general tendency to substitute U ‘ 9 : = a r s o stu . i . t s for O Thus not , p p, etc It not i r Na t o n al Ch a ra cte i sti c s . 71

‘ so o i l however marked as in Denmark . The pr nunc a 2 wan ted =wa n ted tion of , which I occasionally came a across , was probably Americ n . The most common error is to pronounce either U 2 as l ‘1 2 3 — = b ff w n r =w n r O e. . ab ove a o o d e a d er o U A g , , as , 3 3 3 =a c r l i n z r l i n o n = - e. . u u m b c a m b c e wa n z g p p, g g, , = 3 som e sa m .

1 O b u t=b a h t a n d ccasionally i n Berlin we have , in 9 m u c h =m h Pomerania e c . This also is found in

E . Prussia .

In E . Prussia this was pronounced with the double 4 2 k =b ra - . b rea e . u k a s sound , g y in Scandinavian countries . In Bavaria and Saxony it lost almost entirely the z o f m e h d character a glide , made becoming and pails 3 ’ 2 h l z z e E e . . . p , a short drawn out Was frequently pronounced more as a diphthong than 2 1 - e t— a s a glide. Thus light became la almost l l l ‘ l a h - e e t i e = a h -ee n o , and p p p p There were to corrections noted from Bavaria . It seemed me that those who simply used the vowel sound they have in ‘ ’ Sonnenschein without trying to produce anything ‘ ’ specially English did best .

W a s m ade too much of a diphthong, the elements 1 3 0 oo i n A -oo being Westphalia and Berlin , and ou , o f in Baden , where coal had almost the sound cowl

2 - t. e 0 . 0 0 ( And in the Rhine Provinces. where the vowel sound was correct,but drawled too . much . In Schleswig, Saxony, and Hesse there was a ? I 2 or O 0 . tendency to substitute A for Thus , suppose 2 2 z su a z al on e =al a n m o m en tz m a m en t pp , , , nobody l

n o b od u . y, known ho l , host ho l st 4 1 3 1 The pronunciation a -i r instead of a -i r is practic 4 h a -e : ally universal ; hair becomes y r, declare 4 - r decla y e . 2 i i 7 T h e Pr on u n c a to n of En g l i sh .

r h OU . Is co rectly given in many places . For the rest t e errors are similar to those found in England among

i e untrained speakers , . . either the diphthong begins o n

a -o ol o r a too broad sound , howl becoming ha l h , it 2 2 E : n o w= n e a o u is prefaced by a short , thus , as in

many country places . ‘ ’ ‘ ’ was O I . I found boy sometimes pronounced by in i s Schleswig . This probably due to Scandinavian I influence . In Westphalia O was sometimes replaced 2 = 2 A : oi n t a n t. by , thus p p

4 U Is very generally correct , save when the m odified u

is substituted for it . But there are some persistent

n ot mistakes . Enthusiasm must be pronounced e n th Oo si a sm save by those who wish to acquire the

ewer fo r Cockney pronunciation . To say y your

suggests to the English ear , America ; and to say ’ ’ ’ h ave a ve h a ve y or y for you , or y are for you are , takes

us back to the time of Shakespeare . The proper ’ ’ — modern contractions are you ve and you re preserv ing the vowel sound of the first word and eliding that

e of the s cond .

AUSTRIA .

P l a sa n t= b l easa n t e . B , P . Are often confused . , etc — i s c d . D , T . D weak after N , and terminal is omitted ’ ’ Under un ner, regarded regard . T becomes D , = tu tor d u tor. e.g .

K . G , , Q . G and K are substituted for each other Thus 3 4 ’ = h i k an ik th giga n ti c c t take the key ta g ghel . ’ ’ w i - k . Q , qu te k wal elt

Resu l t= ressu l t Z, S . Substituted for each other. ; also i’l g u z o . Na ti on a l Ch aracteri sti cs. 73

r V or . r, . ery often omitted after P B , and guttural after G ’ - 2- 2 Worried o o u ooi d .

o n e as R . Correctly trilled by about in four, doubtful in

many, guttural in the rest . = ’ T 2 e. . ou d h an k 27 . h , Very often confused , g Thank y g

= h i n = z i s ou . . t s . y Also TH D , Z, or S This g sing

V . , F . V is often weak or pronounced as W Venture

w n u r e t e .

I encountered a good many instances o f the glottal

catch .

o f N NG . The pronunciation G is the most noteworthy

o f characteristic of Austria and Hungary . The nasal

passage is momentarily closed , giving the sound of a

- N i n a l l ca ses e. G . hard G after the g going g up ,

- w - r - being g reminded , gro ing g your c ess , among g villas ‘ - f i r o . n o (Pilsen) , ceiling g a room Occasionally also g ’ - o ra n t -k ant thing ing y thing . A I . z e. a Sometimes nasali ed , g . p rt . A2 Al l = l . l o (Pilsen) .

- : - 0 . i i . 0 Modified substituted Thus foot stool fut stuhl .

3 3 2 3 1 A A E A : . Generally , but sometimes 0 . Hand z 2 l 2 h e n d e kt n o rro , act , narrow . 1 5 1 . sa r Sir sehr) . 12 d m l t . a Is made too long admit e .

1 3 z 3 2 A r N o = n 0 . o U . t a t Becomes or nu t, blossom z b l u ssu m .

3 1 = - l l . h e t Is somewhat drawled mig t malh e .

2 1 0 . Is variously pronounced frequently short 0 as noble l l l 2 = n b l str k = r k nl = n l o e o e st o o o . A , , y y Sometimes z 2 2 = a u o i n = a i n = as own , g g g g, groan gra n . ' But I found that some of those who had most difficulty with this vowel had a perfect example o f the way it i s s ounded in English in their o wn word for oven T h e r i 74 P on u n c ati on of En g li sh .

i L et me advise you al l to try to find in your own proi n u n c i a ti o n of your o wn language any examples there

may be of vowels perfectly identical with English vowels . Sometimes in a dialect of your o wn language you may find

such sounds . It would be useless for me to attempt to

find any that would hold good for all of you . I cannot ‘ f say whether every Austrian pronounces the O of o fen ‘ ’ a s O 2 I pronounce the of no , but those who do so

s may take it a their own standard for that vowel . This

i s the kind of thing you may learn best in England .

Z SWIT ERLAND .

s B , P . There was a tendency to substitute the voiceles

l : Bi = i etter g p g . = ’ ’ i t k v o i e . . u e i te o r o t G , K , Q Q g = ‘ m . Z z u S . Z , S Sometimes Buy some ’

z d a m s . o r p Sometimes S is thin and weak omitted , ’ thus scramble cramble , spread pread , broker s shop

broker shop . = ’ ’ . G en tl em an c h en tl m n Ch , Sh , J (frequently) , journey

- i - h é I rn é Ch é c . j , church urch , j

r r , . These sounds correctly produced by about half

those tested . Omitted or slurred by the rest . Very l ’ ’ va r . , almost val

R . Correctly trilled by about half, guttural in the rest .

: Tl z = S /z . . r Th , T Variously pronounced Th D or Z ,

Tl : confused with Th .

4 ’ 4 ’ b o r . L . Weak thus , table ta l ta b = . V , F . F substituted for V . Have haf, etc

o f W . Pronounced correctly by some , but in the majority = ’ cases either weak o r a simple vowel O O .

N G . Mispronounced through carelessness .

6 T h e r n 7 P o u n ci ati o n of En g li sh .

. ff D , T The end syllable of such words as e ected , melted , t etc . , is of en left out , the words being pronounced ff ’ ’ e ect , melt , with a slight pause after the t . This is due to an attempt to pr on ou n ce d af ter t wi t/zou t

ser ti n tl ze vo wel i n . g It arises from an error in teaching . Z . i s , S Terminal S is often omitted , and the S in general

thin and weak , the tip of the tongue being placed too

o f near the edge the teeth .

. a n d Sh , Ch , J Ch is pronounced like Sh ; the soft G , or Zh e. English J , like or the French J ; g . , chicken k n z h n i u s sh i c e e . , genius

r . r , Sometimes correct , but generally omitted by those = ’ R e . o m m t u se . r t o who the guttural ; g , p p p p , true ’ ’ ’ o u s t ue , groups g p , very ve y .

R . Correct in about half the cases , guttural in the rest .

T ffi . T /z . h , Always a di cult sound Is pronounced T , or D , ’ 2 to u san d s or S . Thousands , though do , worth = ’ t . seeing wo s seeing , etc = ’ ’ eo l e l i tl eO l . L . Little p p p p

W . In some cases fairly good , in others a si mple ’ vowel : 0 0 . = ’ ffi . . H . Often a great di culty Hot ot

The vowels as a rule are only accidentally wrong, there O b eing seldom any diffi culty in pronouncing them . ccasion 5 z i s a lly some o f them are nasali ed . Sir pronounced Sa re , 2 a n d the short I is n ot made short enough .

Y ITAL .

I have not had a large enough number o f students from I taly to warrant a very detailed analysis o f the national

ri i s c h arac te ste . Among those I have come across were i Na ti on a l Ch a ra cter sti cs. 77

cases in which T was pronounced as D . In common with ’ : h a ve = n the French they tend to omit H ; thus ave . O m the other hand the W is fairly good , and they had uch w less di fficulty in pronouncing it as the English do . R a s in some cases guttural , and in others correct , and the same

f r N G GN . may be said o r and . and were subject to

i s e o f uncertainty, but this hardly to be wonder d at in view

S o f G N n ot the pecial pronunciation in Italian , which does

i n o r exist English , save in Signor and two three other word s . directly taken from the Italian .

The most striking characteristic consists in the addition . of an obscure vowel f or -er to every wo rd ending in a consonant, giving it an extra syllable . Sometimes this vowel is eve ri inserted between two consonants in the ’ o f middle a word , thus sometimes acquires the sound f ‘ ’ o Summertimes . I have been assured by Italian teachers o f English that this is one of the greatest d iffi

u l i s c te with beginners .

For this reason Italians should practise diligently the .

n exercise o p . 53 .

RUSSIA .

Russia is too big a country for o n e type o f pronunciatio n

f of to be characteristic o the whole it . What I have to sa l y, therefore, must be understood as app ying only to the people I have come in contact with and the places from which they came .

B , P . B is often substituted for P and P for B .

D , T . These letters are often confused and D or T after ’ ’ W n f u l = wo n r f l e. d er e u i s o u t: . o N often left g , , don t ’ notice don notice .

. . d G , K Q K is frequently pronounced G Thus wicke = ’ u i te k wi te . wigged . Q 8 T r n u n i t 7 h e P o c a i on of En g li sh .

si b i l l a n ts —i h Z , S . In some cases all the were good others = ’ . sta tel tatel S was thin and weak Thus , y y, In = several S th (lisping) .

l h Sh o k z sh - S . o e , Ch , J Occasionally ook (a Scandinavian

characteristic) .

r r . , . As a rule good Rarely guttural or elided . ‘R — i Trill good rarely guttural , but they could always give

the English trilled R also .

t z = = l z th z e. . z T h . O s Th , ften , ; g the sun e sun , birth

i r day b sd ay.

o f V = VV V, F . I n the middle a word ; at the end it is

Servan t= Serwa n t v i si t= wi si t ca n i n omitted . , (a S d

avian characteristic) .

WV . . Correctly pronounced by a few For the most ’ 2 = ~ 0 0 twen t to o e n t . , y y

The glottal catch is strong in Kurland .

: d i n i fied = d i n ~ i fied N G . Pronunciation uncertain g g y .

MN . The last syllable in such words as human and ’ ’

m m o m t. oment is frequently slurred , hum ,

The following errors were recorded

] = 9 1 . A . Large la ge

2 1 2 0 0 . A . Pronounced either or

1 E l St. . Beast 3 2 2 3 : = f t e . k A E . e 2 . A . Very generally g fact , as e 2 2 = 211 U as . E . Frequently becomes , tell tu

l = 3 1 T h i rt th a i rt . I . y y But very often work is pronounced s like walk . I have observed this peculiarity al o

among French students . 1 1 2 ri l = c re l : c ed e ed . I . Is usually too long pp p

2 a . U . Rugged is pronounced like r gged i n l h r cteri ti Na to a C a a s cs . 79

2 4 ‘ b ec om . A . Lady es le ddy

2 2 2 ( h o m = m A e. e h a 0 . Very generally pronounced as ; g . , = 2 = 2k M ? sm oke sm a . n o hole ha ll , But in oscow l = 1 2 = l h n 0 n 0 ver o ver . n o , known , , etc

4 1 3 1 = - f h - Sh a re sh a i r instead o s a i r .

“ 2 ~ n e 0 O U . Often pro ounced , probably by mistake , lik ; = 2 e. . 0 . g , now n

POLISH .

o f T h The Polish rhyth m resembles that the French . e o f on i n p rincipal errors pronunciati are the long vowels , which are forei gn to the language .

' ’ D o r = L n o n , T . T is weak pronounced as D ; London 0 .

G . e , K , Q In several cases K was omitted in such sentenc s ’= ‘ ’ ’ as broke the silence bro the Silence . h S . . , Ch , J J was pronounced as Y

31 r . and . Were both correct

R . . The trill is strong and correct T h Tn , . Is weak before other consonants . ’ I l = l i ttl L Litt . . e

W . Usually fairly correct . Sometimes the hard G is sounded after the N G in

cases where it should be silent . ( Compare Austria . ) 2 1 2 2 A 0 0 : tal k = t0 k al = 2 . Becomes either or ; thus , l o l l 2 o r corner ko ner . z i ru bb es . O O . Rubies

1 2 E . . Sleep sli p

l 2 2 2 ~ was n ot= u 2 n u t e. . w U . O . Becomes ; g 2 A3 2 U . Sometimes pronounced as ; thus bunker ba nker .

4 3 3 3 A I A : m a e = m i . Either pronounced or ; thus d d e, 3 l f o r favour a v . 8 0 T h e r n u n i f n l i h P o c ati on o E g s .

1 2 l 1 0 A : n ob od = n o b 0 d Becomes either or ; thus y y, l 2 n o = n o h = i s , own a n . This last curious , because 2 Poles have a difficulty with the so und of A in such

a n d som e o a .! words as all and water and talk , yet f 2 sa m e peopl e pr on ou n ce i t qu i te cor r ectly i n stea d of O

i s Probably it due to mistake n instructions in print .

a n r u n a t O n t/ze d ge s of a f a l ty pr on u ci i on .

- n h er A middle aged lady , ridi g in the dark , fell from

sh e bicycle . A policeman approaching , enquired if was

hurt . “ sh e : To whom replied Thank you , I am all right ” only a little bruised . She was i mmediately arrested and spent the night

r in the cells . On the morrow the magistrate , afte

th e briefly examining the witnesses , discharged her with recommendation to perfect her pronunciation of English . What mistake did sh e make ? LECTURE VII .

N O BREATHING .

LI F E as f is supported , fire is kept up , by a species o com

i n b u sto . The food we eat, like the coal we put in the f a n d d o es work u s urnace, supplies heat for by combining with oxygen . Creatures that are very small can get enough oxygen — f rom the water they live in , for water dissolves air roughly about four parts in every hundred ; but larger creatures i t r equire special organs for procuring . The bigger the

o f b ody the greater the proportion bulk to surface . For a

z f c reature double the si e , the skin has to be our times , but

the weight eight times as great as before . If therefore the o xygen has to soak through the Skin , it must go through twice as fast i n the bigger creature . Obviously some other means must be found o f getting it i n m , and the various ways in which this has been done for one o f the most interesting topics in the whole range o f physiology . O n e of the simplest and most familiar occurs in th e c ase o f fishes . You may watch them in an aquarium s ucking water into their mouths and b lowing it out behind

- An d th e gill plates . if you examine the gills of a dead fish

ou S y will find that they resemble a eries of combs , along f - th e teeth o which delicate blood vessels run . The water s wallowed by the fish plays in strong streams through these G 8 2 h r T e P on u n ci ati on of En g l i sh .

b combs , the blood absor s the oxygen from it and carries it

all over the body .

With insects it is quite different . You cannot drown a

bee or a butterfly by holding its head under water , because

no inse ct breathes through the mouth . But it would die if

you kept it under water from the waist downward , because

are o n the breathing holes the abdomen , one on each side

to each ring . Each breathing hole is guarded by bristles

a n to keep out smaller insects , d from it delicate branching air-tubes ramify through the body to carry oxygen to the

tissues . ’ There is a kind of D eath s Head Moth , the caterpillar of which frightens the c ountry people not only by i ts weird

an d appearance , but by the uncanny grunts groans it can a a o emit . Some ye rs g Professor Poulton ascertained with a stethoscope o f microscopic dimensions which I lent h i m ’ for the purpose, that this creature grunts by suddenly

expelling the air from these tubes . The wind-pipe divides in th e chest into two main

o n e o n e branches , to the right lung , to the left , and these again branch and divide and su b -divide like the branches o f a tree , the ultimate divisions ending in little transparent

air sacs , each surrounded by a delicate network of capillary

- blood vessels . o f When we take breath , each these thousands of air

cells expands and d raws air into itself, expelling it when

o f so we breathe ou tagain . And the walls the air sacs are

so thin , and those of the capillaries delicate , that the

oxygen of the air gets through them straight to the blood . But the body requires much more oxygen than could

so possibly be dissolved in the liquid of the blood , we have the - A wonderful provision of the red blood corpuscles . drop of

i s o f blood , under the microscope , seen to contain millions disc -shaped bodies with rather thick edges n o t unlike smal l r coins . These are the red corpuscles , and they owe thei

. 8 4 T h e Pr o n u n ci ati on of E n g li sh ; lungs are forced to expand in order to fill the additional

space .

When we breathe out, the ribs fall into the positio n i shown by the dotted l ne, and the diaphragm muscles also relax so that the lung shrinks into a smaller volume and

expels the air . The air cells themselves are elastic , and

- contract like so many india rubber toy balloons , when the

o u air is let t. What keeps them expanded is the fact that — — they a re i n a closed space the thorax into which n o air

n can get, save that contained within the air sacs a d the

e tubes l ading to them . ’ ' ra b b i ts l u n a n d w A g, preserved in glycerine water , ill

show this elasticity of the air sacs very well . It can be

o f inflated with a small pair bellows , but collapses directly

the pressure is removed .

The important thing therefore is how we take breath ,

rather than how it escapes again .

a n d We take in breath in two ways by raising the ribs ,

by lowering the diaphragm . As a rule men favour the — latter, and women the former method but singers and

public speakers u se both . I will explain why .

You have probably heard about , if you have never ex

ri en c ed pe , the dreadful sensation that comes when you a n s tand up to face for the first time audience, and have

reached the middle of a long n ote or of a sentence . Just by the lower ribs and in the chest it seems to lay hold of

you so that you cannot go on . Your friends say it is nervousness and will not come when you have more

e xperience . If you do the sa m e thing it will come to the very end o f o u your days , for it is a provision of nature to prevent y

from forgetting to breathe, and thus , for instance, dying in th your sleep . When the percentage of carbon dioxide in e

lungs reaches a certain point, it stimulates certain nerves r O n B eath i n g . 8 5 which cause the chest to expand a n d the diaphragm to be

so pulled down , as to take more air into the lungs . What yo u feel is the battle between the thinking part o f ' ' you that wants to go o n talking a n d the automatic part o f you that gives warning of death if you do not go o n breathing .

c an We do not as a rule breathe as deeply as we . The — quantity o f air habitually breathed i n and o ut called by “ — the convenient name o f tidal air varies from little more than a quarter o f a litre in some persons to a full litre in others . We may take half a litre as the average . But by expanding the chest and exerting ourselv e s we c a n “ c o m draw in a full litre and a half more . This is called

l m al p e en t air . And when all the tidal air is breathed ou t

an ou t naturally , we can still , by effort , force another litre “ ” and a half which physiologists call supplemental air,

e or an d leaving p rhaps another litre , a litre a half of “ ” residual air . So that altogether the lungs hold at their

a n d o r fullest four a half five litres of air , of which some — people habitually u se less than one tenth part for breathing with . Can you wonder that when they stand up to speak the oxygen is all used up before they get throu gh the first sentence ? After the “ tidal air is gone they try to get to the end o f

ai r the sentence o n the supplemental . But there is this di ff erence : when you come to the end of your supple

o f mental air you have also come to the end your oxygen , and you al ways begin to feel uncomfortable ; whereas if you sp eak with the complemental air you have still the tidal

air to go on with , and you do not feel any discomfort until

that is used up . — as Always therefore, in speaking, fill your lungs take in .

much complemental air . as you comfortably can , and take breath as soon as you come to the end of the tidal air 86 T h e Pron u n ci a ti on of En g li sh . rese rving the supplemental air strictly for unforeseen emer i g en c es. Consider n o w the di fficulties placed by foolish fashions f o . i n the way the _ speaker and the singer Round the upper part of the thorax i s hung what is known “ ” a s the shoulder girdle supporting the arm s , th s - e houlder bones at the back , and the collar bones r eaching from the upper part of each shoulder-bone to the to - p of the breast bone in front, where the space between th e two ends of them constitutes what is known as the

- salt cellar . But observe that this is no solid ring of bone like that

- pr ovided for the leg bones . The muscles of the arms pull o n the cage con taining the lungs which must be continually e xpanding and contracting as we breathe . If then we c ramp the position o f the arms we cramp the action of the

lungs . Fashion sometimes decrees that man or woman is cor r ec tl y dressed only wh en the throat is enclosed in a tight collar o f white linen as sti ff an d hard as the shell of a ’ w lobster s cla . i s i ts e How the larynx, with delicate m chanism , to move u p and down within this rigid case without being bruised ? ’ and chafed and hurt People laughed at Mr . Gladstone s — collars but they did not press upon the front o f his

throat . The coat that fits without a wrinkle because the stuff is

stretched equally tight all over you , may be an ideal fit for

f or — the parade ground , but it is terribly bad the voice the n man who wears it can o ly breath e with his diaphragm . The small waist drawn in to—how many inches may I — venture o n P may almo st a ttain the high standard of th e

i t f m fashion plate, but e fectually precludes diaphrag

breathing .

88 T h e r n u i P o n c ati on of En g l i sh .

: r The third rule is Speak slowly . Remembe what I told you about the echoes in a large room . Even when th e — — pictures are u p so to speak and the curtains hung when the room is full of people—there is sure to be some k of ou ind echo . Every syllable y utter will be prolonged

a nd into a continuous sound , people cannot distinguish f a second syllable until the echoes o the first have finished .

The bigger the room the more deliberate - your speech must b e. — ’ ‘ — O bserve my choice of words d el zbem ze I did n ot say “ ” the longer your speech must take . I have heard people address a large audience in this way T h ec h ai rm anh asasked m e tosaya fewwo rd s to tel l yo u h o wpl eased I a m to see so m a n yh appyfac es ” before me .

That may do for writing from dictation , but it is not speaking deliberately . Each separate syllable must be big

an d . separate , and the voice must be big too

Many people have voices m uch bigger than they think , ’ but they don t know how to use them . I have heard young ladies in the drawing -room sing sen timental songs with such small voices that the a c c o m pa n i m en t drowned them with the soft pedal down ; and I have heard those same girls in the tennis court say ” Fault ! Love -thirty i n tones which could be heard a hundred yards away . I told you in an earlier lecture how to open your mouths — how to put the tongue down and use the full volume of the mouth for speaking . When people are out of doors , calling and talking to each other from a distance in the

n o t Open air, they do this unconsciously . It is generally until they begin to think about it that they speak badly . Five minutes ’ practice in a large room with a good

“ teacher will d o m ore for the voice than many pages of O n Breath i n g .

r an d I p inted instructions , shall therefore merely content myself with saying that any o n e in ordinary health ought to be able to make a n audience of two hundred people hear easily, once the proper way of using the voice has been learnt . Practise using the full power o f your voice in reading aloud .

But in giving this advice I must warn you against a worse mistake .

i s f o r To everything there a season , and a time every

—a b e purpose under heaven time to speak , and a time to silent . You can do nothing that will stamp your conversatio n

n u - i n more definitely as English , than to converse loudly the streets . It belongs just as much to the English nat u re as the {i t

Yo u does to our pronunciation , to talk quietly in public . can ’t annoy an Englishman more easily than by calling him by name across the road . He puts you down at once as a person who has n ot learnt the conventions of polite ’ u society . To talk loudly o t of doors savours of Arry and ’ o n o f Arriet a Bank Holiday . It is too terrible to think your being led to do it in innocence through my advice to

a f o f pr ctise the ull power your voice . Yet perhaps English people are often scarcely fair i n the way they talk to you I think it was Charles Dickens wh o

“ first noticed that the majority of people talk to foreigners ‘ a s if zl zey wer e d eaf The very natural result is tha t

so et foreigners answer in the same key , and insensibly g f n o t . the habit of loud talking . It is exactly their ault Observe what happens the next time you are in a mix ed

o f assembly . An Englishman is introduced to a group — foreigners h e converses in full resonant tones . Presently e someone else is introduced , and the first man turns to som 0 h r n i 9 T e P o u n c a ti on o f En g li sh . o f i n his own countrymen , and they talk together a m u d ; l ower ton e o m i ce — f . That is what you should copy the — o rdinary pitch of the voice in conversation the other is o o n b nly put , ecause you are supposed not to understand

- . q uite easily The low toned voice has its advantages . You s m can enjoy conver ation uch more in a room , or at t able, if people do not talk loudly .

I f o f There is , believe, a di ference national custom in

r f - o I - espect voice tones . was told many years ago by a Belgian Professor in a town much frequented by foreigners k from all countries , that the Spanish visitors tal ed more

an loudly than y. You could tell them , he said , at a

d f n f r o . o tu istance, by the sound their conversation U h r ately I had no opportunity o f observing f o myself. And I have heard people say that English tourists talk too

loudly . One must not , however , forget that a tourist may “ be defined a s a person who takes h i s prejudices abroad ” an d so leaves his manners at home, that we cannot judge a nation by what we see of them under such circumstances ;

o f Still , most us hope we shall never be mistaken for tourists — My advice therefore is I n class and when in private

you are practising what we teach , speak out with the full

o u power of your voice . Even though y never need to

teach , learn to use your voice properly, because it is the

n o n e a d only way o f learning to pronounce accurately . A

mumbling voice may hide its deficiencies from the teacher,

but that is the most foolish thing it is possible to do . If you can speak without any foreign accent to a large e e audience, be quit sure your accent will be perf ct in

conversation . Learn therefore to read English aloud to an

a so udience of two hundred that all can hear, and cultivate the art o f talking to two of them without disturbing the

- o ther hundred and ninety eight .

2 T h 9 e Pr o n u n c i ati o n of En g li sh . — The rhythm of the native sentence the tone o f the — native voice these are what you must aim at . And the way to get them i s to enter into the spirit o f the native though t I a m speaking n o w n ot merely as an Englishman to

as o f . foreigners , but rather a linguist to students language I would advise my o wn countrymen to do the same in learning your language .

th eo reat Read g masters of literature and poetry . Listen to the great orators , preachers , statesmen , actors cultivate

o f o f z the friendship the people the land , sympathi e with f their hopes , their di ficulties , and their ambitions ; joi n in t r heir wo k and in their recreation , and the native accent will come to you . And if I am able to shorten this process a little for yo u i t is because in these ten years so many o f you have come — to live the College life which is the life of the larger family — I with us , that have learnt to some extent the mode in w ff hich your thought di ers from o u r thought .

This singular conclusion h as been borne in on me : tha t to express the laws o f emphasis as I would express the m f or m o u e an English an would be of little use to y , becaus in the construction o f o u r langu age we have m any word s

to that seem of n o importance you , and you pass them by, and conversely we pass lightly over words which you a ccent . And there are many words on which we lay no emphasis — they do not require any but which you ofte n pass over in ff such a casual way, with such curious e ect to an English

I z t ear , that have reali ed the exis ence in our language of ' ’ two ki n d s o arm ed f , namely the ordinary Stress accent

e z I mphasi ed by the voice , and this which will call ‘ ’ the Ti m e accent emphasi z e d by the time spent in Accen ts . 9 3

pronouncing the word . There is no stress whatever on ‘ ’ n the Time accent save i special circumstances . When you are reading i n class you should m ark the ‘ ’ accents a s you hear them . For the stress I u se an ‘ ’ ordinary acute accent ; f o r the Time accen t I underline

f o r the syllable, and some few words which would be

. accented in your own language, but o nwhich you shoul d s I pecially avoid putting an accent in English , use brackets .

Mark your books in this way . Write also in the margins any s pecial notes that may be given we always arrange so that you can buy cheap editions for this purpose . A book so marked will bring back to your mind years afterwards ’ - n ot merely the bare facts but the tones of the lecturer s voice : the sound of the voices o f the rest o f the class the past will live a gain to you and it will keep your accen t true . F or tuning a voice to the accent of a country is some

h as thing like tuning a piano . However well it been done, h owever fine an instrument you possess , it is better to go o ver it from time to time .

TIM E ACCENT .

s . So, too , ame i tél l It is so surpr sing . I too could a tale . It is the

m an same .

’ n o t Demonstratives have the time accent , but relatives .

’ Shut up that dog (that) barks . Observe that this is not W h the em phatic accent, which occurs as follows hic

o dog ? That d g .

—er m The words very , far than , such , much , have the ti e ‘ ’ n ot accent , but, strange to say , as , thus Is he much younger than you P

. No , just (as) old , but far stronger T h e r u ci ati n f 9 4 P o n n o o En g li sh . These accents seem so natural to us that I did not reali z e their existence until I heard the curious eff ect produced when foreigners omit them . Of course e m phasis may be given to the preceding ‘ n i f i re m ea n i n r e u i r es i t : b e sente ce f g q , thus Is much ’— younger than you P but that is additional to the time accent .

STRESS ACCENT LOGICAL .

Every fresh idea has a fresh accent . The second time an idea is referred to it is merely men

i o n t ed and has n o accen t .

If an accent is put where there should be none , an open

f o r ing is afforded an absurd question , by suggesting

i s the Opposite of the word accented . If the accent ’ o u t ? o f left , the question what can be asked the

previously accented word . E x a mpl e Give you a reason o n compulsion ? I f reasons were (as) plenty (as) blackb erries I would gi ve ’ no man a reason on compulsion . Observe that there must be n o accent o f any kind o n the t two words i n brackets, al hough a German would naturally ‘ put them there More plentiful o r less plentiful ‘ but (a s) plentiful If the accen t o n blackberries were omitted we could ask ‘as plentiful as what ?’ If an accen t were put on man ’ (which corresponds to ‘ ' ou y the previous clause) , then the question would be, “ i n Would you give it to a woman ?’ If an accent were put ’ ‘ n ask c o m O reason , the listener might , Would you on pulsion give him half-ac ro wn The one apparent exception to these rules is the word ‘ ’ ' f ou r ti m es i n h as compulsion , which occurs the speech and

B u t an accent each time . that is the central idea o f th e speech , and he puts it in a new light each time .

6 T h e r u 9 P o n n ci a ti on of En g li sh . b i b i - cycle was pronounced cycle , with two accents , the Y

being pronounced as in my . Names of people have an acce n t on each Christian name

— o n o f or initial and the surname . Names places have ‘ ’ ‘ a n exce t a accent on each component p street, B nbury ’ ‘ ’ ’ N ew ‘ e m ‘ Road , Road , W st inster Bridge Road , Wor ’ ‘ ’ ‘ ’ c ester a a B rO ad Pl ce , C vendish Square ; but Street, ’ ‘ ’ Hythe Bridge Street , Long Wei ll Street . But wherever the purpo se o f the speaker is to contrast o n e thing or action with another th e normal accents may T ‘ be strengthened or dropped as required . hus , Shall ’ ’ ? I t . I fold the newspaper No, I prefer unfolded But ’ n ti f l i f there were o contrast Please n d d the paper . Sometimes an accen t m a y be placed where otherwise ’ none would exist, as in the classic instance of jacob s ‘ d : o n to ream Behold a ladder set up the earth , and the p o f it reached to heaven , and behold the angels of God ’ ascending and descending upon it .

And in this connection it m a y be remarked that in u w tO wn e pstairs , do nstairs , and down , the strong r accent i s

sec r J i s on the word unless they are contrasted , when it transferred to the first . ’ ‘ ’ Cape wine , like port wine , has two accents in English , b u t I find most Germans consider the second superfluous . Amid a good deal that seems arbitrary there is a certain c onsistency in the use of these accents which may enti tle ‘ ’ them to be called logical .

- : STRESS ACCENT IDIOMATIC OR CONVENTI ONAL . There is another set of accents which no foreigner could b e expected to know . Certain auxiliaries to the verb have i n some sentences a m eaning and a weight far in excess of that they usually t s b ear . If you ried to paraphra e the sentence these mono Accen ts. 9 7

syllables would have to b e replaced by words o f three or

. s four syllables Con equently , if we retain them , they must — b e reinforced by an extra idiomatic “ a l o n i sa Taking l things int consideratio , I w ll y this ” see I do not how he could have done otherwise . “ ” sa i b u t Ordinarily the accents would be I will yth s , that

does not express the concession . Substitute the paraphrase “ t and you have I [am prepared to] say [ h i s much] . The h idiomatic accent puts this stress on the s orter words . ‘ Again: I do think it hard that it should rain every ’ ‘ ’ ! . o Sunday The w rd do stands for really , and is

much stronger than usual . ‘ — Again : I h ad to tell him I felt grieved the word ‘ ’ ‘ ’ f c ni l l had is in place o felt o pé ed . Other short words may receive -added intensity of meaning “ ” w i n I did not kno he had it him , that it belonged

to his nature .

If he keeps at it he will make seven shillings a day . T = th e O keep ata th i ng to persevere . But here arbitrary “ e w h e nature of an idiom comes in , If he k eps at ork will , h m ” but not if he keeps at d e . I/ The German idiom di ffers from the E n gl i sh in this

In respect, and hence many mistakes arise . German , when a verb with a separable particle i s followed by a noun to

which the verb refers , the particle takes the accent . In

English the noun takes it , but it goes to the particle if the

noun does not follow , or if there is no noun . “ i Li ft up your b ag and put it on the table . L ft your b a g up an d put it o n the table . “ ti t i n n We p up at the , but the accommodation was so ” bad we could not put ti p with it .

o n i O n . Turn the l ght again , but Turn the light again a h éa d a o u t . Mrs . Wilfer ti ed up her and c me for a w lk “ (Foreigne rs generally read this tied up her head and came O u tfor a 8 9 T h e Pron u nci ati o n of En g l ish .

' ff e d i fl eren t Sometimes a di erent accent giv s a meaning . m a a ” “ I y go aw y again , expresses uncertainty . Ask if ” “ m a o a I yg aw y again , requests permission . There were ” so a m ny children , implies an indefinitely large number . “ ” so so There were man y children , and many buns , implies

so fo r without saying that there was a bun each child . “ ” so i So much sack to l ttle bread , simply compares the “ ” s ai so e so quantitie ; but S ck much , br ad much , indicates what they cost . ‘ ’ Gét a along , is the familiar phr se with which Mary ‘ ’ Jane repels her too insistent admirer . Get along , is the way his employer advises him to make a little progress with his work . ‘What will happen then P’ means ‘at that time if ‘then ’ ‘ ’ n ot bears the accent , but if it is merely the then of ‘ ’ = a argument Now ( present , maintenant) ‘ ’ has the accent if it refers to time ; but Now of argu ~

= n m ent ( or) h as o accent . And before leaving this subject it may be remarked that i n E nglish books a comma is generally printed af ter f /ze ‘ ’ wor d t/za t when it begins a clause of a sentence . If you wish what you read to so g ud like spoken English “ u t/ze com m a oo or e t/ze wor d t/za t £72516a o a te i t p t f f f r , and let the be without accent . O ccasionally the lack of an accen t may lead to an ambiguity ; as when the man who had lost an u mbrella “ went to the sh O p where they advertised , Umbrellas

! ” ré- c recovered in an hour ( cover , f . recover) and was ‘ e ’ disappointed . Or again , The s ething pot means the ‘ e ’ pot which is boiling , but The s ething pot means a pot intended for boiling purposes . “ Again : A man standing by Opened one of a row of ” “ LO n a l ong covered vats , is ambiguous . g covered v ts “ implies that they had not been opened lately ; l O n g

T o o T h e Pron u n ci a ti on of En gl i sh .

b e b n t It used to ascri ed , whether rightly or o I cannot sa o f y, to the influx refugees at the time of the French

Revolution , but it had become a marked characteristic of

Cockney speech . The favourite test sentence for the “ Londoner was, White wine and vinegar is very good

vo w victuals , I .

W was pronounced like V, but TH was given correctly . ‘ i wi v Nowadays , with nstead of vith is pronounced f in spite o the Board Schools .

The change came about with surprising rapidity . So far as the vowels were concerned it was fairly complete by

1 88 0 V . Twenty years before, the and W error was in full

swing . o f Already there are signs farther change . The news ‘ g ’ boys c all out Sta r instead of and in many ways it is evident that the Vo x Populi has no fixed standard

of pronunciation .

Curiously enough , I have to warn you against rich as well

as poor . ‘ ’ u d d i n The poor boy of Dickens talks of p , and marks ‘g ’ ‘ ’ his ignorance by leaving out the from n g ; th e Brushwood boy of Rudyard Kipling reveals his aristocratic origi n by saying things are ‘rippin ” and substituting ‘n ’ f n . o for g everywhere These are the freaks , fashion , and

you would be foolish to Copy them .

i s For the publ c schoolboy , when he leaves school , bring h i s school slang and tricks of talk with him to the

Universities and the Services . And some of i t sticks . So we get fads of pronunciation among the wealthy just

as we have faults of pronunciation among the poor . They

are never the same at the same time, but they take turns .

The latest instance bids fair to be amusing . For years it has been regarded as the first step on the road to — gentility to mind your aitches a small thing in itself b u t Accents still a sign that you might in some distant future become presentable in decent society . Playwrights and comic

writers have joked about it . w f N o it has appeared at the top o the tree . In J . C . ’ i h r Sn a t s M s. F i tz recent novel , the heir to a peerage talks ! ’ ! ’ ‘ ’ ’ ’ about unting and ounds and says take em o m e . — Wherefore I presume that in some exalted circles i n —i t which , I confess , I have not moved is becoming the

fashion to drop your aitches . f This sort of thing is o no use to the foreigner . You do not want learn a custom that will b e practised only _to b set ou t y a very limited , and will be hopelessly of fashion

before your next v isit to England . ! E AMPLES FOR PRACTICE .

E r SOM sort of apology is required f o these sentences . o f f As the Indian said the English dictionary , it is di ficult of to trace the line argument running through them .

Some are quotations from Dickens , Besant, Stevenson ,

Tennyson , Shakespeare , and other authors read in class . Others contain fragments from several quotations welded

together in to some sort of coherence . Others are frankly made -u p sentences invented to illustrate a diffi culty which

o f was troubling some student . And the name the country at the head of each section mean s that the students for

whose benefit those particular sentences were devised , came

from that part O f the world . But while readers will probably find some o f their own besetting sins set forth in the section allotted to their own

n ot country, they must assume themselves to be free from

the (phonetic) weaknesses o f humanity in other lands . The majority of the diff i culties of pronunciation are

com mon to several countries , especially with the vowels ,

though the mistakes diff er i n each . The value of these exercises is by no means limited to the inhabitants of the w country for whom they ere first designed . At the same time it is an interesting fact that along broad and general lines what is difficult f o r o n e nation in

English pronunciation may be quite easy for another . Here and there each may find a sentence which appears

quite superfluous , but taking them as a whole they afford

n excellent practice for a ny o e .

1 0 r n i 4 T h e P on u ci a ton O f En g li sh .

’

6 . of One Wilkie Collins s heroes is a bad , bold , bald ,

gloomy baronet . n S i i . 7. ome of the company lingered lo ger S ng ng songs

8 . i n n Large moths fluttered from the garden , singei g

their wings at the candle .

. o f e 9 In the place me ting were a few people, mostly

women .

to . Young gentleman , are you from London ?

GERMANY . Some of the pronunciation errors observed occur all o ver the country ; others are characteristic of particular

so d istricts . The number of examples available was large

c that only a few ould be taken . The one hundred and

twelve towns represented have been grouped into districts, and the sentences assigned to each —which actually were — heard in class will , I believe, illustrate every error that

n ote was d c

BADEN .

r . The bright bridesmaids in white dresses with rich ’ n o t jewels took Grace s fan cy a little .

2 . It is not of much use expecting little people to

remember things . ’ f 3 . I don t deny tha I was disappointed with the quality

of the last bottle of wine .

W RT E M B R G BAVARIA AND U O U .

r e . The young man walk d straight away with quick

steps . ’

2 . Although the weather is cold you can t expect me to

walk very far in this thick thing .

3 . His lordship plucked up courage . Ex a m pl es f or Practi ces 1 0 5

i 4 . Which s the very worst verse you ever read o r wrote ? f . o ff 5 The pink dye the lining of my bag comes o .

BERLIN .

1 I . He sat down an d spoke n measured tones of th e Sk light in the western y.

2 ' . Jack ought to catch the black cat and put it in a

cage .

3 . She wore a red ribbon round her white throat .

. W 4 The valley was green ith great growths of grass .

5. She undertook to buy the clothes in three months

in London . 6 . What is the colour o f your collar ?

. b 7 The porter was on the order of a refusal .

8 - . Mr . Jones smiled when h e heard who expected to b e

asked .

K B G BRUNSWIC AND BRANDEN UR .

I . The younger children will play quite quietly if they

n o t do quarrel .

2 T h e . house is situated on the banks of a small lake .

. n ot 3 Send the little boys to the nursery . I will permit

- o f them to make a bear garden my study . f 4 . It is still quite light o an evening after dinner .

5. How Often do we find our first i mpressions wrong l

. . B G COAST E FRIESLAND , OLDEN UR , HANNOVER . ’ M rs 1 . t . Jones s pe dogs are both small spaniels .

2 an . She had her hair plaited d rolled round her head .

u 3 . Do yo think there are people who come to England in pursuit of novelties ? E HESSE, TC .

1 . u He stood alone pon the lawn .

2 . I could only get tickets for two gentlemen . 1 0 6 T h r e P on u n ci a ti on O f En gl i sh .

Mounted on a fresh polo pony he rode slowly round

the field . He seemed perfectly happy although he had not the

price of a pint about him .

Poverty , albeit continual , could not depress him . When the j udges come to Oxford they go in state to

the University Church .

E . PRUSSIA .

1 . In great cities women often work under very n u

healthy conditions .

Up the airy mountain , Down the rushy glen ,

a . We dare not go a hunting , For fe r of little men Harry wondered whether it was worse to be described

as sprightly than as handsome . First turn on the lower tap and then turn o n the tO p

tap too .

All his race reckons time by conferences . You should undertake to do some useful work in

London .

7 . He has probably requested Master Arthur to ride ove n

8 n . . The ca t sato the mat

W . P RUSSIA .

’

1 . Go to the butcher s shop for a mutton chop , and to ’ the grocer s for cheese , chutney, and champagne .

i n Paul lost his punt pole a pool .

O o r Harry warmed to the work , and waited his pp

tu n i t y.

F or 4 . men may come and men may go ,

B ut I go on for ever . I h ad the impression that my brother -i n -law regard e d

teetotalism with something like disapproval .

1 0 8 T h e r n P o u n cia ti on O f En g li sh .

3 . You must not think your mother a bother .

4 . The air was so thick I could see nothing of the

ships beyond the pier . W ESTPHALIA .

wrf An old man with a quite young e.

We women want a man to work for us always . Did you notice the police at the Opera ?

of There was a great flutter wings , and a wild duck

rose from the rushes and flew away . A really right-minded dressmaker provides for a

pocket in every dress .

AUSTRIA .

1 . Cleaning a floor the wrong way is only a waste of

time .

2 . Mary brought the cattle home , driving them slowly

before her .

3 . The doctor is thinking out the problem .

4 . He gets more cross as he gets older . i 5. A noble action s its own reward .

6 o f . I wan t to find the own er a pony .

u . 7. Take this c p of Sparkling wine ’

8 i x . . It is quite worth s workmen s while

9 . To spend a week at the seaside is a very pleasant

way O f taking a short holiday .

1 0 f n . A great drove o oxe going over the bridge

frightened the women who were waiting to cross . i 1 1 a n d l ook s . Considering the narrow path the wild n ot b e and gigantic horns of the beasts , this could

accounted at all wonderful .

1 2 ro w e. . James Barker is going to stroke in the boat rac

1 see 3 . You might invite them to it from the top of

your College barge . 1 0 Exa m pl es f or Pra cti ce. 9

s b 1 4 . The afternoon i sure to be cold ; no d ou t you will

want your cloak .

Z D SWIT ERLAN .

We are writing in the red room . i r Her hair s the glo y of a woman . What a joke if he chokes to He ap pears be a very polished gentleman .

son n Your eldest has grow to be quite a big boy . I suppose you have made enquiry as to the best sh ips E from ngland to German ports .

He has only been taught the language three month s .

o f Many the big brewers in England are very rich .

FRANCE .

1 o f . The illumination the streets at the Coronatio n

was well worth seeing . Thousands of peopl e

walked around , looking at it .

I am no judge o f ath letic sports .

- m a The dab chick is a pretty little bird , which you y

e see someti mes swimming about the river Ch rwell . Success in examinations should be the reward of

those who work well . It would be pleasant to have two o r three bicycle

rides together . 6 h O e see m . I p I shall never him again , even in y ! dreams . I hate him

? o r What shall we have for breakfast ham and eggs , omelette and hot toast ? f 8 . You are sure to encounter di ficulties whatever course

you follow . T h e ron u n ci ti n f n l i sh P a o o E g .

A RUSSI .

I . It was a bleak coast with dangerous shoals on which by wind and wave the helpless ship was being

driven .

The fatal moment had arrived . What will you wear o n your birthday ?

Dick arose and picked a rose . Did you notice the thick cloud of smoke that hangs over London ?

I like to do my work at home .

My coachman drove me round to visit you . In my whole life I have never seen a more dignified

servant .

Unknown and unowned he passed from human ken .

POLISH .

Wisdom is more precious than rubies .

Some folk like to indulge in tall talk .

Nobody broke the silence , which lasted long that I

nearly went to sleep .

RD : A L D E N C L T D . B AR D P RE SS . O! F O O . , OC O