C O R R E C T FR E N C H EA S I LY L EA R N E D A S I M PLI F I E D HAND B O O K ON RRO NU NC I ATI O N F O R B E G I NNE R S B Y J U L I E TT E BI N G O F PA R I S 1 9 1 7 PU B L I S H E D B Y T H E A U T H O R C H A R L TT E N . O , C PR EFAC E I well known stu dents that It is a fact , to both instructors and one of the greatest difficulties of the French language is the correct pronunciation . In order to obviate that difficulty I have tried to give a reliable rule embracing each case , giving as an illustration the equival ent sound in English words . Each rule and exception is accompanied by numerous words intended to facilitate the work of the teacher by supplying examples which at the same I I ff . time a ord a large vocabulary hope have reached my aim , u having used orally this system of pron nciation which gave , indeed , unexpected results , especially with beginners who were o enabled to read French with a pure pr nunciation , after a few n lesso s . After meeting with so much success in my personal expe ri I ence , and being urged by my friends and pupils , have resolved “ to classify my compiling of many years of practical experience ’ and publish it in the form of a treatise . Everybody will agree with me i n the statement that the acquirement of a language is only superficial and cannot be considered an accomplishment if the possessor of it is not able , besides reading and speaking correctly , to understand also the language when spoken . What benefit would be derived from knowing French suffi ci ently to understand the meaning of a French book or of a m enu while being utterly incompetent in the pronunciation of the same ? Consider the disappointment resulting from the discovery of the utter impossibility to recognize the words when spoken by a native . How can people expect to understand others if they cannot pronounce properly themselves ? While on the other a hand , think of the gr tification derived from the certainty of a perfect pronunciation , which removes all hesitation , all diffi dence on the part of the speaker, by the certainty that his ' on knowledge is founded reliable principles , and h o w h and s om ely he will fi nd himself rewarded when he will readily 4 CORRECT FRENCH—BING understand oral French when coming in contact with French people , or at the theatre or when going abroad . For F , remember that the rench language is used all over the i n n world , every country , civilized or not , for the reaso that it i n o is the only language authorized diplomatic corresp ndence , having been unanimously acknowledged to be the clearest and i less liable to m sconstruction . This treatise is especially dedicated to students who hitherto F have not been able to acquire the rench pronunciation . To I C those would say , heer up ; cast aside your discouragement , I try once more and if you study faithfully this system, guar antee that you will be surprised to see how easy it is to pro F nounce , read , speak and understand rench . My earnest wish is that my little book will help all persons interested i n French study and that it will be considered a reliable and indispensable companion . I TT I . U B NG MLLE J L E E , ‘ de Paris , France . THE LORD ’ S PRAYER F Our ather, which art in Heaven , hallowed be Thy name . Thy kingdom come , Thy ,will be done , in earth as it is in a ou r o ur He ven . Give us this day daily bread and forgive us trespasses as we forgive those that trespass against us ; and lead us not into temptation , but deliver us from evil , for Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory , forever and ever . Amen . L’ ORAI S ON DOM I NI CALE Pére le nom Notre qui etes dans s cieux , que votre soit sanctifié : Que votre regne arrive : Que votre volonté soit faite ’ sur la terre comme au ciel : Donnez -nous auj ourd hui notre pain quotidien : Pardonnez - nous inos offenses comme nous les ‘ ‘ a fi nsé pardonnons ceux qui nous ont o e s—: Ne nous laissez pas a e a du . succomber la t ntation , m is délivrez nous mal Ainsi -il soit . — CORRECT FREN CH B I N G TH E LETTERS F —fi rench alphabet contains twenty ve letters . ancient and usual pronunciation is : m is sounded ah , as in far , bar . ‘ o i n - is sounded bay, as bay shore . - O in . is sounded say, as Say ville L in D a - C is sounded day , as y ton D — d a is sounded y , as in ail ment h — - f f t e i n e is sounded , as feet q é - r u —s — a . w is sounded zhay, as in J lem b is sounded ash , as in ash . m u . is so nded e , as in inn o h e z e . u sounded , as in j eer W i n ca - r d —is sounded cah , as . h el in is sounded , ( same as English ) . ‘ 'B i n is sounded em, ( same as English ) . S o en a is s unded , ( same s in English) . O o 0 in is s unded , ( same as English) . O — F is sounded pay , as in pay ment . Q kii in - n - is sounded , as cu rio s . u - - r er is sounded err , as in ror . m is sounded es , ( same as in English) . +- o — is s unded tay , as in tai lor . i n is like the u the word gude , suss . a — is sounded vay, as in v por . sounded ix, as in mix . is ( from the Greek) e-grec is sounded zed , as in zest . TH E ALPHABET 7 TH E LETTERS - fi The French alphabet contains twenty ve letters . The new names of the letters are : > i . is sounded ah , as n far , bar -be- w is sounded be , as in j ab ring - k - o ke a i n e . is sounded , s mar ting - - o . is sounded de , as in mur de ring m i n . sounded er, as herb e fe o f—fe- is sounded , as in ring . i - n . O is sounded ghe , as gher kin - m . is sounded her, as in her mit is sounded i , as in fish , rich . - - e e r . sounded j , as in sur g y - k - r m k e i n e . is sounded , as croc y ' — - le t le r . b is sounded , as in ar il y - — z . is sounded me , as in mes me rism m in n- n -m e e e . is sounded , as y - O o . is sounded o , as in pen e a - e- sounded p , as in p p tite . k - k - e e r . w is sounded , as in moc y ' — w r e . is sounded re , as in deemer ‘ - - w r . is sounded se , as in nur se y e i n in - —r s s ou ded . te , as bat te y u' i n is sounded as in gude ( Scotch ) , u grun , i n r — —r ve e ve . is sounded , as y - - u k s e c n ve x . is so nded , as in o — is called e grec . i n —z e z e s . is sounded , as nee W , w , called double v , might be added , as many foreign words which have that letter have been adopted i n the French language , it has the sound of a simple v . 1s in 1 Walter pronounced Valter ( Val tayr ) ( ter as pate) . I S illi m William pronounced V a . U i n T e has no corresponding sound English . h u in gude , as the Scotch people pronounce it , is a good illustration ; or the ii in suss or in g r ii n o f the German language are similar to the n Fre ch 11 . In order to obtain the right Sound o f u it is necessary to place the lips as for whistling and pronounce e . You will readily acquire the sound of the French u . Then you must practice by pron ouncing u preceded by diver s consonants as b- bu d - du f- fu' l- lu m - m u n - —u r - ru - s s u . , , , , , nu , p p , , , etc — 8 CORRECT FRENCH B ING RULE FOR READ ING DIVISION OF SYLLABLES o F In order to pron unce correctly a rench word , it is nec f or . essary, beginners , to divide it into syllables e Remember that , whenever it is possible , a syllable must b gin . o with a consonant Theref re , when there is only one consonant ' inside of a word , that consonant belongs to the vowel which follows it ( never to the vowel preceding it) and forms a syllable with it . SYLLABIC ACCENT OR STRESS I n F rench , each syllable of a word must be pronounced smoothly , the voice resting upon the last , unless it ends in e i n a c mute , which case the syllable before the last is slightly cented .