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A SHORT TREATISE ON THE ENGLISH TONGUE.

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A SHORT TREATISE ON THE ENGLISH TONGUE.

Being an Attempt to render the Reading and Pronunciation OF THE SAME More EASY to FOREIGNERS.

LONDON: Printed for R. HORSFIELD in Ludgate Street, and I. ALLIX in Glanville Street, Rathbone Place.

MDCCLXVII.

INTRODUCTION.

[v]

IT is generally allowed, that the moſt eaſy method of attaining any living language is to aſſociate and converſe with thoſe who ſpeak it. Nevertheleſs, when a foreigner has by this means ſo far acquired the Engliſh tongue, that he ſhall be able to ſpeak it, and underſtand it when ſpoken, tolerably well, he will yet find himſelf greatly at a loſs, when he attempts to read: becauſe the manner of expreſſing ſounds by letters in his own language is ſo very different from ours, that many Engliſh words, which he is well acquainted with by ear, will not appear to him to be the ſame when he ſees them in writing.—For not only various ſounds are expreſſed in the Engliſh language by the ſame vowels; but alſo, in many particular words, a kind of arbitrary [vi] pronunciation is uſed, which cannot eaſily be reduced to rule, and is therefore moſt commonly taught merely by ear, or imitation.

This latter difficulty, I am afraid, cannot be removed; but, I think, it may be relieved in ſome degree, by ſeparating all ſuch words from thoſe which are capable of being taught by rule. This I have attempted, and have accordingly collected all, or the greateſt part of ſuch kind of words, under their proper heads, as exceptions to the ſeveral rules given in the following pages, together with a ſhort explanation of their ſound.—By this means a learner may have his taſk before him, and may eaſily refer to any particular word, as he ſhall have occaſion; which will greatly relieve his memory.

I have not taken notice of all the derivatives and compounds which properly belong to the ſeveral exceptions, but for the moſt part of primitive words only, for the ſake of brevity; which I hope will be thought ſufficient, [vii] the others being naturally comprehended therein. Many words indeed are varied according to the different poſition of the accent, which not only ſhortens the articulation of the ſucceeding ſyllables, but in ſome words cauſes them to be ſo indiſtinctly pronounced, that it is ſometimes difficult to determine what vowels are ſounded therein: yet if the learner is but careful to give the accented ſyllable its proper pronunciation according to the following rules, he will naturally fall into the cuſtomary utterance of the other ſyllables, which, as they are pronounced quick, need not be ſtudied ſo particularly.

The rules treat only of the general power of the vowels and diphthongs, becauſe in theſe conſiſt the moſt material differences between the Engliſh pronunciation and that of foreigners; but I have added thereto, by way of appendix, a ſhort treatiſe (drawn up and communicated by a friend) for the explanation of ſuch particularities alſo of the other letters as are peculiar to the Engliſh tongue.

[viii]All which together (I flatter myſelf) will be ſufficient to enable a foreigner to read and pronounce any Engliſh words with eaſe and certainty, when the ſyllables of the ſame are properly divided according to the learned Dr. Lowth's excellent rule for ſpelling, given in the 7th page of his Engliſh grammar, viz. ‘The beſt and only ſure rule for dividing the ſyllables in ſpelling, is to divide them as they are naturally divided in a right pronunciation; without regard to the derivation of words, or the poſſible combination of conſonants at the beginning of a ſyllable.’

Mr. John Gignoux likewiſe particularly recommends and explains this method, in the preface to his ſpelling-book, intituled, ‘The Child's beſt Inſtructor in Spelling and Reading.’ A title which it ſeems well to deſerve, on account of the diviſion of the ſeveral ſyllables according to the manner above-mentioned, by which it is rendered (in my opinion at leaſt) the moſt uſeful book of the ſort that has hitherto been publiſhed.

[ix]I muſt however obſerve, that the author, in his ‘Table of Words written very different from their Pronunciation,’ at page 82, has too much followed the common London pronunciation; which, tho' perhaps in general the beſt, yet has ſome very exceptionable particularities. Among which are, Potticary for Apothecary, Athiſt for Atheiſt, Awkurd for Aukward, Riccolas for Auricolas, Belcony for Balcony, Carrin for Carrion, Sirket for Circuit, Crowner for Coroner, Gorjus for Gorgeous, Hankerchur for Handkerchief, I'urn for Iron, Ilan for Iſland, Spanel for Spaniel, Stummuch for Stomach, Sound for Swoon, Thuſty for Thirſty, Vawt for Vault, Venzun for Veniſon, Verdit for Verdict, &c.

Alſo in page 57 he ſignifies that the terminations -tial, -cial, -cian, -tious, -cious, -tient, and cient, make each of them ‘but one ſound or ſyllable.’ But however common ſuch pronunciation may be, it ought not by any means to be taught, or laid down as a rule; becauſe the Engliſh language loſes much of its elegance, [x] when it is expreſſed in ſo careleſs a manner, that any of the above-mentioned terminations ſhall ſeem but one ſyllable.

The i in all theſe terminations has the ſound of the Engliſh e; and though it is pronounced quick, yet it ought to be diſtinctly expreſſed, as in Parti-al, Soci-al, Greci-an, Capti-ous, Graci-ous, Quoti-ent, Anci-ent, &c. There fore I hope that the author, in his next edition of that uſeful book, will make ſome alteration in his explanation of theſe particulars.

Others, beſides Mr. Gignoux, have been miſled by the indiſtinct manner in which ſome particular ſyllables are ſometimes uttered even by good ſpeakers. Mr. James Buchanan in particular has given himſelf much unneceſſary trouble, and has carried his refinements a great deal too far concerning ſyllables of this kind, which, in quick pronunciation, have ſeemed to him to partake of an articulation different from the real ſpelling. This has, unfortunately, not only added great difficulty to [xi] his * performance, but rendered it almoſt incapable of anſwering the good purpoſes intended by it. For he has frequently ſubſtituted an imaginary articulation of one vowel for the inarticulation, or rather the ſhort and indiſtinct ſound, of another; not conſidering that the expreſſing of an accented ſyllable in many particular words does almoſt unavoidably cauſe the ſucceeding ſyllable or ſyllables to be ſo indiſtinctly pronounced, that it is ſometimes difficult to determine what vowels are ſounded therein, as I have before obſerved.

But when words are ſo pronounced, that inſtead of the ſhort or indiſtinct ſound of one vowel, a manifeſt articulation of another different vowel may be diſtinguiſhed; it then becomes a fault in ſpeech, which (howſoever common it may be) ought by no means to be [xii] imitated, much leſs taught; becauſe the generality of people are naturally too liable of themſelves to acquire it, without being led thereto by written inſtructions.

The following examples taken from Mr. Buchanan's book will illuſtrate what has been ſaid; viz. He has ſubſtituted -ĭl for the terminations -al, -ial, and -el, as Năivĭl, Neutrĭl, Kŏmĭk [...]l, Joodeĕſhĭl, Spĕſhĭl, Quărĭl, &c. for Naval, Neutral, Comical, Judicial, Special, Quarrel, &c. * -in for -an, as Heumin, Orgĭn, &c. for Human, Organ, &c. -ĭnſs for -ance and -ence; and -ĭnt for -ant and -ent, as Abundinſs, Rĕvĕrinſs, Contentmĭnt, Commandmint, &c. inſtead of Abundance, Reverence, Contentment, Commandment, &c. [xiii] -fŏol for -ful as Faithfoŏl, &c. iſs for eſs, as Heedlĭſs, Hăppĭnĭſs, and a great abundance of ſuch other ſyllables, equally diſtant from the true pronunciation.

As I have no other motive for giving my opinion ſo freely concerning this gentleman's performance, than the deſire of removing all unneceſſary difficulty from the learning of Engliſh, I hope he will excuſe me; even though my remarks ſhould not have ſufficient weight to convince him.

He may likewiſe aſſure himſelf, that, though I think an uniformity of pronunciation throughout the Britiſh dominions is more to be wiſhed than hoped for; yet I ſhould have as much real ſatisfaction as himſelf in the completion of that "great moral end," which (as he ſuppoſes in his preface) would be promoted thereby, viz. the removal of national prejudice; an effect equally to be deſired by all lovers of their country, whether South or North Britons!

It would be much to the advantage of all thoſe who learn the Engliſh tongue, if the [xiv] ſyllables in all future editions of Engliſh dictionaries were divided according to the * method recommended by Dr. Lowth and Mr. Gignoux before mentioned: and likewiſe if the words, which are not properly Engliſh, were diſtinguiſhed by an aſteriſk, or ſome other particular mark placed before them; that foreigners may not conceive our language to be unneceſſarily copious and difficult.

The coining of new words from other languages to expreſs any thing, which might as conciſely and elegantly be explained in proper Engliſh words, is a kind of pedantry, which all writers ſhould endeavour to avoid: unleſs we be allowed to except thoſe who treat of natural philoſophy, medicine, ſurgery, or ſuch other ſubjects as are ſuppoſed to be read by none but thoſe who are acquainted with other languages, or at leaſt have ſome knowledge of [xv] the Latin tongue. For it ought to be the ſtudy of every writer to make his meaning as plain and intelligible in the proper language in which he writes, as he poſſibly can. Yet ſo many of our moſt eminent writers have occaſionally been guilty of the fault above mentioned, that the ingenious Mr. Johnſon has thought himſelf obliged to inſert a great abundance of ſuch coined words into his excellent Engliſh dictionary; and the reverend Mr. Entick likewiſe into his very uſeful new pocket dictionary. But I cannot ſuppoſe that ſuch kind of words were admitted by theſe gentlemen as proper Engliſh words; but merely that they might explain them to Engliſh readers; who without the knowledge of other languages cannot otherwiſe poſſibly underſtand them: which is a ſufficient proof that they are not at all intitled to the name of Engliſh words.

For how ſhould an Engliſh reader (I mean a reader merely of Engliſh) be ſuppoſed to underſtand that Ablepſy ſignifies blindneſs? Acetoſity ſourneſs? Anhelation panting? Arcanum a [xvi] ſecret? Obeſity fatneſs? Papilio a butterfly? Neoterick, modern? Paranymph a bride-man? Rugoſe wrinkled? Squalor naſtineſs? Terreous earthy? Tenebricoſe dark; Tripudiation dancing? Tumefy to ſwell? Turm a troop? and a thouſand other ſuch words, which are found in both dictionaries?

It is much to be wiſhed that all ſuch new coined words, which have only been uſed by a few authors, were diſtinguiſhed by ſome mark from the common and proper Engliſh words (as I have hinted above) in all future editions of theſe uſeful dictionaries: leſt ſo many uncouth and pedantick expreſſions ſhould be adopted into the Engliſh tongue by dictionary authority. Becauſe when a perſon ſees them ranged with other words in an Engliſh dictionary, he may be induced to make uſe of them as proper Engliſh words in his writing and diſcourſe, which would, at firſt, cauſe no ſmall impediment to the underſtanding of his ordinary readers and hearers.

[xvii]The accents uſed in theſe dictionaries are particularly uſeful for keeping up an uniformity in pronunciation; and it would be well if the double accents were alſo added to ſome particular words, as in Mr. Gignoux's ſpelling book for the purpoſe mentioned in page 7 of his preface, viz. To denote, that ‘the conſonant that begins the next ſyllable muſt be alſo ſounded at the end of the ſyllable where the double accent is; as a″-tóne-ment; man″-gle; in-tan″-gle; which words muſt be ſounded as if written at-tone-ment; mang-gle; intang-gle;’ ſo in con″-quer-or; con″-cu-bine; &c.*

In my ſearch for ſuch words as are independent of the following rules, I made uſe of the Rev. Mr. Entick's new ſpelling dictionary; and though I examined the ſame ſo carefully, [xviii] that I believe I have not made many omiſſions, yet the whole number of particular exceptions (excluſive of their compounds and derivatives) amount to no more than 340—which number bears a very ſmall proportion to the number of words in that dictionary; which I compute to be upwards of 23,000. This, I think, ought to prove that the Engliſh pronunciation is not ſo very irregular as it is generally thought to be; which a careful examination of the following pages will more particularly ſhew.

A SHORT TREATISE ON THE ENGLISH TONGUE.

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THE Engliſh vowels, a, e, i, o and u, have each of them * 2 ſounds, commonly called long and ſhort.

The ſounds of the three firſt vowels a, e, and i, when long, ſeem to be peculiar at preſent to this nation, wherefore they may properly be called the Engliſh ſounds.

[2]And the ſhort ſounds of theſe three vowels may, for the ſake of diſtinction, be called the foreign ſounds; becauſe they are uttered with ſcarcely any difference (except that a and i, are pronounced ſhort) from the French articulation of the ſame vowels; which ſhall be more fully explained by * examples hereafter.

I think it neceſſary to obſerve in this place that the Engliſh ſound of the following vowels, diphthongs and terminations cannot eaſily be expreſſed in foreign letters, and ſhould therefore be learned by ear, viz.

i long , as in Bi-ble, Mi-tre, Nitre, Pirate, &c.

[3]o and u ſhort, before a conſonant in the ſame ſyllable as in Odd, Nod, Lord, &c. and in Mud, Strut, Stun, Urn, &c.

oi and oy, which have both the ſame ſound, as in Oil, Boil, Coil, Boy, Coy, Hoy, &c.

ou and ow (not like the French ou, in the pronunciation of which the lips are almoſt cloſed, but) with an open articulation as in Pound, Our, Gown, Pow-er, &c.

Alſo the following Terminations, viz.

  • -ire
  • -tion
  • -cious
  • -tious

as in Dire, Fire, Salvation, Delicious, Fictitious, &c.

The Engliſh (or long) ſound is given to the vowels a, e,Rule I. and i (and the other vowels are alſo ſounded long) when they are alone, or when there is not a conſonant following them in the ſame ſyllable (alſo before ſilent e in the end of a word; ſee the 3d rule)

Examples
  • a like the French e in Bête, as in Ca-ble, Fa-ble, Sa-ble, &c.
  • e like the French i in Mille, as in Be, He, E-vil, Be-ver, Le-gal, &c.
  • i like the Greek * [...] or ſomething like the French i long before n in Divin, Prince, Enfin, &c. as in Bi-ble; Di-al; Fi-nal; Gi-ant, &c.
  • o like the French o or au, as in Go; So; Lo-cal; Mo-ment, &c.
  • u like ew in Few, Pew, &c. as in Du-ty, Fu-ry, Hu-man, &c.
  • y (when a vowel) like the Engliſh i; as in the monoſyllables Buy and Guy, (wherein u is mute) Dry, Fry, My, Dye, &c. in the diſſyllables, Ally′, Com-ply′, De-ny′, De-ſcry′, De-fy′, Eſ-py′, Im-ply′, Re-ly′, and Re-ply′, which are accented on the ultimate ſyllable; and in all words compounded with the Latin word Fio; as Dé-ify, Magnify, Specify, Rarify, &c.

(Particular Exceptions concerning a, at the End of a Syllable)

[5]

Except, 1ſt, a in Wa-ter, wherein it is commonly pronounced like the French a, or Engliſh diphthong aw; in Fa-ther, and the laſt ſyllable of Pa-pa, Mam-ma, wherein it has a medium ſound between aw and the Engliſh a; and in a-ny, and ma-ny, wherein it ſounds like a ſhort e.

(Particular Exceptions concerning i)

2dly,i in ac-qui-eſce, Bi-er, Pi-er, and Tier, wherein it ſounds like the Engliſh e.

(General Exceptions concerning i)

3dly,i is pronounced ſhort before another vowel in the termination of all words of more than 2 ſyllables, when it is not radical; as in A′mĭ-able, De-mo-nĭ-ac′k, Ca′r-rĭ-age, So′-cĭ-al, Wi′l-lĭ-am, Sty′g-ĭ-an, Da′l-lĭ-ance, Va′l-ĭ-ant, Spăn-ĭ-ard, A′-pĭ-ary, So′-cĭ-ate, In-ſid-ia′tor, Al-le-vĭ a′tion, Ma′r-rĭ-ed, A-lĭ-en, Co′n-ſcĭ-ence, Am′-bĭ-ent, [6] Gla-zĭ-er, Spe′-cĭ-es, Se-rag″-lĭ-o, Ax′-i-om, Poſ-te′-rĭ-or, Wa′r-rĭ-our, Con′-ſcĭ-ous, I′d-ĭ-ot, Pre′-mĭ-um, &c. But in the proper names Ma-r-i′a and So-ph-i′a, when given to Engliſh women, it is pronounced according to rule. Alſo, in A′ffi′-ance, and the derivatives from the diſſyllables ending in y, which are mentioned in the example: as Al-li′-ance, Com-pli′-ance, De-ni′-al, De-fi′-ance, and Re-li′-ance, wherein the i * retains the ſound of the y in the original words, and is accented accordingly.

Particular Exceptions concerning o.

Except, 4thly,o in Do (and its compounds) To, and Who, which is commonly pronounced like oo; though the latter (Who) is pronounced [7] according to the rule in the northern parts of England.

5thly,u, in the firſt ſyllable of Cu-cumber, which is commonly pronounced like the Engliſh ou hereafter explained.

General Exception concerning y.

6thly,y, at the end of all words of two or more ſyllables (except thoſe mentioned in the example) is pronounced like a ſhort i, as in Carry, Envy, Commiſſary, &c. the accent being laid on one of the former ſyllables.

Of vowels in ſyllables ending with a conſonant.

[...]ule II.The vowels are pronounced ſhort in all ſyllables ending with a conſonant (except in the particular caſes hereafter noted) and the three firſt vowels have the foreign articulation, without any other material difference, except that of being pronounced ſhort.

[8]

EXAMPLES.
  • a has a ſhort articulation of the Engliſh aw, or rather of the Italian a, as in Add, Bad, Lad, Mad, &c.
  • e has exactly the ſound of the * Italian or French é, as in Bed, Fed, Led, Red, &c.
  • i has a ſhort articulation of the French i, or Engliſh e, as in Bid, Did, Hid, Kid, &c.
  • The ſhort ſound of the two other vowels (viz. o and u) muſt be acquired by ear, as I have before obſerved (ſee examples of theſe vowels in p. 3. of this treatĭſe.)

Particular Exceptions concerning a before a conſonant.

Except, 1ſt,a in A′n-gel, Baſs, Ca′m-brick, Ca′m-bridge, Da′n-ger, and Ma′n-ger, is commonly ſounded like the French diphthong ai; in han't (for have not) Ma′ſ-ter, and Pla′ſ-ter, it [9] has a medium ſound between aw and the Engliſh a; and in Hal-ſer (wherein l is mute) Falſe, and Palſy, it is commonly pronounced like aw.

General Exceptions concerning a before a conſonant.

2dly,a has the ſound of aw likewiſe before ld and lt, as in Bald, Cal-dron, Altar, &c.; in all primitive monoſyllables ending in ll (except ſhall and Mall, which are pronounced according to rule) as in All, Gall, Fall, &c.; and before lk (wherein l is mute) as Balk, Stalk, Walk, Talk, &c.: but before lf, lm, lve, and before nd in words derived from the Latin word Mando, it is ſounded like the Italian a, only ſomewhat longer, as in Half, Calm, Salve, Command, Demand, &c.

Particular Exceptions concerning c before a conſonant.

Except, 3dly,e in England, Pretty, Yes, and Yet, wherein it is pronounced like a ſhort ĭ, and in Yellow like a ſhort ă.

General Exception concerning e before s.

[10]

4thly,e is pronounced long before * s in the ultimate of plural nouns, and third perſons ſingular of verbs when preceded by c, s, z, or g, as in Fa′-ces, Ho′r-ſes, Aſ-ſi′-zes, Ra′-ges, &c.; but in all other terminations with ſilent e (except in Latin words) the es may be ſounded in the ſame ſyllable, as Bride Brides, Ride Rides, Name Names, &c.

Particular Exceptions concerning i before a conſonant.

5thly,i in Blithe, Endict, and Indict (wherein c is mute) Mild, Pint, and Wild, retains its Engliſh, or long ſound; alſo in Child and Chriſt, but not in their Derivatives, Children, Chriſten, and Chriſtian.

General Exceptions concerning i before a conſonant.

[11]

6thly,i is likewiſe ſounded long in all primitive words (and their compounds and derivatives) ending in nd; as Bind, Rind, Wind, &c.; though in Wind, the ſubſtantive, and its compounds, it is ſometimes pronounced ſhort.

It is alſo ſounded long before gh, as in High, Nigh, Light, &c. in which gh is mute, having no other uſe than that of lengthening the i.

It is long alſo before gn at the end of a word (and the g is mute) as in Benign, Sign, and its compounds Conſign, Deſign, &c. and their Derivatives in -er, -ed, -edly, and -ment, but no others; for in Re-ſig-na-tion, Con-ſig-na-tion, Sig-nif-i-ed, &c. the i is ſhort according to rule, and the g is pronounced.

General Exceptions concerning o before conſonants.

[12]

Except, 7thly,o in all words ending in ld and lt, as Beho′ld, Bold, Cold, Bolt, Colt, &c. and all their compounds and derivatives, retains its long ſound.

Particular Exceptions of o before a conſonant.

8thly,o is alſo pronounced long in Boll, Bolſter, Comb (wherein b is mute) Control, Droll, Folk (wherein l is mute) Force, Fort, Ghoſt, Groſs, Ho′lſter, Hoſt, Moſt, Only, Poſt, Poll, Pat-ro′ll, Port, Roll, Scroll, Sloth, Sport, and Sword (wherein w is mute) Stroll, Toll, and Troll, and in their compounds, &c. But in Compt and its compounds, Ac-compt, &c. it ſounds like the Engliſh diphthong ou, as if ſpelt Count, Ac-count, &c.

It has the ſound of a ſhort u * in Af-fro′nt, At-to′r-ney, Bomb, Bo′r-age, [13] Bo′r-ough, Bro′th-er, Co′l-our, Co′m-fits, Co′m-fort, Co′m-pany, Co′m-paſs, Co′n-duit, Co′n-ey, Co′n-ſta-ble, Co′z-en, Co′v-e-nant, Co′v-er, Co′v-et, Co′v-ey, Diſ-co′m-fit, Do′z-en, Go′v-ern, Ho′n-ey, Lo′n-don, Mo′n-day, Mon-ey, Monk, Mo″n-key, Mo″n-ger, Mo″n-grel, Mo′nth, Mo′th-er, On-ion, O′th-er, O′v-en, Po′m-mel, Po′th-er, Ro′m-age, Ront, Son, Sho′v-el, Slo′v-en, Smo′th-er, Ton, Tho′r-ough-ly, Won, Wo′n-der, Word, World, Work, Worm, Wor-ſted, Worth, Wo′m-an (in the ſingular only, the plural being pronounced as if ſpelt Wimmen) Wo′r-ry, Wort, Wo′r-ſhip, and their compounds, &c. except Diſ-co′v-er and Re-co′v-er, which are pronounced according to rule.

It is moſt commonly ſounded like oo in Tomb and Womb (wherein b is ſilent) Lo-ſer, Gold, Whom, and Whoſe *: and is mute in Jeo′p-ar-dy, Leo′p-ard, and People, [14] which are pronounced as if written Je′p-par-dy, Lep-pard, and Pee-ple.

Particular Exceptions of u before a conſonant.

Except, 9thly,u in Bu-ſy, and its compounds, &c. which is commonly pronounced like a ſhort i, and the s like z.

Of Vowels in Syllables ending with ſilent e.

Rule III.But when e or ue follow a conſonant in the ſame ſyllable, the preceding vowel retains its original open or long ſound.

EXAMPLES. Ace, Face, Rece′de, Dice, Vote, Con-fu′te, Vague, Vogue, Col-le′gue, &c. Alſo, Ad-vice, De-vi′ce, En-ti′ce, Suf-fi′ce, Sac-rif-i′ce, Ali′ve, Con-ni′ve, Con-tri′ve, De-pri′ve, Deri′ve, Re-vi′ve, and Sur-vi′ve, which are accented on the laſt ſyllable.

The vowel a is ſounded long even before two conſonants, when they are followed by e in the ſame ſyllable (except before -nce) as ĭn Ache, Haſte, Waſte, Change, Grange, Range, &c. and their compounds and derivatives; but the other four vowels [15] are ſounded ſhort in the like caſe, as in Fringe, Revenge, Solve, Serve, Tinge, Sludge, Grudge, &c.

Note,That derivatives from words ending in e for the moſt part retain their original ſound, even when the e is omitted, as Sparing, -ed, from Spare; Waſt-er, -ing, ed, from Waſte; Rang-er, -ing, ed, from Range, &c.

General Exception.

Except, 1ſt,Words having the accent on the penultima or antepenultima: in all which the laſt ſyllable, being ſhort, is pronounced as if the e and ue final were abſent, as in Ca′l-a-mine, Ca′th-er-ine, Ca′t-a-logue, De′c-a-logue, De-po′ſ-ite, De′ſ-tine, De-te′r-mine, Diſ-fra′n-chiſe, Do′c-trine, E′n-gine, E′p-il-ogue, Ex-quiſ-ite, Gra′n-ite, Har-a′ngue, Fi′-nite, and its compounds, Ma′r-it-ime, Me′d-ic′-ine, Mi′n-ute (not the adjective for ſmall) Mor-tiſe, Pe′d-a-gogue, Pra′c-tiſe (verb) Pro′l-ogue, Pro′m-iſe, Sap″-phire, Syn′-a-gogue, Tre′a-tiſe, and U-rine.

Particular Exceptions.

[16]

2dly,The following monoſyllables are likewiſe exceptions to this rule, viz. Dare (the verb) Give, Gone, Have, Live, and One *; all which are pronounced as if e final was abſent.Except, 3dly,

There, Were, and Where, which are commonly pronounced as if ſpelt with the diphthong ai, Thair, Wair, and Whair; but in all other words (except what are mentioned above) the vowels a, e, i, or y, when they come before -re final, are ſounded long according to the third rule, as in Are, Care, Here, Mere, Deſire, Fire, Lyre, &c. as if ſpelt Air, Cair, Heer, Meer, Deſier, &c.

Particular Exceptions concerning i in ſyllables ending with ſilent e.

Except, 4thly,i in Writhe and O-blige, wherein it is commonly ſounded like ee (though in the [17] northern parts of England the latter is ſounded according to rule).

General Exceptions concerning i in ſyllables ending with ſilent e.

5thly,i in all adjectives of more than one ſyllable ending in -ile, and in all words (except thoſe mentioned in the above example) ending in ice and ive, is pronounced ſhort, as in Se′r-vile, Ju′-ven-ile, Ca′p-rice, Ma′l-ice, En′-dive, Po′ſ-it-ive, &c.

Particular Exceptions concerning o in ſyllables ending with ſilent e.

6thly,o in A-bo′ve, Come, Co′me-ly, Done, Dove, Glove, Love, Po′re-blind, Some, Shove, Sponge, Tongue, and Worſe, wherein it is ſounded like a ſhort u; and in Loſe, Move, Prove, and Rome, wherein it is commonly pronounced like oo.

Of Proper Diphthongs.

[18]

Proper Diphthongs have ſounds of their own, different from the long and ſhort ſounds of the Engliſh vowels.

Rule IV

  • au
  • aw

are pronounced like the French a in Ame.

Examples. Maul, Paul, Sprawl, Law, Saw &c.

Particular Exceptions.

Except, Auf (more commonly ſpelt Oaf) and Hautboy, wherein au is pronounced like a long o; Cauliflower, where it is pronounced like a ſhort o; and Gauge, wherein it is commonly ſounded like the Engliſh a long.

Rule V.

  • oi
  • oy

The proper articulation of theſe diphthongs is that which is given them in the Engliſh words Oil, Boil, Coy, Hoy, &c.

(See Liſt of Vowels, Diphthongs, &c. which cannot be expreſſed in foreign Letters, page 3.)

[19] Except, Tor-toiſe, wherein oi is commonly ſounded like ſhort u.

Rule VIoo is pronounced like the French ou in Bout.

Examp' Boot, Broom, Loop, Moor, Poor, &c.

Except, Blood, Flood, Foot, Good, Hood, Stood, Soot, Wood, and Wool, wherein oo is not pronounced ſo full, but partakes a little of the ſound of a ſhort u. Except alſo * Door and Floor, wherein oo has the ſound of o long.

Rule VII.

  • ou
  • ow

The proper pronunciation of theſe diphthongs is that which is given them in the Engliſh words Bound, Found, Crown, Cow, Flow-er, Sow (noun), Coward, &c. A more particular account of this ſound is given in page 3.

Particular Exceptions concerning ou.

[20]

Except, 1ſt,ou in Bou′ge, Bou′g-et (commonly written Budge and Budget) Bo′r-ough, Cou′n-try, Cou″-ple, Cou′r-age, Cou′ſ-in, Dou″-ble, Dou′b-let, Jou′r-nal, Jou′r-ney, Mounch, Nou′r-iſh, Tho′r-ough-ly, Tho′r-ough-fare, Trou″-ble, Touch, * Scourge, Shou′d, Cou′d, and Wou'd, wherein it is pronounced like a ſhort u; alſo in Enough, Rough, Slough (when it ſignifies the part which ſeparates from a ſore) and Tough; in all which the gh final ſounds like f; but in Cough, Lough (or Lake) and Trough, it is pronounced like a ſhort o, as if ſpelt Coff, Loff, and Troff. Except alſo in Coul-ter, Courſe, (and its compounds Diſcourſe, &c.) Court, Dough, Four, Fur-lough, Gourd, Mourn, Mould, Moult, Poult, Poul-try, Poul-terer, Poul-tice, Shoul-der, Soul, Though, wherein ou is ſounded like o long; and [21] like oo in Bouſe, Ca-rouſe, Gouge, Through, and Un-couth.

General Exceptions concerning ou.

[...]cept, [...]dly,ou before ght, which has a medium ſound between aw and o long, as in Ought, Bought, Thought, &c. and in the termination of words of more than one ſyllable, in -our and -ous, wherein it ſounds like a ſhort u, as in Ho-nour, Sa-viour, Pi-ous, Righ-teous, &c.

Particular Exceptions concerning ow.

[...]cept, [...]dly,ow in Bow when it ſignifies a weapon, or ſegment of a circle; but in the word Bow it is pronounced according to rule; in Bowl (or Baſon, not in Bowl the verb, nor its derivatives, &c.) Blow, Crow, Flow, Flown (from Fly) Glow, Grow, Know, Low, Mow, Owe, Own, Prow, Prowl, Row, Sow (the verb) Show, Slow, Snow, Strow, Stow, Tow (noun and verb) Trow, and Throw, and their derivatives, &c. wherein it ſounds like o long.

General Exception concerning ow.

[22]

Except, 4thly, ow final in words of more than one ſyllable, which is ſounded like a ſhort o, the w being mute; as in Ba′r-row, Be′llow, Fo′l-low, &c. Three words are independent of this exception, viz. Al-low, wherein ow is pronounced according to the rule, and Be-low and Beſtow, wherein it ſounds like o long.

Note,Many of the words contained in the above exceptions are pronounced in the broad dialects of the northern parts of England as they are ſpelt; that is, ou and ow are pronounced according to the VIIth rule, as in Bound, Cow, &c. viz. Trough (making gh ſilent) Four, Mould, Moult, Poultry, Poultice, Shoulder, Bowl (or Baſon) Glow, Grow, Mow, Owe, Own, Strow, Trow, Ought, Bought, &c.

Of Improper Diphthongs.

Improper Diphthongs take the ſound of but one of their vowels, the other being mute.

[23] Rule VIII.

  • ai
  • ay
  • ey

are pronounced like the French ai, or Engliſh a long.

Examples. Dainty, Bail, Gain, Day, May, Grey, Prey, Convey, Obey, Survey, Bey, Dey, &c.

Particular Exceptions concerning ai.

Except, 1ſt,ai in Vil-lain and Mur-rain, and ſometimes in Said, is pronounced like a ſhort e.

General Exception concerning ai.

Except, 2dly,ai when alone or at the end of a ſyllable, as in A-chai-a, and the Hebrew names Ben-a′i-ah, Iſ-a′i-ah, Mi-cai-ah, Cai-a-phas, &c: wherein it is pronounced like the Greek [...] or Engliſh i long.

Particular Exceptions concerning ey.

Except, 3dly, ey in Hey! and Hey-day! wherein it is ſounded like the Engliſh i, and in Ceylon, Key, and Sey-mour, wherein it is pronounced like the Engliſh e or French i.

General Exception concerning ey.

[24]

Except, 4thly,ey at the end of words of more than one ſyllable (when the accent is placed on a former ſyllable, as in A′l-ley, At-to′r-ney, B′ar-ley, Ga′l-ley, Ho′n-ey, &c.) is pronounced like a ſhort i.

Rule IX.

  • ae
  • ea
  • ee
  • ei
  • ie
  • oe

are pronounced like the French i in Fille, or the Engliſh e long.

Examples. Daemon (or Demon) Beat, Dear, Lead, and Read (verbs) Meet, Feet, Re-ceipt, De-ceit, De-ceive, Ceil-ing, Seign-iory, Seize, Shield, Re-prieve, Grief, Foetus, Sub-poena, &c.

Particular Exceptions concerning ea.

Except, 1ſt,ea is pronounced like the French é in Bread, Break-faſt, Breaſt, Breath (noun only) Cleanly, and Cleanſe (not in Clean) Dead, [25] Deaf, Death, Dread, En-deav-our, Feather, Head, He′av-en, He′av-y, Je′al-ous, Le′av-en, Lead (metal) Le′ath-er, Me′aſure, Miſ-tea′ch, Pea′ſ-ant, Phe′aſ-ant, Plea′ſant, Ple′aſ-ure, Pea′ſ-cod, Read-y, Realm, Read (only in preter tenſe and participle paſſive) Stead-y, In-ſtead, Spread, Sweat, Teat, Thread, Threat-en, Trea′ch-ery, Tread, Tre′aſ-ure, Wea′th-er, Wea′p-on, Wreak, Zea′l-ous, Zeal-ot (not in Zeal) Yeaſt, and their compounds and derivatives not already excepted. But in Bear *, Break, Great, Swear, Tear (the verb) Wear, Wheal, and Weal (the mark of a ſtripe, but not in Weal for proſperity) it is commonly ſounded like the French diphthong ai; and like a ſhort a in Hear-ken, Hearth, and Heart.

Except, 2dly,General Exceptions concerning ea.

But in all other words before r, when another conſonant follows in the ſame ſyllable, [26] it is ſounded like er or ir, as in Dearth, Earl, Earn, Ea′rn-eſt, Earl-y, Earth, Hearſe, Heard, Learn, &c.

ea before three conſonants in the ſame ſyllable is pronounced like the French é, as in Health, Breadth, Wealth, &c.

Except, 3dly,Particular Exceptions concerning ee.

ee in Breech (noun and verb) Breechings, and Breeches, which are pronounced like a ſhort i.

Except, 4thly,Particular Exceptions concerning ei.

ei in Sleight (Artifice) in which it is pronounced like the long Engliſh i; but it is like a ſhort i in Fo′r-feit and Su′r-feit; like a ſhort e in For-eign, and Hei-fer; and like the diphthong ai in Hei′n-ous, Heir, Leiſure (though ſometimes like a ſhort e in Lei′ſ-ure) Skein, Their, Veil, and Vein.

Except, 5thly,General Exceptions concerning ei.

ei is pronounced like the long Engliſh i when it is not followed by a conſonant in the [27] ſame ſyllable; as in Plei′-a-des, Hei′-delberg; Hei-den-heym, Rei-gate, &c. but in ei-ther and nei-ther it is ſometimes pronounced like the Engliſh a long, and ſometimes according to rule, like the Engliſh e long.

It has the ſound of the Engliſh a in all words wherein it precedes -gh, gn, and -nt in the ſame ſyllable, as Weigh, Freight, Deign, Feign, &c. (in all which g is mute) Feint, Teint, &c. except in three words mentioned above, viz. Sleight, Seignory, and Foreign.

Except, 6thly,Particular Exceptions concerning ie.

ie in Friend, wherein it ſounds like a ſhort e; and Sieve, wherein it ſounds like a ſhort i.

General Exceptions concerning ie and oe.

7thly,

  • ie
  • oe

at the end of a word are always pronounced like the firſt vowel in each diphthong, viz. ie like i long, and oe like o long, as in Die, Foe, &c. except in two words, Shoe and Ca′n-oe, wherein oe is commonly pronounced like oo.

[28] Note,The ſame is to be obſerved of the diphthongs ue and ye, at the end of a word; the former being pronounced like a long u, and the latter like a long i; as in Due, Pye, &c. the ſame likewiſe when s is added to make the plural of nouns, or third perſon ſingular of verbs, as Dies, Foes, Dues, Pyes, &c. and the s ſo added is pronounced like z.

  • Rule X.
    -eu
  • -ew
  • -iew

are ſounded like a ſingle u long.

Examples. Europe, Eu-nuch, Brew, Dew, View, &c.

Except *,ew in Sew, which is commonly ſounded like a long o.

Rule XIoa is pronounced like o long.

Examples. Boat, Coat, Groan, Moan, &c. in Broad, Except, A-broad, and Groat, wherein it partakes a little of the ſound of aw; and in Goal (when it ſignifies a priſon) it [29] ſounds like ai, and the G is pronounced ſoft, as if ſpelt Jail.

  • Rule XII.
    ue
  • ui

before a conſonant in the ſame ſyllable have the ſhort ſound of the laſt vowel in each diphthong; viz. ue like a ſhort e as in Gueſs, Gueſt, &c.; and ui like a ſhort i, as in Build, Guild, Conduit, &c. But in words ending with ſilent e, the diphthong ui is pronounced like the Engliſh i long, according to the third rule, as in Guide, Guile, Diſguiſe, &c.

Except, 1ſt,Particular Exceptions.

The following words, wherein the u alone is pronounced, viz. Bruiſe, Cruiſe, Fruit, Juice, Nui-ſance, Pur-ſuit, Recruit, Sluice, Suit, and Suit-or, which are ſounded as if ſpelt Bruze, Cruze, Nuſance, &c.

Note,When ua, ue, ui, and uo follow Q in the ſame ſyllable, the u has the power of w, which power cannot more eaſily be explained to foreigners, than by comparing it to the ſound of u in the French word Quoi! or Quoy! as in Qua′r-rel, Quack, Queſtion, Quick, Quite, Quit, Quote, &c.

A TABLE of Words which are independent of the foregoing Rules and Exceptions, with the common Pronunciation of each expreſſed in Italicks.

[30]

BUOY Boey, Victuals Vittles, Colonel Curnel, George Jorge, Lieutenant Leuftenant, Quay Kee, Two Too, Yacht Yot, Yeoman Yewman, Yelk or Yolk (of an egg) Yoke.

A TABLE of Foreign Words which ſtill retain their original Pronunciation (or nearly ſo) notwithſtanding that they are in a manner adopted, by frequent Uſe, into the Engliſh Language.

ACcoutre, Antique, Archives, Arriere, Banditti, Beau, Bureau, Caviare, Cartouch, Connoiſſeur, Courier, Croup, Cuiraſs, Environ, Eſcritoire, Faſcine, Groupe, Intrigue, Lieu, Machine, Magazine, Marine, Palanquin, Pas, Piquant, Pique, Piquet, Police, Poltron, Ponton, Prame, Profile, Rendezvous, Roquelaure, Rouge, Scout, Sophi, Soup, Tête-à-tête, Tornado, Toupee, Tour, Tranſmarine, Vermicelli, Violoncello, Jonquil, Adieu.

FINIS.

A TABLE or INDEX of the Words, which (with their ſeveral Compounds and Derivatives) are Exceptions to the foregoing Rules; viz.

[]
AVowels.Sounded likeRule.Exception.Page.
A-Bo′veAu-deſſusoŭ3617
A-bro′adDehorsoaaw11128
Ac-qui-e′ſceAcquieſceriē135
Af-fro′ntAffrontoŭ2812
An′-gelAngeaĀ218
A′-nyAucunaĕ215
At-to′r-neyProcureuroŭ2812
AufSolauō4118

B     
BaſsBaſſeaā218
Bear (noun & verb)Ours et Supportereaai9125
Be-lo′wEn-basowō7422
Be-ſto′wDonnerow
Bi′-erUne Biéreiē125
BlithJoyeuxiī2510
BloodSangooŭ6119
BlowCoup, Soufflerowō7321
BollTigeoō2812
Bol-ſterChevetoō2812
BombBombeoŭ2812
Bo′r-ageBouracheoŭ2812
Bor-oughBourgoŭ2813
7120
BougeS′enflerouŭ7120
Bou′g-etBougetteouŭ7120
BouſeBoire avec excésouoo7121
Bow (noun)Arcowō7321
Bowl (or Baſin)Baſſin
BreadPaineaĕ9124
BreakRompreeaā9125
Break-faſtDéjeunéeaĕ9124
B′eaſtPoitrineea
Breath (noun)Haleineea
Bree′ch, -es, -ingsFeſſes, Culotteeeĭ9326
BroadLargeoaaw11128
Bro′th-erFrereoŭ2813
BruiſeContuſionuiū12129
Bu′ſyOccupeuĭ2914

C     
Cam-brickBatiſteaā218
Cam-bridgeCambridgeaā218
Can-o′eCanoeoeoo9727
Car-ou′ſeFaire la débaucheouoo7121
Cau′-lif-lowerChoux-fleurauŏ4118
Cey′-lonCeyloneyē8323
Child but not their derivatives.Enfantiī2510
Chriſt but not their derivativesChriſt
Clean-ly not in cleanPropreeaĕ9124
Cleanſe not in cleanNettoyer
Co′l-ourCouleuroŭ2813
CombPeigneoō2812
ComeVeniroŭ3617
Come-ly(De bonne grace)oŭ
ComfitsConfituresoŭ2813
Com-fortConſolationoŭ2813
Com-panyCompagnieoŭ2813
Com-paſsContouroŭ2813
ComptCompteoou2812
Con-duitConduitoŭ2813
Con-eyLapinoŭ2813
Con-ſta-ble(Commiſſaire de quartier)oŭ2813
Con-trolController (laſt ſyl.)oō2812
Cou′d(Verbe)ouŭ7120
Cov-en-antAccordoŭ2813
Cov-erCouverture
Cov-etConvoiter
Cov-eyVolée d′ oiſeaux
CoughTouxouŏ7120
Coul-ter(Soc de charrüe)ouō7120
Coun-tryPaysouŭ7120
Cou-pleCouple
Cour-ageCourage
Courſe (Diſcourſe, &c.)Coursouō7120
CourtCour
Cou′ſ-inCouſinouŭ7120
Coz-en (verb)Duperoŭ2813
CrowCorneilleowō7321
CruiſeCroiſeruiū12129
Cu′-cum-berCo′ncombre (1ſt ſyll.)uou157

D     
Da′n-gerDangeraā218
DareOſeraă3216
DeadMorteaĕ9124
DeafSourdeaĕ9124
DeathLa morteaĕ9124
DiſcomfitDéfaireoŭ2813
DoFaireooo146
DoneFaitoŭ3617
DoorPorteooō6119
DoveColombeoŭ3617
Dou″-bleDoublerouŭ7120
Doub-letDoublet
DoughPâteouō7120
Doz-enDouzaineoŭ2813
DreadCrainteeaĕ9124
DrollComiqueoō2812

E     
En-de′av-ourEfforteaĕ9125
En-dict & IndictStileriī2510
Eng-landAngleterreeĭ239
En-ou′ghAſſezouŭ7120

F     
FalſeFauxaau219
Fa′-therPereaaw115
Fea′-therPlumeeaĕ9125
FloodDelugeooŭ6119
FloorPlancherooō6119
FlowCoulerowō7321
Flown (from Fly)Echapéowō7321
FolkGensoō2812
FootPiedooŭ6119
ForceForceoō2812
FortFortoō2812
Fo′r-eignEtrangereiĕ9426
9527
Fo′r-feitAmendeeiī9426
FourQuatreouō7120
FriendAmiieĕ9627
FruitFruituiū12129
Fu′r-loughCongéouō7120

G     
GaugeJaugeauā4118
GhoſtEſpritoō2812
GiveDonneriĭ3216
GloveGandoŭ3617
Glow(Etre allumé)owō7321
GoalPriſon (G ſoft)oaā11128
GoldOrooo2813
GoneAlléoŏ3216
GoodBonooŭ6116
Go′v-ernGouverneroŭ2813
GougeGougeouoo7121
GourdCitrouilleouō7120
GreatGrandeaā9125
Groat(Piece de 4 ſols)oaaw11128
GroſsGrosoō2812
GrowCroitreouō7321

H     
Ha′l-ſerHauſiere (l mute)aaw219
Han′t (for have not)(Verbe)aaw218
HaveAvoiraă3216
Hau′t-boyHautbois (t mute)auō4118
HeadTêteeaĕ9125
Hea′r-kenEcoutereaă9125
HeartCoeureaă9125
HearthFoyereaă9125
Hea′v-enLe cieleaĕ9125
Heav-yPéſanteaĕ9125
Hei′f-erGéniſſeeiĕ9426
Hei′n-ousOdieuxeiā9426
HeirHeritier (h mute)eiā9426
Hey! He′y-day!Ouais!eyī8323
Ho′l-ſter(Fourreau de piſtoletoō2812
Hon-eyMieloŭ2813
HoodCoiffeooŭ6119
HoſtHôteoō2812

I     
Jea′l-ousJalouxeaĕ9125
Jeop-ard-yPerileoĕ2813
In-ſteadAu lieueaĕ9125
JournalJournalouŭ7120
Jour-neyVoïage
JuiceJusuiū12129

K     
KeyClefeyee8323
KnowSçavoirowō7321

L     
Lead (noun)Plombeaĕ9125
Lea′th-erCuireaĕ9125
Lea′v-enLevaineaĕ9125
Lei′ſ-ureLoiſireiā and ſometimes ĕ9426
Leo′-pardLeopardeoĕ2813
LiveVivreiĭ3216
Lo′n-donLondresoŭ2813
Loſe,-erPerdantooo3617
2813
LoveAmouroŭ3617
Lough (or Lake)Lacoŏ7120
LowBasowō7321

M     
Ma-ma′Mamanaaw115
Ma′n-gerMangeoireaā218
Ma′-nyPluſieursaĕ115
Ma′ſ-terMaîtreaaw218
Mea′ſ-ureMeſureeaĕ9125
MildDouxiī2510
Miſ-tea′chEnſeigner maleaĕ9125
Mo′n-dayLundioŭ2813
Mo′n-eyL′argentoŭ2813
-Mon-gerVendeuroŭ2813
Mon″-grelMétifoŭ2813
MonkMoineoŭ2813
Mon″-keySingeoŭ2813
MonthMoisoŭ2813
MoſtLe plus, la plus, &c.oō2812
Mo′th-erMéreoŭ2813
MoveMouvoirooo3617
MouldMouleouō7120
MoultMuerouō7120
MounchMangerouŭ7120
MournDeplorerouō7120
MowFaucherowō7321
Mu′r-rainMortalité parmi les bêtesaiĕ8123

N     
Nou′-riſhNourrirouŭ7120
Nui′ſ-anceIncommoditéuiū12129

O     
O-bli′geObliger (ſometimes)iee3416
OneUn, uneoŏ3216
On′-ionOignon (1ſt ſyll.)oŭ2813
On′-lySeul (ſometimes)oō2812
O′th-erAutreoŭ2813
Ov-enFouroŭ2813
Owe, OwnDevoir, confeſſerowō7321

P     
Pa′l-ſeyParalyſieaaw219
Pa-paPapaaaw115
Pa-tro′lPatrouilleoō2812
Pea′ſ-antPayſaneaĕ9125
Pea′ſ-cod(Coſſe de pois)
Peo′-plePeupleeoē2813
Phea′ſ-antFaiſandeaĕ9125
Pi-erJettéeiē125
PintChopineiī2510
Pla′ſ-terEmplâtreaaw218
Plea′ſ-antAgréableeaĕ9125
Plea′ſ-urePlaiſir
PollTêteoō2812
PortPort
PoſtPoſte
Po′m-melPommeauoŭ2813
Po′th-erEmbarrasoŭ2813
Po′re-blind(qui a lavue courte)oŭ3617
PoultCoup de mainouō7120
Poul-try, Pou′l-ter-erVolaille, Poulailler
Pou′l-ticeCataplâmeouō7120
Pre′t-tyJolieĭ239
ProveProuverooo3617
ProwProüeowō7321
ProwlRoderowō7321
Pur-ſui′tPourſuiteuiū12129

R     
Read (perfect tenſe; participle paſſive)eaĕ9125
Rea′d-yPrêteaĕ9125
RealmRoyaumeeaĕ9125
Re-cruitRecrüeuiū12129
RollUn roûleauoō2812
Ro′m-agePerquiſitionoŭ2813
RomeRomeooo3617
RontAnimal nainoŭ2813
RoughRudeouŭ7120
Row, noun & verbRang, ramerowō7321

S     
SaidDitaiĕ8123
ScourgeFleauouŭ & ō7120
Scro′llUne bandeoō2812
SewCoudreewō10128
Sey-mourSey-mour (nom)eyē8323
ShoeUn ſoulieroeoo9727
Shou′d(Verbe)ouŭ7120
ShovePouſſeroŭ3617
Shov-elUne péleoŭ2813
Shou′l-derEpauleouō7120
ShowMontrerowō7321
SieveCribleieĭ9627
SkeinEcheveaueial9426
Sleight (Artifice)Artificeeiī9426
9527
SlothPareſſeoō2812
Slough (Suppuration from a ſore)Matiere qui ſort d′une playeouŭ7120
Slo′v-enMal-propreoŭ2813
SlowLentowō7321
SluiceEcluſeuiū12129
Smo′th-erEtoufferoŭ2813
SnowNeigeowō7321
SomeQuelqueoŭ3617
SonFilsoŭ2813
SootSuieooŭ6119
SoulAmeouō7120
Sow (verb)Semerowō7120
SpongeEpongeoŭ3617
SportJeuoō2812
SpreadEtendreeaĕ9125
Stea′d-yFermeeaĕ9125
Stood(Pret. de s′ arreter)ooŭ6119
StowArrangerowō7321
StrollRoderoō2812
StrowParſemerowō7321
SuitProcésuiū12129
Suit-orPlaideuruiū12129
Sur-feitIndigeſtioneiĭ9426
SwearJurereaai9125
SweatSuereaĕ9125
SwordEpéeoō2812

T     
Tear (verb)Déchirereaai1925
TeatMammelleeaĕ1925
Ti-erRangiē125
TheirLeureiai9426
Thereeai3316
ThoughQuoiqueouō7120
Tho′r-ough-fare, Tho′rough-lyPaſſage, parfaitementoŭ2813
ouŭ7120
ThreadFileaĕ9125
Threa′t-enMenacereaĕ9125
Throughà traversouoo7121
ThrowJetterowō7321
Toàoŭ146
TollPéageoō2812
TombTombeauooo2813
TonTonneauoŭ2813
To′ngueLangueoŭ3617
To′r-toiſeTortüeoiŭ5119
TouchToucherouŭ7120
ToughDurouŭ7120
Tow, noun & verbEtoupes, remorquerowō7321
Trea′ch-er-yPerfidieeaĕ9125
TreadMarchereaĕ9125
Trea′ſ-ureTréſoreaĕ9125
Tro′llRoderoō2812
Trou′-blePeineouŭ7120
TroughAugeouŏ7120
TrowCroireowō7321

V     
VeilVoileeiai9426
VeinVeineeiai9426
Vi′l-lainCoquinaiĕ8123
Un-cou′thGroſſierouo71 

W     
Wa′-terL′eauaaw115
Weal (mark of a ſtripeMarque de coupeaāi9125
Wea′p-onArmeeaĕ9125
Wea′th-erLe temseaĕ9125
WearUſereaai9125
Were(Etre)eai3316
Wheal (a ſtripe)Marque de coupeaai9125
Whereeai3316
WhoQui, lequelle, laquelleoſometimes oo146
WhomLequelle, laquelleoDo2813
WhoſeDont
WildSauvageiī2510
WombMatriceooo2813
Wom′an, wom′enFemme, -soŭ2813
WonGagnéoŭ2813
Won-derSurpriſeoŭ2813
WoodBoisooŭ6119
WoolLaine
WordMotoŭ2813
WorldMonde
WorkOuvrageoŭ2813
WormVer
Wo′rſ-tedEtame
Wo′r-ryDechireroŭ2813
Wo′r-ſhipAdoration
WortMoût
WorthPrix
WorſePireoŭ2813
Wou′d(Verbe)ouŭ7120
WreakAſſouvir ſa vengeceeaĕ9125
WritheGuirlande, tordreiee3416

Y     
YeaſtLevureeaĕ9125
Ye′l-lowJauneeă239
YesOuieĭ239
YetEncore

Z     
Zea′l ous, Zea′lotZelé, zelateureaĕ9125

Appendix A AN APPENDIX, CONTAINING A Brief ACCOUNT of the chief Peculiarities of the ENGLISH CONSONANTS.

[1]

1. B is mute before t, or after m, in the ſame ſyllable, as Debt, Lamb, &c.

2. C ſounds ſoft, like s, when followed by e, i, or an apoſtrophe (denoting the abſence of e) as Cedar, City, Danc′d, &c.

C ſounds like ſh, when followed by ea, ia, ie, or io, making different ſyllables, as Ocean, Ancient, Precious, Social, &c. except Society.

[2] CC when followed by e or i, ſounds like x, as Accept, Accident, &c.

C is mute in Indict, Victuals, Scene, Scent, Science, Sciatica, Sciſſors, Sciſſion, Scymiter, Scythe, and the proper names Scyros, Scylla, and Scythia.

In all other caſes C ſounds hard like k.

3. Ch, when properly Engliſh, has the ſame ſound with the Italian c, before e or i. Examp. Child, Chain, &c.

It ſounds alſo like ſh, in words derived from the French, as Chaiſe, Champaigne, &c. and like k in words of Greek extraction, as Chriſt, School, Stomach, Archangel, &c. pronounced Ark-angel. But if Arch comes before a conſonant, ch has then its proper Engliſh ſound, as in Archbiſhop.

Ch in Loch ſounds like f.

Ch is mute in Drachm, Schedule, and Schiſm.

4. D is mute before ge, as in Judge, Bridge, &c. alſo in Soldier.

5. F in Of ſounds like v.

[3]6. G ſounds ſoft like j before e, i, or an apoſtrophe, and hard (like the Greek y) in all other caſes.

Examp. Angel, Rage, Rag′d, Giant, Ginger, &c.

Exceptions to G′s ſounding ſoft.

1. In the participles paſſive of words ending in g hard (and alſo where-ever g is doubled) it continues hard, notwithſtanding the vowels e or i, or an apoſtrophe, as in Dragg′d, Begging, Digging, &c.

2. In the termination ger, where-ever it makes a diſtinct ſyllable, g ſounds hard, as in An″-ger, Fin″ger, Lon″ger, Stron″ger, &c. in which kind of words it may be obſerved that the g ſounds double, ſo as to belong to both ſyllables.

3. Derivatives in er, ed, or ing from primitives in ng, retain the g hard, as Singing, Sing-er, from Sing; Hang-ing, Hang-er, from Hang; Winged or Wing′d from Wing, &c. In which kind of words it [4] may be obſerved, that g ſounds ſingle, and belongs to the firſt ſyllable only.

4. In the following words G is hard, notwithſtanding it comes before e or i; viz. Geeſe, Gewgaw, Geld, Gelt, Gertrude, Get (with its compounds) Gibberiſh, Gibbous, Giddy, Gift, Gig, Giggle, Gild, Girl, Give, Forgive, Gilt, Gimblet, Gimp, Gird, Girt, Girdle, Begin, Gizzard, Gideon, Gibbons, Gilbert, and Gilpin.

G is mute before n in the ſame ſyllable, as Gnaſh, Sign, Sovereign, &c. alſo in Phlegm, Seraglio, and Bagnio.

7. Gh ſounds like G hard in Ghoſt, and like ff in Cough, Lough, Laugh, Laughter, Rough, Slough, Tough, Trough, and Enough. In other words it is mute.

8. H is mute in Hour, Honour, Honeſt, Heir, Herb, Humour, Hoſtler, Thyme, John, Thomas, Thomaſin, and Thames. Alſo in Greek words, when preceded by R, as Rheum, Rhyme, Rhetoric, Myrrh, &c. and laſtly at the end of words, as ah, hah, Iſaiah, Sarah, &c.

[5]9. K is mute before n in the ſame ſyllable, as Knave, Know, Knight, &c.

10. L is mute in Balk, Talk, Walk, Stalk, Balm, Calm, Calf, Calves, Falcon, Half, Halves, Holme (an iſland) and Holmes (a ſurname) Pſalm, Qualm, Salmon, Could, Should, and Would.

11. N is mute after m in the ſame ſyllable, as Hymn, Autumn, Solemn, &c.

12. P is mute before s, and between m and t, as Pſalm, Tempt, &c.

13. Ph is always ſounded like f, except in Stephen, Nephew, and Phial, where it ſounds like v.

Ph is mute in Phthiſic, and is pronounced Tizzic.

14. Q is always followed by u, and, when it begins a ſyllable, ſounds like cw, by which (as Mr. Johnſon obſerves) our Saxon anceſtors well expreſſed it. But in terminations from the Latin -quus, and alſo in words of French extraction, it ſounds like k. Examp. Oblique, Antique, Quoif, Conquer, Riſque, Traffique, &c. ſome of which words [6] are now more commonly ſpelt with c or k, as Coif, Riſk, Traffic, &c.

15. S ſounds like z.

1ſt, In the third perſons ſingular of all verbs, and the plural number of all nouns, as in Has, Was, Tries, Bees, Times, &c.

2dly, In pronouns poſſeſſive, as His, Hers, Theirs, and alſo when preceded by the comma denoting poſſeſſion, as Father′s, Mother′s, Tom′s, Will′s, &c. (alſo in the particle as.)

Exception to the two laſt Sections.

S has its proper ſound when preceded by c, k, ck, f, p, q, or t, which admit not the ſound of z ſo eaſily after them, as Speaks, Beats, Rocks, Jack′s, Dick′s, Gilbert′s, Cock′s-ſpur, Cat′s-paw, &c.

3dly, S ſounds like z preceded by a liquid in the ſame ſyllable, as Dam-ſel, Crimſon, Thames, Jer-ſey, Guern-ſey, &c. And alſo,

[7]4thly, S between two vowels moſt commonly ſounds like z, as Daiſy, Repriſal, Peaſant, Pleaſe, Roſin, &c.

Except Houſe, Mouſe, Louſe, Gooſe, Geeſe, Sauſage, Purchaſe, Promiſe, Caſe, Maſon, Baſon, Baſis, Phaſis, and Theſis. Except alſo ſubſtantives in uſe, derived from Latin verbs, as U′ſe, Abu′ſe, Diſu′ſe, Re′fuſe, Excu′ſe, &c. and adjectives derived from the participles paſſive of ſome Latin verbs, as Reclu′ſe, Profu′ſe, Abſtru′ſe, &c.

Laſtly, Except alſo the words contained in the next ſection but one, where s ſounds like zh.

S and ſs ſound like ſh in Sure (with its compounds) Iſſue, Tiſſue, Fiſſure, Preſſure, Ruſſian, &c. alſo in the terminations -aſſion, -eſſion, -iſſion, -uſſion, as in Paſſion, Impreſſion, Miſſion, Concuſſion, &c.

S, when preceded by a vowel and followed by ion or ian, ſounds like zh, as Invaſion, Epheſian, Viſion, Deluſion, &c. But if it [8] be preceded by a conſonant, it ſounds like ſh, as in Converſion, Perſian, &c.

S ſounds alſo like zh before -ier, as Oſier, Hoſier, Glaſier, Braſier, &c. and in the words Leiſure, Meaſure, Pleaſure, and Treaſure.

S is mute in Iſle, Liſle, Carliſle, Iſland, Viſcount, and Demeſne.

16. T before io or ia (making part of the ſame ſyllable with i) ſounds like ſh, as Na-tion, Cau-tious, Egyp-tian, Sa-ti-ate, &c. But if t belong to the former ſyllable, it retains its proper Sound, as Queſt-ion, Fuſtian, Combuſt-ion, &c.

T is mute in words ending with -ſtle, as Caſtle, Thiſtle, Briſtle, &c.

17. Th has two ſounds, the one ſoft, as in Thy, the other hard (like the Greek [...]) as in Thigh.

I. Th ſounds ſoft,

1ſt, In Thence, There (with their compounds) Then, That, The, Thee, Theſe, This, Thoſe, Thus, Thou, Thy, Thine, Their, Theirs, Them, Though, Although, Beneath, Bequeath, Betroth, Mouths, Tythe, Scythe, Wreath, Booth, and in [9] the verbs Bathe, Mouth, Seeth, Loathe, Soothe, and Breathe.

2dly, Where-ever it occurs between two vowels, as Father, Mother, &c. Except words of Greek extraction, and alſo derivatives from words ending with th hard, as Earthen from Earth, &c.

3dly, Th ſounds ſoft when placed between r and a vowel, as Burthen, Murther, &c. though in ſuch words d is often written and pronounced inſtead of th, as Murder, Burden. In other caſes th ſounds hard.

Th is mute in Aſthma, with its derivatives.

8. W is mute before r in the ſame ſyllable, as Write, Wrath, &c. alſo in Sword, Swoon, and Anſwer, with their compounds and derivatives.

The other conſonants have the ſame powers as in other languages.

FINIS.

Appendix B ERRATA.

[]
  • Preface, p. xiv. for 340, read 342.
  • — Note, for 54 r. 47.
  • — for page 15, r. page 30.
  • Page 21, for word, r. verb.
Notes
*
‘An Eſſay towards eſtabliſhing a Standard for an elegant and uniform Pronunciation of the Engliſh Language, as practiſed by the moſt learned and polite Speakers.’
*
Mr. Peyton's "New Vocabulary or Grammar of the true pronunciation of the Engliſh" is not leſs liable to cenſure, for the ſame words are there rendered Nai-vel, Ni [...]u [...]trel, djŏu-dĭ-chiel, Spe-chiel, Couâr-ril, &c.
*
A very uſeful little dictionary on this plan was printed in 1764, for J. Nourſe and S. Hooper in the Strand, intituled, "the Complete Engliſh Spelling Dictionary upon an entire new Plan;" the author, Mr. J. Carter.
*
The ſame would alſo be particularly uſeful in words, wherein g and c are ſoftened by the vowels e and i following them in the next ſyllable as in neg-lig″-ent; vo-rac″ity, &c.
There are indeed 54 foreign words beſides; (ſee page 15) which are not included in this number, becauſe, as they ſtill retain their original pronunciation (or nearly ſo) they cannot properly be accounted exceptions to Engliſh rules.
*
The vowels may indeed be ſaid to have more ſounds than 2, becauſe a different pronunciation from the 2 ſounds here ſpoken of, is given to each of the vowels in a few particular caſes, which are hereafter noted; but at preſent I am only ſpeaking of their general power.
*
See the examples to the 2d rule.
There are 2 ways of ſounding the long i and y (though both long) the one a little different from the other, and requiring a little more extenſion of the mouth, as may be ſeen by comparing the following words, viz. I and Aye, High and High-ho; By't (or by it) and Bite; Sigh'd and Side; Strive and Strife, &c. but this difference being ſo nice, is not to be attained but by much practice, neither is it very material.
*
At quoties litera i longa eſt plerumque effertur ut Graecorum [...]. See Wallis's Grammatica Linguae Anglicanae.
*
When i is ſubſtituted for y in the terminations of derivatives, it retains the ſound of the y in the original word, whether long or ſhort; therefore i in Cār-rĭ-er, Cār-rĭ-ed, and Cār-rĭes, is ſhort; and in Al-lī-ance, De-nī-al, Dig-ni fī-ed, Im-plīes, &c. is pronounced long like the y in the primitive words before ſpecified.
*
Italos ego, uti noſtros etiam recte eam (literam e) proferre cenſeo in vocibus, aſcendo, ventus, &c. (Dr. Middleton, fol. 446.)
I vocalis, quoties brevis eſt, ſonatur plerumque (ut apud Gallos alioſque) exili ſono, Wallis, fo. 47.
*
S final in theſe caſes is always pronounced like z.
*
In the dialects of Lancaſhire, and ſome other places, the o is pronounced according to rule, in many of theſe words.
*
In the northern parts of England the words Gold, Who, Whom, and whoſe, are pronounced properly as they are ſpelt.
*
One is pronounced as if ſpelt Won.
When a conſonant comes before re and le final, the e is never ſounded laſt, but always before the laſt conſonant of the word, as in A-cre, Mi-tre, humble, &c. which are ſounded A-ker, Mi-ter, humbel, &c.
*
Door and Floor are pronounced by the vulgar in the northern parts of England as they are ſpelt; for they give the oor, in theſe words, the ſame ſound that it has in Boor, Moor, Poor, &c.
*
Ou in Scourge is ſometimes like o long.
*
In the northern parts of England, Break and Great are pronounced according to rule.
*
Eau in Beauty (and its derivatives) has likewiſe the ſame ſound.
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Zitationsvorschlag für dieses Objekt
TextGrid Repository (2020). TEI. 3740 A short treatise on the English tongue Being an attempt to render the reading and pronunciation of the same more easy to foreigners. University of Oxford Text Archive. . https://hdl.handle.net/21.T11991/0000-001A-5ACD-9