Chapter VIII: Enunciation and Pronunciation

The study of the subject of enunciation should come comparatively late in the development of the pupil, say, beginning with the fifth grade. There are other fundamentals that the pupil should be well grounded in before any definite concentration of effort should be put upon enunciation.

The majority of children and adults are backward in mastering the art of correct speaking, therefore, if the teacher begins by expecting the pupil to be accurate in enunciation, which is really one of the finishing touches, he is in danger of deadening forever the desire for self-expression and enjoyment in speaking.

Pronunciation should precede any drill in enunciation. The pupil is quick to grasp correctness in right pronunciation, and desires it fully, but he cares little for enunciation. Most pupils will shy just a little when you tell them that the proper way to pronounce, or rather to enunciate the word _education_ is ed-u-ca-tion and not ed-ji-ca-tion. Or, take the vowel (a) as in ask, which should be pronounced (ạ). Invariably the untutored will give the vowel the extreme flat sound of (ă) as in hăt, and will think that he is affected if he give it the proper soft, broad sound. He will likely think this even if you compromise with the sounds.

So our policy has been to forego acute criticism in enunciation until the student has acquired considerable momentum in speech-desire. In other words, we are more interested, during his early studies, that he develop and cultivate the desire and will to express, than that he express himself accurately. Then, later, we gradually call his attention to his slovenly speech. Above all things let us beware of quenching the sacred fire of spontaneity, for without that all speech loses its charm and power. Is it not better that the student be stimulated to speech action, even though it be imperfect in some—even in many—respects, than that he be conscious of all his defects and never speak at all?

Clearness and precision in enunciation and pronunciation mark the genuineness and strength of one’s character. Even the brightest person, if he mispronounce his words, is accused of mediocrity and is suspected of being unaccustomed to the society of refined and cultured people. There should be daily systematic drill in childhood when correct speech habits are most quickly and firmly established. Another great advantage of early training is that this is the period when the student is least self-conscious.

There are three essentials for clear and exact enunciation and pronunciation: First, an acute ear; second, diligent practice; and third, constant vigilance. These three essentials should be kept constantly in mind in carrying out the following exercises. We should first see that the student’s ear can detect the correct, pure resonances, and then pursue vigorous practice in them. At first this kind of exercise is tedious and irksome, but with accomplishment comes keen pleasure.

Let us begin with the vowel sounds. For the word exercises we shall take words often mispronounced as well as poorly enunciated. Thus we shall be doing two important things: cultivating the ear, and improving word production.

EXERCISE ONE

The vowels are either long, short, or diphthongal. The resonances of the long vowels begin at the back, passing through the middle, to the front of the mouth. Thus:

The above represents the approximate and relative openings of the mouth in long vowels.

You notice the mouth aperture is narrow at the back, wide in the middle and narrow again at the front. For practice AW and AH and OO are the most valuable because the two chief difficulties of the student are; first, to open his mouth wide enough, and second, to keep his speech forward on the lips. Usually his speech is throaty. Practice the following in concert and individually in order to secure freedom in controlling the mouth:

1. Repeat E A AW AH O OO consecutively on the same pitch.

2. Change the pitch and repeat on each note of the scale.

3. Give a decided rising inflection to each vowel sound.

4. Give a decided falling inflection to each vowel sound.

5. Give a decided circumflex inflection to each vowel sound.

6. Blend them altogether by the straight inflection in a singing
tone.

7. Laugh them He He He He, Ha Ha Ha Ha, Haw Haw Haw Haw, Hah Hah
Hah Hah, Ho Ho Ho Ho, Hoo Hoo Hoo Hoo.

EXERCISE TWO

In pronunciation there is a right and a wrong way. Some people are so desirous of appearing exact in this matter that they often introduce superfluous sounds. For example, such persons pronounce evil—ē´vĭl, instead of ē´vl; towards—tō-wŏrdz´ instead of tō´-erdz.

This habit of introducing an extra sound that is unnecessary reflects upon the learning of the individual quite as much as the neglecting of a sound that is necessary. Let us not attempt to foster extravagant niceties of speech, but let us cultivate in ourselves and our pupils an appreciation of, and a desire for, pure, substantial, and impressively spoken English, showing them that the real beauty of our language lies in its simplicity and its inherent, convincing power.

EXERCISES IN ENUNCIATION AND PRONUNCIATION

Take up the exercises below in the following manner: First, discover the correct position of tongue, lips and jaw for producing the particular sound under consideration. Second, repeat the sound many times. See that you use your organs of speech properly in regard to the positions indicated at the beginning of each vowel exercise. After the repetition of each sound, let lips, tongue and jaw relax to normal position. Third, in repeating the words be sure the _ictus_ or vocal stroke is properly and decidedly placed.

The main purpose is to develop pure vowel resonance, but inflectional freedom may be cultivated at the same time, if great care is taken not to interfere with the correct vocal positions of tongue, lips and jaw. Beware of a tendency in this direction. (See discussion of Inflection in another part of this book.)

KEY TO PRONUNCIATION

In showing the correct pronunciation of words in the following exercises, the simplest method has been adopted. The words are rewritten with a set of letters which have invariably the same sound and are familiar to everyone.

_Webster’s New International Dictionary_ and Phyfe’s _Words Often Mispronounced_ are the principal authorities consulted. The authors are greatly indebted to these works for help in determining correct pronunciation. The following table gives the diacritical marks used in the following pages:

ā fāde
ä fär
å åsk
a̤ ha̤ll
â hâre
ă hăt
[.=a] pref[.=a]ce
a (no mark) final
ē ēve
[.=e] d[.=e]pend
ĕ bĕt
ẽ hẽr
_e_ recent
ī glīde
[.=i] [.=i]dea
ĭ ĭt
ō gō
[.=o] [.=o]bey
ô absôrb
ŏ hŏt
ū blūe
[.=u] [.=u]nite
û sûrge
ŭ bŭt
o̅o̅ o̅o̅ze
o͝o bo͝ok

=Transcriber’s Note:= [.=a] etc were printed as the letter with a macron above and a dot above that. These particular diacriticals are not used on any of the following pages, so the decision was taken not to attempt to represent them in any other way, because there are no corresponding precomposed characters in Unicode and font support for combining marks is often poor.

_The Vowel Sound as in “Awe”_

Note: Tongue sags low and should not move; contact[5] is just a little over half way back of the middle of the mouth; mouth wide; lips well rounded.

_alder_—a̤l´der, not ăl´der.
_almost_—a̤l´most, not a̤l´must.
_also_—a̤l´so, not ŏl´so.
_always_—a̤l´wāz, not a̤l´wuz.
_auction_—a̤k´shun, not ŏk´shun.
_audience_—a̤´dĭ-ens, not ŏ´jens.
_cauliflower_—ka̤´li-flow-er, not kŏ´li-flour.
_caldron_—ka̤l´drun, not kŏ´drun.
_Chaucer_—Cha̤u´ser, not Chŏw´ser.
_Chicago_—Shi-ca̤´gō, not Shi-kŏ´gō.
_cornet_—kôr´net, not kôr-net´.
_exorbitant_—egz-ôr´bi-tant.
_falcon_—fô´kn, not fŏl´kun.
_for_—fôr, not fur.
_ordeal_—ôr´dēl, not ôr-dēl´.
_ordinary_—ôr´dĭn-ā-rĭ.

_The Vowel Sound as in “Star”_

Note: Tongue sags and is widened; contact is low and in center; mouth open wide; lips relaxed almost normally.

_arctic_—ärk´tĭk, not är´tĭk.
_arduous_—är´dū-ŭs.
_armistice_—är´mĭs-tĭs, not är-mĭs´tĭs.
_bazar_—ba-zär´.
_encore_—än-kor´, not ĕn´kor.
_en route_—än ro̅o̅t´, not ĕn rout.
_far_—fär, not fŭr.
_father_—fä´thẽr.
_soprano_—sō-prä´nō, not sō-prăn´ŏ.
_staunch_—stänch, not stănch.
_taunt_—tänt, not tănt.
_tzar_—zär.
_tarlatan_—tär´la-tan, not tarl´tan.
_Parsifal_—pär´sif-äl.
_partisan_—pär´ti-zăn.
_particularly_—pär-tik´yū-lẽr-lĭ.

_The Vowel Sound as in “Ask”_

Note: Tongue sags and is a trifle narrower than the above resonance in ä; mouth open wide; lips relaxed.

_asked_—åskt, not ăskt, nor ăst.
_aversion_—å-vẽr´shun, not a-ver´zhun.
_bass_ (fish)—bås, not băs.
_bath_—båth, not băth.
_chant_—chånt, not chănt.
_contrast_ (vb.)—kon-tråst´, not kon´trăst.
_draft_—dråft, not drăft.
_draught_—dråft, not drăft.
_glass_—glås, not glăs.
_grant_—grånt, not grănt.
_grasp_—gråsp, not grăsp.
_mast_—måst, not măst.
_isinglass_—ī´zĭng-glåss, not ī-zŭn´glăs.
_pianist_—pi-ån´ĭst, not pe´a-nist.
_aft_—åft, not ăft.
_casket_—kås´ket, not kăs´ket.

_The Vowel Sound as in “Can”_

Note: Tongue sags and widens; contact is front; mouth open moderately wide.

_accept_—ăk-sĕpt´, not ĕk-sept´.
_accurate_—ăk´kū-rat, not ăk´kẽr-ĭt.
_algebra_—ăl´je-bra, not ăl´je-brā.
_ally_—ăl-li´, not ăl´li (n) and (vb).
_and_—ănd, not ŭn, nor änd.
_bade_—băd, not bāde.
_calcium_—kăl´sĭ-ŭm, not kăl´shĭ-ŭm.
_camera_—kăm´e-ra.
_canyon_—kăn´yun.
_catchup_—kăch´up, not kĕch´up.
_chasm_—kăz´m, not kăz´um.
_exact_—egz-ăkt´, not eks-ăkt´.
_flannel_—flăn´nĕl, not flăn´nĕn.
_harass_—hăr´ăs, not har-răs´.
_maritime_—măr´ĭ-tĭm, not mâr´ĭ-tĭm.
_olfactory_—ŏl-făk´tō-rĭ, not ŏl-făk´trĭ.

_The Vowel Sound as in “Fade”_

Note: This is a diphthongal or double sound beginning on arch of tongue in middle of mouth and moving forward to just back of upper front teeth; mouth is open wide for first resonance but narrows for second.

_aeronaut_—ā´ẽr-ō-na̤t.
_amiable_—ā´mĭ-a-bl.
_apparatus_—ăp-pa-rā´tŭs, not ăp-pa-ră´tus.
_apricot_—ā´prĭ-cŏt, not ă´prĭ-cŏt.
_chaos_—kā´ōs.
_Danish_—dā´nĭsh, not dă´nĭsh.
_data_—dā´ta, not dă´ta.
_disgrace_—dĭs-grās´.
_heinous_—hā´nŭs, not hē´nŭs.
_naked_—nā´kĕd, not nĕ´kĕd.
_acorn_—ā´kŭrn, not ā´kŏrn.
_patriotic_—pā´trĭ-ŏt-ĭk, not păt´rĭ-ŏt-ĭk.
_plague_—plāg, not plĕg.
_slake_—slāk, not slăk.
_wary_—wā´rĭ, not wâ´ri.
_ignoramus_—ĭg-nō-rā´mŭs, not ĭg-nō-ră´mŭs.

_The Vowel Sound as in “Led”_

Note: Tongue arched; contact at top of arch; mouth moderately open; lips relaxed.

_access_—ăk´sĕs, or ăk-sĕs´.
_address_—(n) and (vb) ad-drĕs´.
_cemetery_—sĕm´ē-tĕr-ĭ, not sĕmĭ-trĭ.
_centennial_—sĕn-tĕn´nĭ-al.
_equipage_—ĕk´wĭ-pāj, not ĕ-kwĭp´ĕj.
_equitable_—ĕk´wĭ-ta-bl, no ĕ-kwĭ´ta-bl.
_every_—ĕv´ẽr-ĭ, not ĕv´rĭ.
_evident_—ĕv´ĭ-dĕnt, not ĕv´ĭ-dŭnt.
_excellent_—ĕk´sĕl-ĕnt, not ĕk´slŭnt.
_preface_—(n) and (vb) prĕf´ās.
_legislature_—lĕj´ĭs-lāt-yŭr.
_exit_—ĕks´it, not ĕgz´it.
_exist_—ĕgz-ĭst´, not ĕks´ĭst.
_irreparable_—ĭr-rĕp´a-ra-ble, not ĭr-rē-păr´a-bl.
_generally_—jĕn´ẽr-al-ĭ.
_instead_—ĭn-stĕd´, not ĭn-stĭd´.

_The Vowel Sound as in “We”_

Note: Tongue arched to upper forward position; mouth aperture narrow. This is a single vowel resonance.

_adhesive_—ăd-hē´sĭv, not ăd-hē´zĭv.
_aerial_—ā-ē´rĭ-al.
_appreciate_—ap-prē´shĭ-āt, not ap-prē´sĭ-āt.
_esprit_—es-prē´.
_evil_—ē´vl, not ē´vĭl.
_fealty_—fē´al-tĭ.
_fetish_—fē´tish.
_genii_—jē´nĭ-ī.
_grievous_—grē´vŭs, not grē´vĭ-ŭs.
_guarantee_—găr-ăn-tē´.
_ideal_—ī-dē´al, not ī´dēl.
_immediately_—im-mē´dĭ-at-lĭ.
_remediable_—re-mē´dĭ-a-bl.
_tedious_—tē´dĭ-us, or tēd´yus.
_débris_—dā-brē´.
_hysteria_—hĭs-tē´rĭ-a, not hĭs-târ´rĭ-a.

_The Vowel Sound as in “Creed”_

Note: The tongue is arched upward; tip at base of lower front teeth. This is a double sound. The mouth has a tendency to narrow on the second resonance.

_believe_—bē-lēv´, not blēv.
_cleanly_—(adv) klēn´lĭ.
_congenial_—kon-jēn´yal, not kon-jēn´nĭ-al.
_evening_—ē´vn-ĭng, or ēv´nĭng.
_grease_—(n)—grēs.
_grease_—(vb)—grēz, or grēs.
_idea_—ī-dē´a, not ī´dē-a.
_sleek_—slēk, not slĭk.

_The Vowel Sound as in “Glide”_

Note: This is a double sound. Open mouth on first resonance with contact low and middle, but narrower aperture on second with contact high and front. Tongue is moderately low on first resonance and then arches and widens on second.

_bicycle_—bī´sĭk-l, not bī-sīk´l.
_blithe_—blīth (th is sub-vocal).
_decisive_—dē-sī´sĭv, not dē-sī´zĭv.
_defile_—(n) dē-fīl´, not dē´fīl.
_defile_—(vb) de´fīl.
_demise_—de-mīz´, not de-mez´.
_demoniacal_—dem-o-nī´ak-al, not de-mo´nĭ-ak-al.
_derisive_—de-rī´siv, not de´ri-siv.
_device_—dē-vīs.
_devise_—dē-vīz.
_enquiry_—ĕn-kwī´rĭ, not ĕn´kwīr-ĭ.
_horizon_—hō-rī´zŏn.
_incisive_—ĭn-sī´sĭv.
_incisor_—ĭn-sī´zẽr.
_indictment_—ĭn-dīt´mĕnt, not ĭn-dīk´ment.
_acclimate_—ăk-klī´māt, not ăk´klĭm-āt.

_The Vowel Sound as in “It”_

Note: Tongue arched forward high; tip behind lower front teeth; mouth open wide; contact high and forward.

_bivouac_—bĭv´wăk.
_breeches_—brĭch´ĕz.
_bristle_—brĭs-l, not brĭst´l.
_chivalrous_—shĭv´al-rŭs.
_civil_—sĭv´ĭl, not sĭv´l.
_commiserate_—kŏm-mĭz´er-āt, not kŏm-mĭs´ẽr-āt.
_conflict_—(vb) kŏn-flĭkt´; (n) kŏn´flĭkt.
_considerable_—kŏn-sĭd´ẽr-a-bl, not kŏn-sĭd´ra-bl.
_delivery_—dē-lĭv´ẽr-ĭ, not dē-lĭv´rĭ.
_grisly_—grĭz´lĭ, not grĭs´lĭ.
_gristly_—grĭs´lĭ, not grĭz´lĭ.
_infinite_—ĭn´fĭn-ĭt, not ĭn-fī´nīt.
_itinerary_—ī-tĭn´ẽr-a-rĭ.
_licorice_—lĭk´ō-rĭs, not līk´rĭsh.
_mischievous_—mĭs´chĭ-vŭs, not mĭs-chē´vŭs.
_sinister_—sĭn´ĭs-tẽr, not sĭ-nĭs´tẽr.

_The Vowel Sound as in “On”_

Note: Tongue sags; mouth moderately open; lips rounded; contact low and back of center.

_accost_—ăk-kŏst´, not ăk-kôst´.
_broth_—brŏth, not brôth.
_choler_—kŏl´ẽr, not kō´lẽr.
_column_—kŏl´ŭm, not kŏl´yŭm.
_combatant_—kŏm´băt-tănt, not kom-bāt´tant.
_chronological_—krŏn-ō-lŏg´ĭk-cal.
_comparable_—kŏm´på-rå-bl, not kŏm-pâr´å-bl.
_conversant_—kŏn´vẽr-sant, not kŏn-vẽr´sant.
_dross_—drŏs.
_economic_—ē-kō-nŏm´ĭk or ĕk-ō-nŏm´ĭk.
_hollow_—hŏl´lō, not hŏl´la.
_homage_—hŏm´āj, not hōm´ĭj.
_honest_—ŏn´ĕst, not ôn´nŭst.
_honorable_—ŏn´ŏr-a-bl, not ŏn´ra-bl.
_hostage_—hŏs´tāj, not hōs´tāj.
_hovel_—hŏv´ĕl, not hŭv´ĕl.

_The Vowel Sound as in “Go”_

Note: Tongue sags; mouth moderately wide; lips well rounded; contact midway back. This is a single sound “given to all open syllables.”

_associate_—ăs-sō´shĭ-āt, not ăs-sō´sĭ-āt.
_chorist_—kō´rĭst, not kôr´ĭst.
_cognomen_—kŏg-nō´mĕn.
_commodious_—kŏm-mō´dĭ-ŭs.
_comptroller_—kŏn-trō´lẽr.
_Corot_—kō-rō´.
_corporeal_—kôr-pō´rē-ăl.
_decorum_—dē-kō´rŭm, not dē-kôr´ŭm.
_deplorable_—dē-plō´ra-bl, not de-plôr´a-bl.
_diplomatist_—dĭ-plō´mā-tĭst.
_forensic_—fō-rĕn´sĭk, not fôr-ĕn´sĭk.
_indecorum_—ĭn-dē-kō´rŭm, not ĭn-dĕk´ō-rŭm.
_ivory_—ī´vō-rĭ, not īv´rī.
_oral_—ō´ral, not ôr´al.
_stony_—stō´nĭ, not stŭn´ĭ.
_trophy_—trō´fĭ.

_The Vowel Sound as in “Home”_

Note: This is a double sound. The first resonance is identical to the above single (o) as in (Go), but for the second resonance the contact is the upper back part of mouth with widening of the tongue.

_Azores_—ăz-ōrz´, not ā-zôrz´.
_brooch_—brōch, not bro͝och.
_console_—kŏn-sōl´.
_corps_ (military)—kōr; (pl.) kōrz.
_cote_—(n) kōt, not kŏt.
_divorce_—dĭv-ōrs´, not dĭv-ôrs´.
_homely_—hōm´lĭ, not hŭm´lĭ.
_oaths_—ōthz (sub-vocal) not ōths.
_sword_—sōrd, not sôrd nor s-wôrd.
_won’t_—(will not)—wōnt.
_yolk_—yōlk or yōk, not yĕlk.
_recourse_—rē-kōrs´.
_shewn_—shōn.
_shew_—shō.
_vaudeville_—vōd´vĭl.
_von_—fōn, not vŏn.

_The Vowel Sound as in “Us”_

Note: Tongue sags; open mouth; contact about half way back and midway between the upper and lower jaw.

_adult_—a-dŭlt´, not ăd´ŭlt.
_cunning_—kŭn´nĭng, not kŭn´nĭn.
_government_—gŭv´ẽrn-mĕnt, not gŭv´ẽr-mĕnt.
_hundred_—hŭn´drĕd, not hŭn´dẽrd.
_promulgate_—prō-mŭl´gāt.
_pumice_—pŭm´ĭs.
_illustrate_—ĭl-lŭs´trāt, not ill´ŭ-strāt.
_mongrel_—mŭng´grĕl, not mŏng´grĕl.
_muskmelon_—mŭsk´mĕlŏn, not mŭsh´mĕlŏn.
_nuptial_—nŭp´shal, not nūp´shal.
_pumpkin_—pŭmp´kĭn, not pŭnk´ĭn.
_supple_—sŭp´l, not so̅o̅´pl.

_The Vowel Sound as in “Use”_

Note: Tongue arched; mouth well open; contact back of upper front teeth for first resonance, then to upper back part of mouth for the second; lips well apart for the first sound and then well rounded and extended for the second with a slight sagging of the tongue. This is a double sound.

_blue_—blū, not blo̅o̅.
_rude_—rūd.
_rural_—rū´răl, not rûr´l.
_nuisance_—nū´săns, not no̅o̅´săns.
_newspaper_—nūz´pā-pẽr, not nūs´pā-pẽr.
_Tuesday_—Tūz´dā, not To̅o̅z´då.
_minutely_—mĭ-nūt´lĭ.
_tube_—tūb, not to̅o̅b nor tyub.
_tulip_—tū´lĭp, not to̅o̅´lĭp.
_usually_—ū´zhū-a-lĭ, not ūzh´lĭ.
_virtue_—vẽrt´ū, not vẽr´cho̅o̅.
_stupid_—stū´pĭd, not sto̅o̅´pŭd.
_virtually_—vẽr´tū-al-lĭ, not vert´choo-li.
_virulent_—vĭr´yū-lĕnt.
_vituperate_—vī-tū´pẽr-āt.
_ablution_—ăb-lū´shŭn, not ă-blo̅o̅´shŭn.

_The Vowel Sound as in “Choose”_

Note: Tongue sags slightly with tip at base of lower front teeth; mouth well open; lips well rounded and extended; contact at upper back part of mouth. Notice that this (oo) resonance is the same as the second resonance in (u).

_booth_—bo̅o̅th (sub-vocal).
_Booth_ (name)—bo̅o̅th.
_food_—fo̅o̅d, not fo͝od.
_roof_—ro̅o̅f, not ro͝of.
_coupon_—ko̅o̅´pŏn, not kū´pon.
_room_—ro̅o̅m, not rŭm nor ro͝om.
_broom_—bro̅o̅m, not bro͝om.
_hoof_—ho̅o̅f, not ho͝of.
_spoon_—spo̅o̅n, not spo͝on.
_forsooth_—fōr-so̅o̅th´, not fōr-so̅o̅th´ (sub-vocal).
_poor_—po̅o̅r, not po͝or.
_root_—ro̅o̅t, not ro͝ot.
_coop_—co̅o̅p, not co͝op.
_tour_—to̅o̅r, not tûr.
_tournament_—to̅o̅r´na-mĕnt or tûr´na-mĕnt.
_troubadour_—tro̅o̅´ba-door, not tro̅o̅´pa-dûr.