ORTHOGRAPHY. OF THE LETTERS. ORTHOGRAPHY teaches the nature and powers of letters, and the just method of spelling words. A letter is the first principle, or least part, of a word. The letters of the English language, called the English Alphabet, are twenty-six in number. These letters are the representatives of certain articulate sounds, the elements of the language. An articulate sound, is the sound of the human voice, formed by the organs of speech. Letters are divided into Vowels and Consonants. A Vowel is an articulate sound, that can be perfectly uttered by itself: as, a, e, o; which are formed without the help of any other sound. A consonant is an articulate sound, which cannot be perfectly uttered without the help of a vowel: as, b, d, f, l; which require vowels to express them fully. The vowels are, a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes w and y. Wand y are consonants when they begin a word or syllable; but in every other situation they are vowels. Consonants are divided into mutes and semi-vowels. The mutes cannot be sounded at all, without the aid of a vowel. They are b, p, t, d, k, and c and g hard. The semi-vowels have an imperfect sound of themselves. They are f, l, m, n, r, v, 8, z, x, and c and g soft. Four of the semi-vowels, namely, l, m, n, r, are also distinguished by the name of liquids, from their readily uniting with other consonants, and flowing as it were into their sounds. A diphthong is the union of two vowels, pronounced by a single impulse of the voice: as, ea in beat, ou in sound. A triphthong is the union of three vowels, pronounced in like manner as, eau in beau, iew in view. A proper diphthong is that in which both the vowels are sounded: as, oi in voice, ou in ounce. An improper diphthong has but one of the vowels sounded: as, ea in eagle, oa in boat. QUESTIONS. What do you understand by the word idea? What is language? How may Grammar be divided? What does Universal Grammar explain ? What is the standard of English Grammar, by which we must be governed? Into how many parts is English Grammar divided? What are they called? Of what does each treat? What are letters ? How many are there in the English language ? How are letters divided? What is a vowel? What letters are vowels? What is a consonant? When are w and y consonants? And when vowels? How are consonants divided? What is a mute? What is a semi-vowel ? Which four of the semi-vowels are called liquids? What is a diphthong? What is a triphthong? What is a proper diphthong? What is an improper diphthong? CONVERSATION II. OF SYLLABLES AND WORDS. Tutor. You answered the questions annexed to the first conversation so readily, that I perceive you are very attentive, and that you remember what I tell you. I shall, by-and-by, be able to make the subject more interesting to you. Caroline. We begin already to be interested in it, for we know how necessary it is, that we should understand it; and we believe that you will explain it to us in such a manner, that it will not be very dry. Tutor. You will probably find Orthography the least in teresting part of Grammar. In acquiring a knowledge of this, you must be patient and perform the labour yourselves. But when you come to Etymology and Syntax, more illustration will be necessary, and I shall be able to render you more assistance, than I can at present. George. We know that, in order to understand any art or science well, its first principles must be clearly comprehended; and, that it then becomes easy. Caroline. You showed us, the other day, some remarks on this subject, made by Quinctilian, which I remember. "Let no person," says he, "despise, as inconsiderable, the elements of grammar, because it may seem to them a matter of small consequence, to show the distinction between vowels and consonants, and to divide the latter into liquids and mutes. But they who penetrate into the innermost parts of this temple of science, will there discover such refinement and subtilty of matter, as are not only proper to sharpen the understandings of young persons, but sufficient to give exercise for the most profound knowledge and erudition." Tutor. I shall now proceed with syllables and words. OF SYLLABLES. A syllable is a sound, either simple or compounded, pronounced by a single impulse of the voice, and constituting a word, or part of a word: as, a, an, ant. Spelling is the art of rightly dividing words into their syllables, or of expressing a word by its proper letters. The following are the general rules for the division of words into syllables. 1. A single consonant between two vowels, must be joined to the latter syllable: as, de-light, bri-dal, re-source; except the letter x: as, ex-ist, ex-amine; and except likewise words compounded: as, up-on, un-even, dis-ease. 2. Two consonants proper to begin a word, must not be separated: as, fa-ble, sti-fle. But when they come between two vowels, and are such as cannot begin a word, they must be divided: as, ut-most, un-der, in-sect, er-ror, cof-fin. 3. When three consonants meet in the middle of a word, if they can begin a word, and the preceding vowel be pronounced long, they are not to be separated: as, de-throne, de-stroy. But when the vowel of the preceding syllable is pronounced short, one of the consonants always belongs to that syllable: as, dis-tract, dis-prove, dis-train. 4. When three or four consonants, which are not proper to begin a syllable, meet between two vowels, such of them as can begin a syllable belong to the latter, the rest to the former syllable: as, ab-stain, com-plete, em-broil, trans-gress, dapple, con-strain, hand-some, parch-ment. 5. Two vowels, not being a diphthong, must be divided into separate syllables: as, cru-el, de-ni-al, so-ci-e-ty. 6. Compounded words must be traced into the simple words of which they are composed: as, ice-house, glow-worm, over-power, never-the-less. 7. Grammatical, and other particular terminations, are generally separated: as, teach-est, teach-eth, teach-ing, teach-er, contend-est, great-er, wretch-ed, good-ness, free-dom, falsehood. OF WORDS. Words are articulate sounds, used by common consent, as signs of our ideas. A word of one syllable is termed a Monosyllable; a word of two syllables, a Dissyllable; a word of three syllables, a Trissyllable; and a word of four or more syllables, a Polysyllable. All words are either primitive or derivative. A primitive word is that which cannot be reduced to any simpler word in the language: as, man, good, content. A derivative word is that which may be reduced to another word in English of greater simplicity: as, manful, goodness, contentment, Yorkshire.* What is a syllable? What is spelling? What are words? QUESTIONS. What are words of one syllable called ? What are words of two syllables? What are words of three syllables? What are words of four or more syllables called? How are words divided? What is a primitive word? What is a derivative ? There are many English words, which, though compounds in other languages, are to us primitives: thus, circumspect, circumvent, circumstance, delude, concave, complicate, &c. * A compound word is included under the head of derivative words : as, pen-knife, tea-cup, looking-glass; may be reduced to other words of greater simplicity. which are primitive words in English, will be found derivatives, when traced in the Latin tongue. The orthography of the English language is attended with much uncertainty and perplexity. But a considerable part of this inconvenience may be remedied, by attending to the general laws of formation; and, for this end, you are presented with a view of such general maxims, in spelling primitive and derivative words, as have been almost universally received. RULE I. Monosyllables ending with f, I, or s, preceded by a single vowel, double the final consonant: as, staff, nail, pass, &c. The only exceptions are, of, if, as, is, has, was, yes, his, this, and thus. Now correct the following: us, It is no great merit to spel properly; but a great defect to do it incorrectly. Jacob worshiped his Creator, leaning on the top of his staf. We may place too little, as well as too much stres upon dreams. Our manners should be neither gros, nor excessively refined. RULE II. Monosyllables ending with any consonant but f, 1, or s, and preceded by a single vowel, never double the final consonant ; excepting only, add, ebb, butt, egg, odd, err, inn, bunn, purr, and buzz. A carr signifies a chariot of war, or a small carriage of burden. In the names of druggs and plants, the mistake in a word may endanger life. Nor undelightful is the ceaseless humm, To him who muses through the woods at noon. The finn of a fish is the limb, by which he ballances his body, and moves in the water. Many a trapp is laid to insnare the feet of youth. Many thousand families are supported by the simple business of making matts. RULE III. Words ending with y, preceded by a consonant, form the plurals of nouns, the persons of verbs, verbal nouns, past participles, comparatives, and superlatives, by changing y into i: as, spy, spies; I carry, thou carriest; he carrieth or carries ; carrier, carried; happy, happier, happiest. The present participle in ing, retains the y, that i may not be doubled: as, carry, carrying; bury, burying, &c. |