discovery of so much importance, that I immediately publifhed a small Pamphlet, called The Melody of Speaking Delineated; in which I explained it as well as I was able by writing, but referred the reader to fome paffages where he could scarcely fail to adopt it upon certain words, and perceive the juftness of the diftinction. I was confirmed in my opinion by reflecting that à priori, and independently on actual practice, these modifications of the human voice muft neceffarily exift. First, if there was no turn or inflexion of the voice, it must continue in a monotone. Secondly, if the voice was inflected, it must be either upwards or downwards, and fo produce either the rifing or falling inflexion. Thirdly, if these two were united on the fame fyllable, it could only be by beginning with the rifing, and ending with the falling inflexion, or vice versa ; as any other mixture of these oppofite inflexions was impoffible. A thorough conviction of the truth of this diftinc tion, gave me a confidence which nothing could shake. I exemplified it, viva voce, to many of my critical friends, who uniformly agreed with me: and this enabled me to conceive and demonftrate the Greek and Latin circumflex, (fo often mentioned, and fo totally unintelligible to the moderns), but occasioned not a little furprise (ince it is as eafy to conceive that the voice may fall and rise upon the fame fyllable, as that it may rife and fall) why the ancients had the latter circumflex, and not the former. Some probable conjectures respecting this point, as well as 'the nature of accent, ancient and modern, may be seen at the end of a Work lately published, called A Key to the Claffical Pronunciation of Greek and Latin Proper Names. CONTENTS. FIRST PART. General Idea of the common Doctrine of Punctuation, Theory of Rhetorical Punctuation. Practical System of Rhetorical Punctuation Introduction to the Theory of the Inflexions of the Method of explaining the Inflexions of the Voice, Utility of the Inflexions of the Voice Practical System of the Inflexions of the Voice 62, 63 Reproach Fear and Terror Sorrow Remorfe Defpair Surprise, Wonder, Amazement, Admiration Pride Confidence, Courage, Boafting Perplexity, Irrefolution, Anxiety Peevishness Envy and Malice Sufpicion, Jealoufy Shame Gravity, Inquiry, and Attention Teaching or Inftructing Arguing Admonition Authority, Commanding, and Forbidding Affirming and Denying Differing and Agreeing Judging. Reproving and Acquitting Difmiffing Refufing Giving, Granting Gratitude Curiofity Promifing Veneration and Refpect Defire Exhorting Fatigue and Sickness Page 350 352 354 358 360 361 363 365 367 369 370 371 374 375 376 377 379 380 381 383 384 386 387 ibid. 389 ibid. 390 391 392 ibid. ibid. 393 394 395 396 PREMONITION ΤΟ THE READER. Ir may not, perhaps, be improper to inform the Reader, that if he wishes fully to understand the following Work, he muft firft apply himfelf closely to the acquiring of a just idea of the two radical distinctions of the Voice into the Rifing and Falling Inflexion, as explained, Part I. p. 74 and 76, and Part II. p. 186. If, however, after all his labour, the Author should not have been able to convey an idea of these two distinctions of Voice upon paper, he flatters himself that thofe parts of the Work, which do not depend upon thefe diftinctions, are fufficiently new and useful to reward the time and pains of a perufal. |