Puslapio vaizdai
PDF
„ePub“

delivered out from the lips, as beautiful coins newly issued from the mint, deeply and accurately impressed, perfectly finished, neatly struck by the proper organs, distinct, in due succession, and of due weight.

[ocr errors]

The question arises, how shall a correct and elegant articulation be acquired? The answer is, by obtaining a knowledge of the elementary sounds of the English language. To be able to call letters by their names is insufficient, a knowledge of their sounds in which their power consists, is essential to good articulation. Those who do not understand the elements, cannot analyze words, nor can they tell when errors in articulation are made. However multitudinous and gross may be their errors in that important branch of elocution, they are unconscious of them.

Our language, it is admitted, is imperfect. If our alphabet were perfect, the names of the letters would correspond with their sounds. A large portion of the letters are at variance with their sounds. They have generally been divided into vowels and consonants. But the classification and division of Dr. James Rush, of Philadelphia, in his "Philosophy of the Human Voice," is altogether better. Without regard to the order in which the letters now stand, he arranges them according to their sounds, under three general heads, Vowels, Sub-Vowels, and Aspirates.

The voice, as well as the articulation, may be greatly improved by the practice of pronouncing these elements. The voice should be exercised on each element separately, and then, on their most difficult combinations. This elementary exercise constitutes a kind of gymnastic training of the voice. The Greeks acquired great physical strength, by engaging in the Olympic games. The Roman soldiers qualified themselves to handle a sword skillfully in actual battle, by using in their preparatory exercises, heavy armor. By giving the elements and reciting some of the best pieces of Shakspeare, Milton, Byron, and other distinguished writers, with all possible percussive force of voice, an individual may acquire the ability to converse and read in the social circle, with perfect ease and gracefulness, and to address large audiences with great power and effect, and that, too, without any apparent, or much real effort of the organs of speach.

The voice has been aptly and justly compared to an instrument of music. Every person knows that if the strings of a musical instrument are imperfect, either in quality or number, or are not in harmony, the keys may be struck in vain by the most skillful hand: no music can be produced upon them. So, if the voice be defective,—if it be harsh or creaking,—in a word, if it be in an uncultivated condition, the speaker, although he may be master of his subject, will utterly fail of unfolding the beauties and displaying the striking expressions of that elocution, which, like poetry, has its dwelling place in nature. If, on the other hand, the strings of an instrument are perfect and in harmony, and its keys are properly struck, a tune will be produced. The voice, when highly cultivated, swells to chords of grandeur or is softened to cadences, which would almost suspend

"An angel's harmony to listen."

Let it not be said that our language is unadapted to the purposes of oratory. The English language, although imperfect, is excellent. Many different fountains have contributed to enlarge its stream. It flows from no particular spring. It is enriched with the spoils of several other languages. It is the most universal language on earth. It is in general use by the inhabitants on this continent, and by multitudes abroad. It rolls its swelling flood into the residences of uncounted millions. Its wealth is drawn from foreign mines; but it is none the less valuable on that account. It is our own native language. We shall be likely to use it, at every period of our lives. It furnishes rich and abundant materials for expressing every conception of the mind and emotion of the heart. If, then, those who use it, do not attain renown as orators,-if, in the words of Shakspeare, "we are underlings," the fault is not in our language, "but in ourselves.”

"To command the applause of listening senates," requires, it must be acknowledged, a combination of natural and acquired abilities which very few possess. It is a matter of rejoicing, that there are some such orators in the United States, orators, who have the power of instructing

and delighting their audiences, and to whom the poet's lines apply in all their force and beauty:

[blocks in formation]

But the voices of our distinguished orators and statesmen will, ere long, cease to be heard in the councils of the nation. When their career is terminated, who shall succeed them? The question is submitted to the decision of American young men. Shall we permit railroad, bank, and land speculations, to occupy our whole time? Is money the only thing worthy of the attention of mortal and immortal man? PERISH THE THOUGHT! Our cry is,-give us knowledge, valuable knowledge. We want, too, that kind of knowledge, which, while it increases our own happiness, enables us to be useful to others.

Elocution is a powerful engine of operation upon public opinion. It is the mirror of the mind of man. It is, moreover, an emendation of morals. A taste for it prompts an individual to occupy his leisure moments in imparting sound and useful knowledge to the people; and in that manner, does he aid in elevating the standard of morals.

Elocution is also essential to the cause of liberty. When Cicero's eloquence shook the forum, Rome was recognized as the "mistress of the world." In vain, then, did Cataline lift up his traitorous arm against her. But when Cicero was murdered, "the eternal city" jostled over the precipice of faction, and her sun went down in blood. The eloquence of Demosthenes animated the Greeks to stretch out the mighty arm of freedom against the usurpations of Philip. When Demosthenes was put to death, the fetters of tyranny were fastened upon the citizens. If, then, we would perpetuate the existence of our country's freedom, let us put forth our utmost energies, to restore elocution to that elevated position in the United States, which it occupied in Greece and Rome, during the flourishing ages of those republics.

THE ELEMENTARY SOUNDS OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.

The vowels "consist of different sorts of vocality,”-the sub-vowels" possess variously among themselves, properties analagous to those of the vowels, but differing in degree,”the aspirates are mere aspirations.

In schools, or where classes in elocution are organized, the elements may be given in concert. To teach the elements, it is convenient, although not necessary, to have a table of them on a large scale, like a map. It appears from Professor C. E. Stowe's report on elementary public instruction in Europe, made to the thirty-sixth general assembly of the State of Ohio, that in the principal schools in Europe, for teaching the elements for good reading and speaking, "the letters are printed in large form on square cards, the class stands up before a sort of rack, the teacher holds the cards in his hand, places one upon the rack, and a conversation of this kind passes between him and his pupils: What letter is that? H. He places another on the rack: What letter is that? A. I now put these two letters together, thus, (moving the cards close together,) HA. What sound do these two letters signify? Ha. There is another letter: What letter is that? (putting it on the rack.) R. I now put this third letter to the other two, thus, HAR. What sound do the three letters make? Har. There is another letter: What is it? D. I join this letter to the other three, thus, HARD. What do they make ? Hard. Then he proceeds in the same way with these letters: F-I-S-T; joins these four letters to the preceding four, HARD-FIST; and the pupils pronounce Hard-Fist. Then, with the letters E and D, and joins these two letters to the preceding eight, and the pupils pronounce, Hard-Fisted. In this way, they are taught to read words of any length, (for you may easily add to the above, NESS, and make Hard-Fistedness,) the longest as easily as the shortest, and in fact they learn their letters; they learn to read words of one syllable and of several syllables, and to read in plain reading by the same process at the same moment. Thus they learn that the name of a letter and the power of a letter, are two very different things."

Mr. Wyse, of the British Parliament, in his work on popular education, insists upon the importance of obtaining a knowledge of the elements. He justly observes, that "it is preposterous to use signs for sounds before we first possess the sounds for which the signs are to be used.". He also says that "Alphabetic teaching, as it is generally practiced, is a complication of useless and difficult absurdities." My opinion is, that the names and sounds of the letters should be taught simultaneously. In common schools, the elements are not taught at all; and consequently, a large majority of mankind pass through life without learning them.

It should be borne in mind, that the elementary exercise fortifies the pulmonary organs against the invasion of disease.

The number of elements in our language is thirty-eight. There are fifteen vowels, fourteen sub-vowels, and nine aspirates.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]
« AnkstesnisTęsti »