Sanders Union Fourth Reader | Page 8

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All the various sounds of the human voice may be comprehended under the general appellation of tones. The principal modifications of these tones are the MONOTONE, the RISING INFLECTION, the FALLING INFLECTION, and the CIRCUMFLEX.
The Horizontal Line (--) denotes the Monotone. The Rising Slide (/) denotes the Rising Inflection. The Falling Slide (\) denotes the Falling Inflection. The Curve (\_/) denotes the Circumflex.
The MONOTONE is that sameness of sound, which arises from repeating the several words or syllables of a passage in one and the same general tone.
REMARK.--The Monotone is employed with admirable effect in the delivery of a passage that is solemn or sublime.
EXAMPLES.
1. O thou that rollest above, round as the shield of my fathers: whence are thy beams, O sun, thy everlasting light? OSSIAN.
2. 'Tis midnight's holy hour, and silence now Is brooding, like a gentle spirit, o'er The still and pulseless world. Hark! on the winds The bells' deep tones are swelling; 'tis the knell Of the departed year. PRENTICE.
3. God came from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of His praise.
4. Before Him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at His feet. He stood and measured the earth: He beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: His ways are everlasting. BIBLE.
5. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth His handy work. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. ID.
6. How brief is life! how passing brief! How brief its joys and cares! It seems to be in league with time, And leaves us unawares.
7. The thunder rolls: be hushed the prostrate world, While cloud to cloud returns the solemn hymn. THOMSON.
REMARK.--The inappropriate use of the monotone,--a fault into which young people naturally fall,--is a very grave and obstinate error. It is always tedious, and often even ridiculous. It should be studiously avoided.
The RISING INFLECTION is an upward turn, or slide of the voice, used in reading or speaking; as,
s? n/ o/ s/ s/ e/ Are you prepared to recite your l/
The FALLING INFLECTION is a downward turn, or slide of the voice, used in reading or speaking; as,
\d \o \i \n What are you \g?
In the falling inflection, the voice should not sink below the _general pitch_; but in the rising inflection, it is raised above it.
The two inflections may be illustrated by the following diagrams:
1. \i \m y, \p \p l/ \r \r t/ \u \u n/ \d \d e/ \e \e d/ \n \n u/ \t \t r/ \l \l Did he act p/ or \y? He acted \y.
2. \u \n y, \w \w l/ \i \i g/ \l \l n/ \l \l i/ \i \i l/ \n \n l/ \g \g i/ \l \l Did they go w/ or \y? They went \y.
3. r, e/ h/ g/ i/ If the flight of Dryden is h/ Pope continues longer on the
r, e/ t/ h/ \w g/ \i i/ \n r/ \g. If the blaze of Dryden's fire is b/ the heat of Pope's is
\c \o \n \s \t \a \n more regular and \t.
4. Is honor's lofty soul forever fled'? Is virtue lost'? Is martial ardor dead'? Is there no heart where worth and valor dwell'? No patriot WALLACE'? No undaunted TELL'? Yes`, Freedom, yes`! thy sons, a noble band, Around thy banner, firm, exulting stand`.
REMARK.--The same degree of inflection is not, at all times, used, or indicated by the notation. The due degree to be employed, depends on the nature of what is to be expressed. For example; if a person, under great excitement, asks another:
t? s e n r a Are you in e the degree of inflection would be much greater,
t? s e n r a than if he playfully asks: Are you in e The former inflection may be called intensive, the latter, common.

RULES FOR THE USE OF INFLECTIONS.
RULE I.
Direct questions, or those which may be answered by yes or no, usually take the rising inflection; but their answers, generally, the falling.
EXAMPLES.
1. Will you meet me at the depot'? Yes`; or, I will`.
2. Did you intend to visit Boston'? No`; or, I did not`.
3. Can you explain this difficult sentence'? Yes`; I can.
4. Are they willing to remain at home'? They are`.
5. Is this a time for imbecility and inaction'? By no means`.
6. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets'? I know that thou believest`.
7. Were the tribes of this country, when first discovered, making any progress in arts and civilization'? By no