The Ontario Readers: The High School Reader, 1886 | Page 8

where force is applied to the middle of the concrete, producing a swell, or impressive fulness.
(4) =Compound Stress=, where force is applied in an unusual degree to each extremity of the concrete.
(5) =Final Stress=, where force is applied to the end of the concrete, the radical stress being somewhat diminished in fulness.
(6) =Thorough Stress=, where force is so applied that the concrete has the same fulness throughout.
EXERCISE.--With the syllable p? exemplify the equable concrete and the several varieties of stress, using different degrees of initial or radical pitch, and the various intervals of the tone, semitone, third, fifth, and octave. The exercises for the radical stress should be first aspirated, then repeated with full vocality.
Besides the forms of the simple rising and falling intervals in which the concrete is generally uttered, there is another form, called the =wave=, effected by a union of these modes. It is of two varieties: (1) where a rising movement is continued into a falling movement, called the =direct wave=; (2) where a falling movement is continued into a rising movement, called the =inverted wave=. Waves may pass through all varieties of intervals, and may be either (1) equal, where the voice in both members passes through the same interval; or (2) unequal, where in one flexion the interval traversed by the voice is greater than in the other.
EXERCISE.--With the syllable p[=a] exemplify the different kinds of waves, with the same variations of radical pitch, interval, and stress, as before.
The elementary sounds of speech are of three natural divisions; the tonics, the subtonics, and the atonics.
The =Tonics= are the simple vowels and diphthongs. They are of perfect vocality; they admit the concrete rise and fall through all the intervals of pitch; they may be uttered with more abruptness than the other elements; and being capable of indefinite prolongation they can receive the most perfect exemplification of the vanishing movement. They may be said to be: [a:], as in all; ?, as in arm; [.a], as in ask; [)a], as in an; [=a], as in ate; a, as in air; [=e], as in eve; [)e], as in end; ?, as in err; [=i], as in ice; [)i], as in inn; [=o], as in old; ?, as in or; [)o], as in odd; [=u], as in use; [)u], as in up; [=o][=o], as in ooze; [)o][)o], as in book; oi, as in oil; ou, as in out. (There are various ways of arranging and classifying these.)
EXERCISE.--Exemplify generally the equable concrete, loud concrete, radical stress, and median stress, with upward and downward intervals, with clear, sharp openings, and with gradually attenuated vanishes, upon each of the tonic elements.
The =Subtonics= possess the properties of vocality and prolongation in some degree, but much less perfectly than the tonics, and their vocality (known as the vocal murmur) is the same for all. They are as follows:--b, d, g, v, z, y, w (as in woe), th (as in then), zh (as z in azure), j (as in judge, by some considered not elementary), l, m, n, ng (as in sing), r (as in ran), and r (as in far). They can not, without great effort, be given an abrupt opening, and so are not capable of much radical fulness, but from their property of vocality they can receive, to a considerable degree, an exemplification of the vanishing movement.
EXERCISE.--Utter the word bud slowly, and detach from the rest of the word the obscure murmur heard in pronouncing the first letter: this is the subtonic represented by b. Utter this sound with different degrees of initial pitch, and with different intervals, both downward and upward. Produce as full an opening of the radical movement as possible, but do not attempt to give it much stress. Obtain in every case a distinct vanish. Be careful not to convert the subtonic into a tonic. Proceed in a similar manner with the other subtonics. Then, distinctly obtaining the subtonics, unite them severally with the sound of ?, first forcibly, then more gently, producing such syllables as b?, d?, etc., which may be rendered with upward and downward intervals, and with different degrees of initial pitch. Finally, with such syllables as ?b, ?d, ?g, ?v, etc., exemplify all the varieties of stress.
The =Atonics= correspond with the first eleven of the subtonics as given above, from which they differ almost alone in having no vocality. They are p, t, k, f, s, h, wh (as in when), th (as in thin), sh, and ch (as in child, by some considered not elementary).
EXERCISE.--1. Form a list of such words as pipe, tote, kick, fife, siss, etc., and severally utter them slowly, holding the final element for a moment, and then letting the breath escape suddenly; then, holding the initial letter firmly for a moment let it come forcibly against