READING.

LESSON I.

GENERAL DEFINITIONS.

1. An alphabet is a series of letters or signs which form the elements of written language.

2. Letters

sounds.

are characters used to represent elementary

3. An elementary sound is the simplest sound of the language.

4. A vowel sound is one made with the vocal organs open. 5. A diphthong is the union of two vowel sounds, pronounced in one syllable.

6. A consonant sound is one which is partially obstructed by the organs of speech.

7. A syllable is a letter or combination of letters uttered with a single impulse of the voice.

8. A word consists of a syllable or syllables, and represents an idea.

9. A spoken word is a sound or sounds representing an idea.

10. A written word is a letter or letters so arranged as to represent an idea.

11. A language is represented either by words, signs, or characters.

12. A sentence is a collection of words making complete

sense.

13. Reading is the comprehension and transmission of thought from the written or printed page, and is of two kinds, silent and audible.

14. Silent reading is comprehending or interpreting the thoughts of an author from the written or printed page.

15. Audible reading is the correct interpretation of thought from the written or printed page, and the transmission of this thought to others by means of the organs of speech.

16. Elocution consists in the natural expression of thought by speech and gesture.

17. Position has reference to the attitude of the body while reading or speaking, and is closely allied to gesture.

18. Gesture is that part of the speaker's manner which pertains to the use and carriage of his person, and the movement of his limbs, in delivery.

19. Facial expression has reference to the appearance of the countenance while rendering thought.

20. A tonic element is an unobstructed tone.

21. A subtonic element is an obstructed tone.

22. An atonic element is without vocality.

23. Pronunciation is the correct sounding and joining of the elements of words.

24. Enunciation is the mode of utterance, especially as to fullness and distinctness of articulation.

LESSON II.

ARTICULATION.

Articulation is the correct utterance of the elementary

sounds of a language.

Sounds are of three kinds-vocal, subvocal, and aspirate. Vocals are sounds which consist of pure tone only.

Subvocals or subtonics, are those in which the vocalized breath is more or less obstructed by the organs of speech.

Aspirates, or atonics, are mere emissions of breath, and may be modified by the organs of speech.

Cognates are letters whose oral elements are produced by the same organs in a similar position.

Cognate Sounds, or related sounds, are those produced with the organs of speech in a similar position. The following is a table of the

SUBVOCALS.

COGNATE SOUNDS.

ASPIRATES.

b, as in babe; similar to p, as in rap.

"rod;

66 66

fog;

k,

66 66

book.

66

66

66

"buzz;

S,

"sink.

V,

th,

Z,

zh,

66

66 66

shine.

REMARK. These sixteen sounds make eight pairs of cognate sounds. In articulating the aspirates, the vocal organs are put in the position required for the. articulation of the corresponding subvocals; but the breath is expelled without the utterance of any vocal sound.

Substitutes, or alphabetic equivalents, are characters used to represent sounds ordinarily represented by other characters.