3. Maddened, deadened; beckoned, likened; gulped, scalped; orbed, barbed; arched, searched; forked, worked; hustles, measles; drivels, grovels; giv'st, serv'st; dazzled, frizzled. 4. Sobb'dst, digg'dst, wedg'dst, shav'dst, buckl'st, puzzl'st, sift'st, darken'st, poison'st, drunk'st, storm'st, breath'st, humbl'dst, battl'dst, burn'dst, season'dst, catch'dst, gulp'dst, strengthen'st. Words in Sentences. 1. He watched and wept, he prayed and felt for all. 2. He could speak upon either side of the question; he could speak upon neither side. 3. Masses of immense magnitude move majestically through the vast extent of the solar system. 4. That morning, thou, that slumber'dst not before, Nor sleptst, great ocean, laidst thy waves at rest, 5. The cloud-capped towers, the gorgeous palaces, NOTE. Yea, all which it inherit, shall dissolve, And like this unsubstantial pageant, faded, Correct pronunciation and accent can be obtained only by following the rules laid down in some standard dictionary. Emphasis is a stress of voice laid upon a word or a phrase, in order to bring out its meaning, and the meaning of the sentence, in the most impressive and forcible manner. Upon the proper placing of emphasis depends not only the meaning of a sentence, but also the life and spirit of all discourse; as, otherwise, the speaker cannot convey what he understands and feels, and, consequently, he will fail utterly to make any impression upon his hearers. As emphasis is determined solely by the sentiment to be expressed, no rule can be given which will regulate its place, kind, or degree, except the general one-that the speaker must thor oughly comprehend the idea to be uttered, and be guided by a just conception of its force and spirit. In delivery, he should pause before and after each emphatic word, and let his voice dwell upon it for a greater or less length of time, as the sense requires. Examples. 1. I do not ask, I demand your attention. 2. The war is inevitable, and LET IT COME! I repeat it, sir, LET IT COME! 3. The wicked flee when no man pursueth; but the righteous are bold as a lion. 4. The young are slaves to novelty; the old, to custom; the middleaged, to both; the dead, to neither. 5. But yesterday, the word of Cæsar might 6. Have stood against the world; now lies he there, And none so poor to do him reverence. But this very day, An honest man, my neighbor, there he stands, Nor lifted up his voice in servile shouts At sight of that great ruffian! Be we men, Modulation is the varying of the voice so as to express the feelings and the emotions inspired by the subject of discourse. It refers to the right management of the voice as regards loudness and volume, and includes inflection, pitch, force, and quality; and, therefore, it produces that variety of expression so essential to eloquence. Correct modulation can be obtained by strict attention to the natural variations of tone in ordinary conversation or in earnest speech, by drill, by judgment in determining the idea to be ex pressed, by accommodating the sound to the sense, and by identification with the person to be represented. INFLECTIONS are turns or slides of the voice in uttering a letter, a syllable, or a word. The Rising Inflection is the upward slide of the voice. It is usually indicated by the acute accent ('): thus, Is he truthful?/ The Falling Inflection is the downward slide of the voice. It is usually indicated by the grave accent (`): thus, Would you make men truthful? Believe them. The Circumflex Inflection is the union of the rising and the falling inflection. It is usually indicated by the union of the acute and the grave accent (or): thus, And thîs man is now become a gôd! Examples. 1. Sink or swim, live or die, survive or perish, I give my hand and my heart to this vote. Is done already; heaven and earth will witness PITCH is the degree of the elevation of vocal sound. Middle Pitch is that which is, or should be employed in ordinary conversation, and expresses moderate emotion. Low Pitch is that which is below the usual speaking key, and expresses deep feeling; as, Silence, how dread! darkness, how profound! High Pitch is that which is above the usual speaking key, and expresses pity, and joyous feeling; as, Ring, happy bells, across the snow. Examples. 1. Education, when it works upon a noble mind, draws out to view every latent virtue and perfection, which, without such helps, are never able to make their appearance. 2. There was silence, and I heard a voice saying, FORCE is the degree of loudness and energy of vocal sound. Moderate Force is that which is used in ordinary narration or description. Soft or Weak Force is that which is used to express caution, fear, secrecy, solemnity, and tender emotions; as, Softly, peacefully, lay her to rest. Loud or Strong Force is that which is used to express violent passion, or strong emotions of joy, hate, revenge, grief, and dignity; as, Strike-till the last armed foe expires! Examples. 1. In peace, there's nothing so becomes a man As modest stillness and humility. 2. He sinks into thy depths with bubbling groan, 3. I see you stand like greyhounds in the slips Straining upon the start. The game's afoot; Cry God for Harry! England! and St. George! QUALITY is the kind of tone used in speaking or reading. The Pure Quality is a clear, smooth, flowing tone, uttered in the middle pitch, and is used when not much feeling or emotion is expressed. The Orotund Quality is the pure tone deepened, and is used to express pathetic, grand, and sublime emotions; as, Roll on, thou deep and dark blue ocean- - roll! The Guttural Quality is a deep undertone, and is used to express hatred, contempt, aversion, and loathing; as, Thou slave, thou coward. thou wretch! Th Aspirated Quality is not properly a vocal sound, but a whispered utterance used to express secrecy, fear, terror, and remorse; as, "Silence!" in undertones they cry. Examples. 1. We live in deeds, not years, in thoughts, not breaths, In feelings, not in figures on a dial. 2. O thou Eternal One! whose presence bright All space doth occupy, all motion guide. 3. You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog, 4. Hush! lightly tread; still tranquilly she sleeps. Delivery is the expression of thought by means of words and actions. Perfect delivery, then, is the result of a mastery of every principle and art of elocution: - enunciation, emphasis, tone, earnestness, expression, action. Gestures must depend mainly upon the earnestness of the speaker's conception of what he is to utter. No one can portray character unless he can realize it, and he can realize it only by making it his own for the time, and by expressing himself exactly as a person would do in the supposed situation, and so "suit the action to the word, the word to the action." Action has been defined as the beginning, the middle, and the end of oratory. It is shown chiefly by the expression and the management of the eye, and by the motions of the hand, although thought may be expressed or enforced by various movements of the body. "When all the powers of elocution are brought into requisition, the voice, with all its thrilling tones; the eye, through which, as a window, the soul darts forth its light; the whole glowing countenance; the whole breathing frame: - when every motion speaks, every muscle swells with the inspiration of high thoughts: - what instrument of music, what glories of the canvas can equal it? It is beauty, genius, power, sublimity, in their most glorious exercise." |