1 (vi) I am not fo vain as to fuppofe thefe pages free from faults; but hoping that they will meet the general approbation of my brethren, and especially of those who are members of that moft laudable inftitution, the SCHOOL-MASTERS' ASSOCIATION, established in Newcastle upon Tyne, for the relief of their aged BRETHREN, WIDOWS, and ORPHANS; I fhall proceed to give a fhort explanation of the plan : First, as the chief foundation of all reading depends particularly on a thorough knowledge of the pronunciation of the characters of the alphabet, and the method of forming them into fyllables, I have, in the first part, given a copy of the alphabet, with the names of the letters, after what is generally termed the new method; that fuch preceptors as chufe to practice that plan in future, may have an opportunity of fecing it; for my own part, I can only fay, that, in the courfe of upwards of twenty years teaching, I have always found the pupils come fafter forward by this method, than by pronouncing the letters in the old form. Besides, it entirely removes that difagreeable tone which children are but too apt to catch in naming the letters, if not properly attended to; and caufes a much quicker pronunciation.I have therefore given very copious examples of the alphabetical characters, both in the Roman and Italic letters, with general notes and remarks upon them.- -The fyllable founds I have divided into chapters, and each of these into tables and Jeffons progreffively, from the fimpleft founds to words of three and four letters. Chap. 2d. Contains fignificant words of three letters with fome terminations, which I have found very useful in teach ing; throwing off that too common plan of having a run of founds the fame, viz. Bad, dad, Jad, mad, &c. which often retards the progress of a child in its learning. Chap. 3d. Contains words of four letters, with neceffary remarks and interrogations on the hard and foft founds of C and G; after which follow fome eafy leffons in words of three and four letters. Chap. 4th. Contains the diphthongal founds, with interrogations thereon; to be repeated to the pupils till they have got them perfectly by heart, which will be found to facilitate their reading the leffons which follow, as examples on the preceding parts. In part 2d, which confifts of diffyllables, trifyllables, and polyfyllables; are given concife rules for dividing them by way of queftion and anfwer, which are much eafier retain'd by children at firft than long rules; and alfo tables, wherein are words which have the confonants accented; by which the judicious teacher will fee the erroneous method of always abiding by that old rule, viz. a confonant between two vowels must be joined to the latter fyllable; it is, on the contrary, therefore certainly better to teach a child to divide a word as it is pronounced. I have endeavoured throughout the whole of thefe tables, to clafs the words in fuch a manner as, I hope, moft teachers will approve, being conformable to their Etymology. The leffons chofen as exercifes thereon, are on various fubjects, RELIGIOUS and MORAL, ENTERTAINING and INSTRUCTIVE; and I have concluded the whole with fome interrogations on the ufes of the points or ftops, which, I truft, will be generally approved, and found of great utility to the young beginner. As no pains have been fpared to render this firft book ufeful, I hope it will be found worthy of its TITLE, the young LADY's and GENTLEMAN's true INSTRUCTOR in the RUDIMENTS of the ENGLISH TONGUE. The NAMES of the LETTERS of the ENGLISH ALPHABET, After what is termed the NEW METHOD, as it is uow used. * Mr Sheridan, in his Dictionary, obferves "By founding the characters h cj q and x, ha, ek or efs, edge, qua, eks or egz, their natures and powers will be expreffed in their names;" and he has put a vowel before the other confonants, that they may all be founded in that manner, contrary to the ufual custom. In teaching the found of the letter R, the child should be told to trill it off his tongue end, to keep clear of the burr. The letters when taught thus, fhould be founded very fhort. The Small Roman Vowels are, The fmall Roman Confonants are, b c d f go hj k l m n p q rfst v w x z. The Small Italic Vowels are, a e 20 u w y. The fmall Italic Confonants are, b c d f g h j k l m n p q r f s t v w x z. The large Roman Vowels and Confonants are B C D F G H J K L M N P The pupil fhould be taught from the firft, which are vowels, and which are cenfonants, thus, a vowel, e vowel, b confonant, c confonant, &c. and to call w and y fometimes vowels and fometimes confonants, as this will be explained afterwards.-The above alphabets fhould be but a fhort time taught in the form they now ftand; otherwise, care should be taken never to go twice over the letters in the fame order, but to take them in different pofitions, left the pupils get their names by heart before they know them. N. B. The above plan has been practifed many years by the author with great fuccefs. The large Italic Vowels and Confonants are, AEIOU W Y. B C D F G H J K L M N P Q R S T V X Z. The Roman Letters in promifcuous Order, g hih 1 n. abac b c d aef g f ijk j l m k m 1 onopqprfsrst ft u v u x v w y xw y z x 2. Italic Letters in promifcuous Order, g f g m r o x h b i d k g s f f i t r s m z v nty j se p. If a w q j d w n u o h b t i k z x y. Roman Letters joined together, commonly called double Letters. Et fi fi fh fb fk ff ff fl sl ft ff ffi ffl Roman Letters fimilar to each other. bdpqcefflinurt. Italic Letters like each other. b h d b f f n u l in urt. |