GRAMMAR'. 1. GRAMMAR is the science2 of language and the art of using it. Science is knowledge reduced to a system. Art is knowledge reduced to practice. Rules of art are based on the principles of science. 2. Grammar is divided into Theoretical and Prac tical. Theoretical Grammar is a digest of the principles common to all languages. Practical Grammar is a digest of the principles of a particular language. 3. Languages is a medium for the communication of thought. Language is divided into Spoken and Written. Spoken language is the utterance of significant sounds to express thought. Written language is a system of characters or letters to represent spoken language. What is grammar? What is science? What is art? On what are rules of art based? How is grammar divided? What is theoretical grammar? What is practical gramnar? What is language? How is language divided? What is spoken language? What is written language? 1. Grammar, [Gr. grammatike;] The collected principles of a language. 2. Science, [L. scientia;] A systematic knowledge of principles. 3. Theoretical, [Gr. theoretikos ;] Pertaining to theory; speculative. 4. Digest, [L. digestus;] Put in order; reduced to method; having due arrangement of parts; a system; a code. 5. Language, [L. lingua;] Any method of expressing thought. NOTE. Let the pupil examine the roots of these words in some Etymology (which he should study); as, Lynd's, Town's, or Mc Elligott's. A DIGEST OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR. 1. ENGLISH GRAMMAR is the art of speaking and writing the English language correctly. 2. It is commonly divided into four parts :-Orthography, Etymology, Syntax, and Prosody. The first two treat of the formation of words. PART I. ORTHOGRAPHY. 3. ORTHOGRAPHY' signifies writing words correctly. It treats of phonetics, letters, syllables, words, and spelling. PHONETICS. 4. Phonetics treats of the elementary sounds of the human voice. What is English Grammar? How is it commonly divided? Of what do the first two treat? The last two? What does orthography signify? Of what does it treat? Of what does phonetics treat? 1. Orthography, [Gr. orthographia;] The correct writing of words by their proper letters. 2. Phonetics, [Gr. phone ;] The doctrine or science of vocal sounds. PHONETICS-ELEMENTARY SOUNDS. 11 Voice is an audible sound uttered by the mouth. Speech is the faculty of uttering articulate sounds. 5. The organs employed in uttering sounds, are of three classes : RESPIRATORY, VOCAL, AND ARTICULATING. The Respiratory organs are the lungs and trachea. The Vocal organs are the larynx, glottis, and epiglottis. The Articulating organs are the palate, tongue, teeth, lips, and nostrils. The last five are usually called the organs of speech. 6. In speaking, the rush of air over the vocal cords of the larynx, sets them in motion, by which sound is produced. This sound is then articulated into speech. ELEMENTARY SOUNDS. 7. An elementary sound is a simple oral sound; as, e, o; b, k. The English language contains forty-one separate* sounds. Several of these are two sounds closely blended in one; as, a, i, u, oi, ou. CLASSIFICATION. 8. Elementary sounds are of three classes: Vocals, Sub-vocals, and Aspirates. Vocals consist of pure voice only; as, a, e, o. Sub-vocals consist of voice and breath united; as, b, d, g. What is voice? What is speech? Of how many classes are the oral organs! Which are the respiratory organs? The vocal? The articulating? What are the last five called? In speaking, how is sound produced? How is this sound then treated? What is an elementary sound? How many are there? What are several of these? Of how many classes are elementary sounds? Of what do vocals consist? Sub-vocals? * That is, sounds which are separated in analyzing words into their elements. Some do not analyze uoi, as in quoit (kwoit). Others analyzo wh, as in when, and oi, as in vil Aspirates consist of pure breath only; as, ƒ, h, k. 9. There are 16 vocals, 15 sub-vocals, and 10 aspirates. 10. Cognate sounds are those formed by the same organs; as, b, p; d, t. 11. Liquids are sounds that smoothly flow or unite with other sounds; as, l, r. 12. Nasals are sounds emitted through the nose; as, mang ngo EXERCISE.* 13. Utter the word day, day, twice; and then the element a, a, twice. Let the pupil utter other words, and finally, every element in each word. MODEL. 14. Ale, ale, a, a; bay, bay, a, a; day, day, a, a; ray, ray, a, a. Ask, ask, a, a; are, are, a, a; cup, cup, p, p; not, not, t, t; hot, hot, t, t; tret, tret, t, t. What are aspirates? How many of each class? What are cognates? Liquids? Nasals? How are the exercises to be uttered? *NOTE.-From § 13 to § 21, is intended as a system of vocal exercises. Let the Chart be placed on the black-board, and practiced on as a separate and daily exercise. From § 31 to § 52, is designed as an exercise in derivation, spelling, and orthographic analysis. Let it be used a short time instead of the Spelling-book, and studied by the pupil until thoroughly committed. If this course be pursued, these exercises will be found not only simple, but highly interesting and useful. This will leave less than seven pages to be studied as regular lessons in grammar, in Part I. 16. The first nine Aspirates have their cognate (10)-sub-vocals arranged opposite them. H has no cognate. The name of a letter is that by which it is called: the power is the sound it has in forming a word: the element is this sound uttered alone. The long sound of u is cu, as in tune, new; and the name sound is yu, as in use (yuse). L and R are liquids. M N, N G, are nasals. The Number of elements is 41 EXAMPLES. 17. These examples contain the different letters and union of letters, which represent the long sound of a, the Italian sound, and so of other sounds. How many sounds has a? What are they? Utter the elements. Give examples. Do the same with all the vocals. With the sub-vocals. With the aspirates. How many aspirates have cognates? Which are they? What is said of H? What is the name of a letter? Its power? The element? What is the long sound of u? The name sound? Which letters are liquids? Which nasals? How many elements ? |