ENGLISH PHONOLOGY. 395 



is immediately recognized by his speech, just as a Londoner in New 

 York betrays his nativity by the first sentence which he utters. The 

 facts under this heading are not fully within the limits of science, as 

 they have not been classified by any definite laws, but they are suffi- 

 ciently understood to afford some general grounds for comparison. 



Emphasis is the stress laid upon particular words in a sentence, 

 and it is to phrases what syllabic accent is to words. Englishmen 

 excel in emphasis in common conversation, but they are less successful 

 in its use in public speaking, whereas Americans seem to require the 

 stimulas of public occasions for effectual delivery. The shifting of 

 the emphasis from one word to another alters the entire meaning of 

 sentences, and it has been even claimed by some that all who conceive 

 a like meaning must make a like use of emphasis. This is a mistake, 

 however, and the writer has convinced himself that there are actual 

 differences in the employment of emphasis between Englishmen and 

 Americans, but to discuss it would involve the natural rhythmical 

 division of sentences — the laws of poise of voice and other lengthy 

 subjects. 



The rising, falling, and circumflex inflections express interrogation, 

 affirmation, denial, and many shades of meaning and of feeling, and 

 they always have a wider range when the emotions are deeply stirred. 

 Englishmen use more inflections than Americans, and both in conver- 

 sation and in sustained oratorical efforts they resort more constantly 

 to the rising inflection. Even the most careless listener w^ill be 

 impressed with this fact. Their voice is modulated from the middle 

 to the upper register very frequently, the conversational pitch is 

 higher, and the grave monotone so common in this country is seldom 

 to be heard. 



The emotional modulations in different keys are more common in 

 English conversation, and little children with plaintive appeals in 

 minor keys, and also in their exultant moods most effectually express 

 feeling by vocal modulation. 



Finally, there is a physiological difference between Americans and 

 Englishmen in the organs of speech due to changed climatic and other 

 physical conditions of life. That the inherent quality of voice which 

 characterizes different nationalities is due in part to differences of 

 telluric and meteorological influences as well as to diversity of race 

 and language can not be doubted. Instructors in vocal music know 

 the various foreign voices and the effects of locality and climate in 

 this regard. Vocal timbre, then, is a fundamental quality of voice dis- 

 tinct from syllabic accent, oral adjustments, emphasis, or inflections, 

 and it is dependent in part on the individual's physical environment. 



The English timbre of voice is generally harder and clearer than 

 the American. It has been said that throat-troubles and pharyngeal 

 relaxation are more common in this country, but reliable data are 

 wanting to prove this The nasal tone so common in the United States 



