378 



THE POPULAE EDUCATOR. 



BEADING AND ELOCUTION. XII. 



ANALYSIS OF THE VOICE (continued). 



VIII. CORRECT INFLECTIONS. 



". INFLECTION " in elocution signifies an up ward or downward 

 " slide " of voice, from the average, or level, of a sentence. 



There are two simple "inflections" or "slides," the upward, 

 or " rising," and the downward or " falling." The former is 

 usually marked by the acute accent ['] ; the latter, by the grave 

 accent [ v ]. 



The union of these two inflections, on the same syllable, is 

 called the " circumflex," or wave. When the circumflex com- 

 mences with the falling inflection, and ends with the rising, it 

 is called the "rising circumflex," marked thus [ ]; when 

 it begins with the rising, and ends with the falling, it is called 

 the "falling circumflex," marked thus [*]. 



When the tone of the voice has no upward or downward 

 slide, but keeps comparatively level, it ia called the " mono- 

 tone," marked thus [ - 1. 



Examples. Rising Inflection. 



" Intensive," or high, upward slide, as in the tone of 

 surprise : 



Ha ! Is it possible ! 



In the usual tone of a question, that may be answered by 

 Yes or No : 



Is it really so ? 



" Moderate " rising inflection, as at the end of a clause which 

 leaves the sense dependent on what follows it : 



If we are sincerely desirous of advancing in knowledge, we shall not 

 lie sparing of exertion. 



The "slight" rising inflection marked thus [" ], is used 

 when the voice is suddenly and unexpectedly interrupted : 

 When the visitor entered the room * * * * 



The last-mentioned inflection may, for distinction's sake, be 

 marked as above, to indicate the absence of any positive up- 

 ward or downward slide, and, at the same time, to distinguish 

 it from the intentional and prolonged level of the " monotone." 



Falling Inflection. 



" Intensive," or bold and low downward slide, as in the tone 

 of anger and scorn : 



DOWN, ruthless insulter ! 



The " full " falling inflection, as in the cadence at a period : 



All his efforts were in vain. 



The " moderate " falling inflection, as at the end of a clause 

 which forms complete sense : 



Do not presume on wealth ; it may be swept from you in a moment. 



The horses were harnessed ; the carriages were driven up to the 

 door ; the party were seated : and, in a few moments, the mansion was 

 left to its former silence and solitude. 



The "suspensive," or slight falling inflection, marked thus 

 [ ], as in the members of a " series," or sequence of words 

 and clauses, in the same syntactical connection : 



The force, the size, the weight of the ship, bore the schooner down 

 below the waves. 



The irresistible force, the vast size, the prodigious weight of the 

 ship, rendered the destruction of the schooner inevitable. 



The " suspensive " downward slide is marked as above, to 

 distinguish it from the deeper inflection at the end of a clause, 

 or of a sentence. 



TABLE OF CONTRASTED INFLECTIONS. 



The Rising followed by the Falling. 

 Will you go, or stay ? 

 Will you ride, or walk ? 

 Did he travel for health, or for pleasure ? 

 Does he pronounce correctly, or incorrectly ? 

 Is it the rising, or the falling inflection ? 



The 'Falling followed by the Rising. 

 1 would rather go than stay. 

 I would rather walk than ride. 

 He travelled for health, not pleasure. 

 He pronounces correctly, not incorrectly. 

 It is the falling, not the rising inflection. 



Examples of Circumflex. 



Tone of Mockery. I've caught you, then, at last ! 

 Irony. Courageous chief ! the first in flight from pain ! 

 Punning. And though heavy to weigh, as a score of fat sheep, 

 He was not, by any means, heavy to sleep. 



Example of Monotone. Awe and Horror. 

 I could a tale unfold whose lightest word 

 Would harrow up thy soul, freeze thy young blood, 

 Make thy two eyes, like stars, start from their spheres, 

 Thy knotted and combined locks to part, 

 And each particular hair to stand on end, 

 Like quills upon the fretful porcupine. 



Rules on the Rising Inflection. 



Rule 1. The " intensive " or high rising inflection expresses 

 surprise and wonder, as : 



Ha ! laugh' st thou, Lochiel, my vision to scorn ? 



Rule 2. The "moderate" rising inflection takes place where 

 the sense is incomplete, and depends on something wliich 

 follows : 



As we cannot discern the shadow moving along the dial-plate, so we 

 cannot always trace our progress in knowledge. 



Note. Words and phrases of address, as they are merely 

 introductory expressions, take the " moderate rising inflection," 

 as : 



Friends, I come not hers to talk. 



Sir, I deny that the assertion is correct. 



Soldiers, you fight for home and liberty ! 



Exception. In emphatic and in lengthened phrases of address 

 the falling inflection takes place, as : 



On ! ye brave, who rush to glory or the grave ! 



Soldiers ! if my standard falls, look for the plume upon your Icing's 

 helmet!* 



My friends, my followers, and my children ! the field we have 

 entered, is one from which there is no retreat. 



Gentlemen and knights commoners and soldiers, Edward the 

 Fourth upon his throne will not profit by a victory more than you. 



Rule 3. The "suspensive," or slight rising inflection, occurs 

 when expression is suddenly broken oif, as in the following 

 passage in dialogue : 



Poof. The poisoning daine 

 Friend. You mean 

 P. I don't. 

 F. You do. 



Note. This inflection, prolonged, is used in the appropriate 

 tone of reading verse, or of poetic prose, when not emphatic, 

 instead of a distinct rising or falling inflection, which would 

 have the ordinary effect of prosaic utterance, or would divest 

 the expression of all its beauty. 



Examples. 



Here waters, woods, and winds in concert join. 

 And flocks, woods, streams around, repose and peace impart. 

 The wild brook babbling down the mountain's side ; 

 The lowing herd ; the sheepfold's simple bell ; 

 The pipe of early shepherd, dim descried 

 In the lone valley ; echoing far and wide, 

 The clamorous horn, along the cliffs above; 

 The hollow murmur of the ocean tide ; 

 The hum of bees, the linnet's lay of 16ve,f 

 And the full choir that wakes the universal grove. 

 White houses peep through the trees ; cattle stand cooling in tho 

 pool ; the casement of the farm-house is covered with jessamine and 

 honeysuckle ; t the stately greenhouse exhales the perfume of summer 

 climates. 



Rule 4. A question which may be answered by Yes or No, 

 usually ends with the rising inflection, as : 

 Do you see yon cloud ? 



Exception. Emphasis, as in the tone of impatience, of extreme 

 earnestness, or of remonstrance, may, in such cases as the abov.e, 

 take the falling inflection, as : 



* Shouting tone. 



t The penultimate inflection of a sentence, or a stanza, usually rises, 

 so as to prepare for an easy cadence. 



