AND PRONUNCIATION. . 



Distinctness of expression will depend on the force of 

 utterance, combined with a proper elevation of the 

 voice, and moderation in the speed of pronouncing. The 

 voice resembles a musical instrument, the key-note of 

 which may be altered according to the inclination of the 

 speaker. A tune may be played in a high key, although 

 the volume of sound may be small : a tune may also be 

 played in a low key, while the volume of sound is large. 

 Just so it is with the voice ; the strength of sound does 

 not depend on the key of the voice, but on the force of 

 the expulsion of the breath. A speaker should there- 

 fore be particularly careful to adapt his voice to the size 

 of the room in which he is speaking, and not to give it 

 either too great a degree of elevation or depression, which 

 would cause it to be wearisome and painful to himself 

 and his auditors. 



Due moderation in the rate of utterance is also of the 

 utmost consequence in regard to the distinctness of de- 

 livery. Although a monotonous drawl is of all things 

 most disagreeable, yet speakers in general err in being 

 too rapid in their delivery rather than in being too slow. 



Some persons, from a defect in the vocal organs, are 

 unable to articulate distinctly, but the number of these 

 is few ; indistinctness of utterance being more gene- 

 rally occasioned through early neglect. The chief im- 

 pediment to articulation is stuttering. This is a most 

 disagreeable habit, and difficult to cure, although in 

 most instances a cure might be effected by care on the 

 part of the stutterer. When a hesitation occurs, the 

 speaker should stop entirely, and again commence a new 

 effort. He should use the greatest degree of delibera- 

 tion in ordinary discourse ; and should inspire himself 

 with confidence and self-command, for stuttering very 

 generally proceeds from nervous irritability. He 

 should also practise for a considerable time the vowel 

 sounds, and then the different powers of the consonants, 

 both singly, and in combination with the vowels ; thus, 

 by attention and resolute determination to overcome the 

 habit, he will most probably succeed. 



Another preventive to articulation is a habit of lisp- 

 ing, sometimes acquired through affectation. The lisper 



