1810.] 
us by Cicero, in his Disquisition on 
‘Sounds. sang igo anit 
Aithough the ‘accent and quantity of 
words, with the genuine import of simple 
and complex articulation, should occupy 
a very considerable share Of the student’s 
regard, the acquirement of these different 
combinations, forms a distinct part of 
pronunciation; for it is possible to pos- 
sess acorrect idea of the proper force 
and accent of each individual character, 
separately, or independent of each other, 
without the capability of displaying, with 
~ Just emphasis and discretion, the relative 
situations of words, arranged in ‘due 
order, forming discourse. In conformity, 
therefore, with this position, a general 
survey of articulate voices, will serve as 
2 substructure to the theory of inflexion. 
Audible voice is produced by a set of 
muscles 
cavity at the top of the trachea, or 
wind-pipe, called the-larynx, while the 
air is passing through the glottis. » When 
the recurrent nerve, on one side of the 
larynx is cut, the voice becomes remark- 
ably weaker; when both are cnt, it is 
entirely and irrecoverably lost.¥ Arti- 
culationis either a definite, or indefinite, 
quality of sound, modified by the palate, 
teeth, lips, nostrils, and cavities of them. 
When the common current of breath, is 
urged more forcibly through these vari- 
Ous apertures of articitlation, without 
much affecting the larynx, we have an 
instance of the indefinite sound, known 
by the name of the whisper. What is, 
termed hoarseness of voice, proceeds 
from various causes, foreign ‘to the pre- 
sent purpose. It may not, however, be 
unnecessary for the student to know, that * 
anatomists state, when the larynx. is 
injured, the air though the cartilages 
acted by the muscles, passes throu¢h the 
wind-pipe, without yielding the ordinary 
sound. In audible voice, then, the air, 
while passing froin the Jungs to the mouth, © 
must affect the larynx. We may have 
an opportunity of further deducing, by 
experiment, that, from the peculiar na- 
ture of the constituent parts of the larynx 
and its arifice, the whole diversity of 
sound, may be distinetly heard, though 
the mouth be shut; and from this. may 
be easily conceived, that, as the soundt 
and tonet of the voice depend upon the 
diameter-of the glottis vera, or orifice of 
the elotris, with the tension of its liga- 
lias 6 stnteeenenenineariaeeemetnentinmetiieie een ieieeneneeae 
i * Whytr : 
t Sound as to high and low. 
t lene as to quality, whether natural or 
feigned. 
acting on .the cartilaginous — 
> b D> 
Essay on the Theory of Inflexion, 39 
ments, and not upon the different form- 
“ations of the mouth—the whole diversity 
of articulation may be accomplished in 
any one note of a diatonic or chromatic 
scale of music. This idea appears to 
agree with that melodious arrangement 
of sound called singing; for the leaps, et 
intervals of sound, may be heard, un- 
derstood, and compared, with any note 
of the same measurable gamut or scale, 
after the articulation shall have ceased, 
If we extend the subject to the speaking 
voice of man, we shall be led to suppose, 
that it 1s formed of 6uch minute and eva- 
nescent variations and inflexiens of sound, 
as could not possibly be represented by 
any scale of notes, or formula, hitherto 
invented. ‘To this definition of vocal 
sounds, the student will further ebserve, 
that musical notes are not susceptive of 
the slightest elevation or depression of 
sound; thus, each note, however com- 
prehensive: as to time, is. of the same 
quality fromthe beginning to the end; 
-but speaking sounds are pf very short du- 
ration; they» are §* emitted. with ease 
through the glottis, at the pronunciation 
of: every distinct syHable, frequentiy 
shiftmmg at once, or gliding in-a wave-like 
manner, through small”: but not ‘im. 
-measurable intervals ;; and now and ther 
Jeaping from one nausical note .to ano- 
ther, considerably distant; but in all 
cases articulated by the affluent breath, 
as it is differently affected by the organs 
of the mouth.” 
In this essay, we have already had oc. 
casion to speak of certain sounds, which, 
in their general sense, indicate the conti- 
nuation or completion of a thought or 
proposition; but as these sounds, im 
their fullest meaning, are discernible ia 
-a single word of four or five. syllables, 
with a little method, the student may be 
-readily furnished with a more determi- 
nate ideaof their more essential parts. 
In order, therefore, to acquire a clearer 
‘conception. of these distinctions, we 
must select an appropriate. word, and 
then mark the change of sound produced 
by the “ accentuation.” . A little atten- 
tion, while pronouncing the word, placed 
at the close of the last period, within the 
signs of the quotation, will show the dis- 
tinction required, As it is. perfectiv 
easy, in this instance, to discover, th:t 
the voice signifies incompletion on the 
three first syllables of the word descri- 
} bial cia 
bed, viz. € accentu-” soit will not be 
difficult to perceive, that the terminating 
gound of tle same word, signifying com- 
Pin pletion, 
— 
