A SHORT TREATISE ON THE ENGLISH TONGUE.
A SHORT TREATISE ON THE ENGLISH TONGUE.
Being an Attempt to render the Reading and Pronunciation OF THE SAME More EASY to FOREIGNERS.
LONDON: Printed for R. HORSFIELD in Ludgate Street, and I. ALLIX in Glanville Street, Rathbone Place.
MDCCLXVII.
INTRODUCTION.
IT is generally allowed, that the most easy method of attaining any living language is to associate and converse with those who speak it. Nevertheless, when a foreigner has by this means so far acquired the English tongue, that he shall be able to speak it, and understand it when spoken, tolerably well, he will yet find himself greatly at a loss, when he attempts to read: because the manner of expressing sounds by letters in his own language is so very different from ours, that many English words, which he is well acquainted with by ear, will not appear to him to be the same when he sees them in writing.—For not only various sounds are expressed in the English language by the same vowels; but also, in many particular words, a kind of arbitrary pronunciation is used, which cannot easily be reduced to rule, and is therefore most commonly taught merely by ear, or imitation.
This latter difficulty, I am afraid, cannot be removed; but, I think, it may be relieved in some degree, by separating all such words from those which are capable of being taught by rule. This I have attempted, and have accordingly collected all, or the greatest part of such kind of words, under their proper heads, as exceptions to the several rules given in the following pages, together with a short explanation of their sound.—By this means a learner may have his task before him, and may easily refer to any particular word, as he shall have occasion; which will greatly relieve his memory.
I have not taken notice of all the derivatives and compounds which properly belong to the several exceptions, but for the most part of primitive words only, for the sake of brevity; which I hope will be thought sufficient, the others being naturally comprehended therein. Many words indeed are varied according to the different position of the accent, which not only shortens the articulation of the succeeding syllables, but in some words causes them to be so indistinctly pronounced, that it is sometimes difficult to determine what vowels are sounded therein: yet if the learner is but careful to give the accented syllable its proper pronunciation according to the following rules, he will naturally fall into the customary utterance of the other syllables, which, as they are pronounced quick, need not be studied so particularly.
The rules treat only of the general power of the vowels and diphthongs, because in these consist the most material differences between the English pronunciation and that of foreigners; but I have added thereto, by way of appendix, a short treatise (drawn up and communicated by a friend) for the explanation of such particularities also of the other letters as are peculiar to the English tongue.
All which together (I flatter myself) will be sufficient to enable a foreigner to read and pronounce any English words with ease and certainty, when the syllables of the same are properly divided according to the learned Dr. Lowth's excellent rule for spelling, given in the 7th page of his English grammar, viz.
The best and
only sure rule
for dividing the syllables in spelling, is to divide them as they are naturally divided in a right pronunciation; without regard to the derivation of words, or the possible combination of consonants at the beginning of a syllable.
Mr. John Gignoux likewise particularly recommends and explains this method, in the preface to his spelling-book, intituled,
The Child's best Instructor in Spelling and Reading.
A title which it seems well to deserve, on account of the division of the several syllables according to the manner above-mentioned, by which it is rendered (in my opinion at least) the most useful book of the sort that has hitherto been published.
I must however observe, that the author, in his
Table of Words written very different from their Pronunciation,
at page 82, has too much followed the common London pronunciation; which, tho' perhaps in general the best, yet has some very exceptionable particularities. Among which are,
Potticary
for Apothecary,
Athist
for Atheist,
Awkurd
for Aukward,
Riccolas
for Auricolas,
Belcony
for Balcony,
Carrin
for Carrion,
Sirket
for Circuit,
Crowner
for Coroner,
Gorjus
for Gorgeous,
Hankerchur
for
Handkerchief, I'urn
for Iron,
Ilan
for Island,
Spanel
for Spaniel,
Stummuch
for Stomach,
Sound
for Swoon,
Thusty
for Thirsty,
Vawt
for Vault,
Venzun
for Venison,
Verdit
for Verdict, &c.
Also in page 57 he signifies that the terminations
-tial, -cial, -cian, -tious, -cious, -tient,
and
cient,
make each of them
but one sound or syllable.
But however common such pronunciation may be, it ought not by any means to be taught, or laid down as a rule; because the English language loses much of its elegance, when it is expressed in so careless a manner, that any of the above-mentioned terminations shall seem but one syllable.
The
i
in all these terminations has the sound of the English
e;
and though it is pronounced quick, yet it ought to be distinctly expressed, as in
Parti-al, Soci-al, Greci-an, Capti-ous, Graci-ous, Quoti-ent, Anci-ent,
&c. There fore I hope that the author, in his next edition of that useful book, will make some alteration in his explanation of these particulars.
Others, besides Mr. Gignoux, have been misled by the indistinct manner in which some particular syllables are sometimes uttered even by good speakers. Mr. James Buchanan in particular has given himself much unnecessary trouble, and has carried his refinements a great deal too far concerning syllables of this kind, which, in quick pronunciation, have seemed to him to partake of an articulation different from the real spelling. This has, unfortunately, not only added great difficulty to his
An Essay towards establishing a Standard for an elegant and uniform Pronunciation of the English Language, as practised by the most learned and polite Speakers.
performance, but rendered it almost incapable of answering the good purposes intended by it. For he has frequently substituted an imaginary articulation of one vowel for the inarticulation, or rather the short and indistinct sound, of another; not considering that the expressing of an accented syllable in many particular words does almost unavoidably cause the succeeding syllable or syllables to be so indistinctly pronounced, that it is sometimes difficult to determine what vowels are sounded therein, as I have before observed.
But when words are so pronounced, that instead of the short or indistinct sound of one vowel, a manifest articulation of another different vowel may be distinguished; it then becomes a fault in speech, which (howsoever common it may be) ought by no means to be imitated, much less taught; because the generality of people are naturally too liable of themselves to acquire it, without being led thereto by written instructions.
The following examples taken from Mr. Buchanan's book will illustrate what has been said; viz. He has substituted -ĭl for the terminations -al, -ial, and -el, as
Năivĭl, Neutrĭl, Kŏmĭk
l, Joodeĕshĭl, Spĕshĭl, Quărĭl,
&c. for Naval, Neutral, Comical, Judicial, Special, Quarrel, &c.
Mr. Peyton's
"New Vocabulary or Grammar of the true pronunciation of the English"
is not less liable to censure, for the same words are there rendered Nai-vel, Ni
u
trel, djŏu-dĭ-chiel, Spe-chiel, Couâr-ril, &c.
-in
for -an, as
Heumin, Orgĭn,
&c. for Human, Organ, &c.
-ĭnss
for -ance and -ence; and
-ĭnt
for -ant and -ent, as
Abundinss, Rĕvĕrinss, Contentmĭnt, Commandmint,
&c. instead of Abundance, Reverence, Contentment, Commandment, &c.
-fŏol
for -ful as
Faithfoŏl,
&c.
iss
for ess, as
Heedlĭss, Hăppĭnĭss,
and a great abundance of such other syllables, equally distant from the true pronunciation.
As I have no other motive for giving my opinion so freely concerning this gentleman's performance, than the desire of removing all unnecessary difficulty from the learning of English, I hope he will excuse me; even though my remarks should not have sufficient weight to convince him.
He may likewise assure himself, that, though I think an uniformity of pronunciation throughout the British dominions is more to be wished than hoped for; yet I should have as much real satisfaction as himself in the completion of that
"great moral end,"
which (as he supposes in his preface) would be promoted thereby, viz. the removal of
national prejudice;
an effect equally to be desired by all lovers of their country, whether South or North Britons!
It would be much to the advantage of all those who learn the English tongue, if the syllables in all future editions of English dictionaries were divided according to the
A very useful little dictionary on this plan was printed in 1764, for J. Nourse and S. Hooper in the Strand, intituled, "the Complete English Spelling Dictionary upon an entire new Plan;" the author, Mr. J. Carter.
method recommended by Dr. Lowth and Mr. Gignoux before mentioned: and likewise if the words, which are not properly English, were distinguished by an asterisk, or some other particular mark placed before them; that foreigners may not conceive our language to be unnecessarily copious and difficult.
The coining of new words from other languages to express any thing, which might as concisely and elegantly be explained in proper English words, is a kind of pedantry, which all writers should endeavour to avoid: unless we be allowed to except those who treat of natural philosophy, medicine, surgery, or such other subjects as are supposed to be read by none but those who are acquainted with other languages, or at least have some knowledge of the Latin tongue. For it ought to be the study of every writer to make his meaning as plain and intelligible in the proper language in which he writes, as he possibly can. Yet so many of our most eminent writers have occasionally been guilty of the fault above mentioned, that the ingenious Mr. Johnson has thought himself obliged to insert a great abundance of such coined words into his excellent English dictionary; and the reverend Mr. Entick likewise into his very useful new pocket dictionary. But I cannot suppose that such kind of words were admitted by these gentlemen as proper English words; but merely that they might explain them to English readers; who without the knowledge of other languages cannot otherwise possibly understand them: which is a sufficient proof that they are not at all intitled to the name of English words.
For how should an English reader (I mean a reader merely of English) be supposed to understand that
Ablepsy
signifies blindness?
Acetosity
sourness?
Anhelation
panting?
Arcanum
a secret?
Obesity
fatness?
Papilio
a butterfly?
Neoterick,
modern?
Paranymph
a bride-man?
Rugose
wrinkled?
Squalor
nastiness?
Terreous
earthy?
Tenebricose
dark;
Tripudiation
dancing?
Tumefy
to swell?
Turm
a troop? and a thousand other such words, which are found in both dictionaries?
It is much to be wished that all such new coined words, which have only been used by a few authors, were distinguished by some mark from the common and proper English words (as I have hinted above) in all future editions of these useful dictionaries: lest so many uncouth and pedantick expressions should be adopted into the English tongue by dictionary authority. Because when a person sees them ranged with other words in an English dictionary, he may be induced to make use of them as proper English words in his writing and discourse, which would, at first, cause no small impediment to the understanding of his ordinary readers and hearers.
The accents used in these dictionaries are particularly useful for keeping up an uniformity in pronunciation; and it would be well if the double accents were also added to some particular words, as in Mr. Gignoux's spelling book for the purpose mentioned in page 7 of his preface, viz. To denote, that
the consonant that begins the next syllable must be also sounded at the end of the syllable where the double accent is; as a″-tóne-ment; man″-gle; in-tan″-gle; which words must be sounded as if written at-tone-ment; mang-gle; intang-gle;
so in con″-quer-or; con″-cu-bine; &c.
The same would also be particularly useful in words, wherein g and c are softened by the vowels e and i following them in the next syllable as in neg-lig″-ent; vo-rac″ity, &c.
In my search for such words as are independent of the following rules, I made use of the Rev. Mr. Entick's new spelling dictionary; and though I examined the same so carefully, that I believe I have not made many omissions, yet the whole number of particular exceptions (exclusive of their compounds and derivatives) amount to no more than
There are indeed 54 foreign words besides; (see page 15) which are not included in this number, because, as they still retain their original pronunciation (or nearly so) they cannot properly be accounted exceptions to English rules.
340—which number bears a very small proportion to the number of words in that dictionary; which I compute to be upwards of 23,000. This, I think, ought to prove that the English pronunciation is not so very irregular as it is generally thought to be; which a careful examination of the following pages will more particularly shew.
A SHORT TREATISE ON THE ENGLISH TONGUE.
THE English vowels, a, e, i, o and u, have each of them
The vowels may indeed be said to have more sounds than 2, because a different pronunciation from the 2 sounds here spoken of, is given to each of the vowels in a few particular cases, which are hereafter noted; but at present I am only speaking of their general power.
2
sounds,
commonly called
long
and
short.
The sounds of the three first vowels a, e, and i, when long, seem to be peculiar at present to this nation, wherefore they may properly be called the English sounds.
And the short sounds of these three vowels may, for the sake of distinction, be called the foreign sounds; because they are uttered with scarcely any difference (except that a and i, are pronounced short) from the French articulation of the same vowels; which shall be more fully explained by
See the examples to the 2d rule.
examples hereafter.
I think it necessary to observe in this place that the English sound of the following vowels, diphthongs and terminations cannot easily be expressed in foreign letters, and should therefore be learned by ear, viz.
i long
There are 2 ways of sounding the long i and y (though both long) the one a little different from the other, and requiring a little more extension of the mouth, as may be seen by comparing the following words, viz. I and Aye, High and High-ho; By't (or by it) and Bite; Sigh'd and Side; Strive and Strife, &c. but this difference being so nice, is not to be attained but by much practice, neither is it very material.
, as in Bi-ble, Mi-tre, Nitre, Pirate, &c.
o and u short, before a consonant in the same syllable as in Odd, Nod, Lord, &c. and in Mud, Strut, Stun, Urn, &c.
oi and oy, which have both the same sound, as in Oil, Boil, Coil, Boy, Coy, Hoy, &c.
ou and ow (not like the French ou, in the pronunciation of which the lips are almost closed, but) with an open articulation as in Pound, Our, Gown, Pow-er, &c.
Also the following Terminations, viz.
-ire
-tion
-cious
-tious
as in Dire, Fire, Salvation, Delicious, Fictitious, &c.
The English (or long) sound is given to the vowels a, e,
Rule I.
and i (and the other vowels are also sounded long) when they are alone, or when there is not a consonant following them in the same syllable (also before silent e in the end of a word; see the 3d rule)
Examples
a like the French e in Bête, as in Ca-ble, Fa-ble, Sa-ble, &c.
e like the French i in Mille, as in Be, He, E-vil, Be-ver, Le-gal, &c.
i like the Greek
At quoties litera i longa est plerumque effertur ut Graecorum
. See Wallis's Grammatica Linguae Anglicanae.
or something like the French i long before n in
Divin, Prince, Enfin,
&c. as in Bi-ble; Di-al; Fi-nal; Gi-ant, &c.
o like the French o or au, as in Go; So; Lo-cal; Mo-ment, &c.
u like ew in Few, Pew, &c. as in Du-ty, Fu-ry, Hu-man, &c.
y (when a vowel) like the English i; as in the monosyllables Buy and Guy, (wherein u is mute) Dry, Fry, My, Dye, &c. in the dissyllables, Ally′, Com-ply′, De-ny′, De-scry′, De-fy′, Es-py′, Im-ply′, Re-ly′, and Re-ply′, which are accented on the ultimate syllable; and in all words compounded with the Latin word Fio; as Dé-ify, Magnify, Specify, Rarify, &c.
(Particular Exceptions concerning
a,
at the End of a Syllable)
Except, 1st,
a in
Wa-ter,
wherein it is commonly pronounced like the French
a,
or English diphthong
aw;
in
Fa-ther,
and the last syllable of
Pa-pa, Mam-ma,
wherein it has a medium sound between
aw
and the English a; and in
a-ny,
and
ma-ny,
wherein it sounds like a short
e.
(Particular Exceptions concerning
i
)
2dly,
i in
ac-qui-esce, Bi-er, Pi-er,
and
Tier,
wherein it sounds like the English
e.
(General Exceptions concerning
i
)
3dly,
i is pronounced short before another vowel in the termination of all words of more than 2 syllables, when it is not radical; as in
A′mĭ-able, De-mo-nĭ-ac′k, Ca′r-rĭ-age, So′-cĭ-al, Wi′l-lĭ-am, Sty′g-ĭ-an, Da′l-lĭ-ance, Va′l-ĭ-ant, Spăn-ĭ-ard, A′-pĭ-ary, So′-cĭ-ate, In-sid-ia′tor, Al-le-vĭ a′tion, Ma′r-rĭ-ed, A-lĭ-en, Co′n-scĭ-ence, Am′-bĭ-ent, Gla-zĭ-er, Spe′-cĭ-es, Se-rag″-lĭ-o, Ax′-i-om, Pos-te′-rĭ-or, Wa′r-rĭ-our, Con′-scĭ-ous, I′d-ĭ-ot, Pre′-mĭ-um,
&c. But in the proper names
Ma-r-i′a
and
So-ph-i′a,
when given to English women, it is pronounced according to rule. Also, in
A′ffi′-ance,
and the derivatives from the dissyllables ending in
y,
which are mentioned in the example: as
Al-li′-ance, Com-pli′-ance, De-ni′-al, De-fi′-ance,
and
Re-li′-ance,
wherein the
i
When
i
is substituted for
y
in the terminations of derivatives, it retains the sound of the
y
in the original word, whether long or short; therefore
i
in
Cā r-rĭ-er, Cā r-rĭ-ed,
and
Cā r-rĭes,
is short; and in
Al-lī -ance, De-nī -al, Dig-ni fī -ed, Im-plī es,
&c. is pronounced long like the
y
in the primitive words before specified.
retains the sound of the
y
in the original words, and is accented accordingly.
Particular Exceptions concerning o.
Except, 4thly,
o in
Do
(and its compounds)
To,
and
Who,
which is commonly pronounced like
oo;
though the latter
(Who)
is pronounced according to the rule in the northern parts of England.
5thly,
u, in the first syllable of
Cu-cumber,
which is commonly pronounced like the English
ou
hereafter explained.
General Exception concerning y.
6thly,
y, at the end of all words of two or more syllables (except those mentioned in the example) is pronounced like a short
i,
as in
Carry, Envy, Commissary,
&c. the accent being laid on one of the former syllables.
Of vowels in syllables ending with a consonant.
ule II.
The vowels are pronounced short in all syllables ending with a consonant (except in the particular cases hereafter noted) and the three first vowels have the foreign articulation, without any other material difference, except that of being pronounced short.
EXAMPLES.
a has a short articulation of the English
aw,
or rather of the Italian
a,
as in
Add, Bad, Lad, Mad,
&c.
e has exactly the sound of the
Italos
ego, uti nostros etiam recte eam (literam e) proferre censeo in vocibus, ascendo, ventus, &c. (Dr. Middleton, fol. 446.)
Italian or French
é,
as in
Bed, Fed, Led, Red,
&c.
i has a short articulation of the
I vocalis, quoties brevis est, sonatur plerumque (ut apud Gallos aliosque) exili sono, Wallis, fo. 47.
French
i,
or English
e,
as in
Bid, Did, Hid, Kid,
&c.
The short sound of the two other vowels (viz.
o
and
u
) must be acquired by ear, as I have before observed (see examples of these vowels in p. 3. of this treatĭse.)
Particular Exceptions concerning
a
before a consonant.
Except, 1st,
a in
A′n-gel, Bass, Ca′m-brick, Ca′m-bridge, Da′n-ger,
and
Ma′n-ger,
is commonly sounded like the French diphthong
ai;
in
han't
(for
have not) Ma′s-ter,
and
Pla′s-ter,
it has a medium sound between
aw
and the English
a;
and in
Hal-ser
(wherein
l
is mute)
False,
and
Palsy,
it is commonly pronounced like
aw.
General Exceptions concerning
a
before a consonant.
2dly,
a has the sound of
aw
likewise before
ld
and
lt,
as in
Bald, Cal-dron, Altar,
&c.; in all primitive monosyllables ending in
ll
(except
shall
and
Mall,
which are pronounced according to rule) as in
All, Gall, Fall,
&c.; and before
lk
(wherein
l
is mute) as
Balk, Stalk, Walk, Talk,
&c.: but before
lf, lm, lve,
and before
nd
in words derived from the Latin word
Mando,
it is sounded like the Italian
a,
only somewhat longer, as in
Half, Calm, Salve, Command, Demand,
&c.
Particular Exceptions concerning
c
before a consonant.
Except, 3dly,
e in
England, Pretty, Yes,
and
Yet,
wherein it is pronounced like a short ĭ, and in
Yellow
like a short ă.
General Exception concerning
e
before
s.
4thly,
e is pronounced long before
S
final in these cases is always pronounced like
z.
s
in the ultimate of plural nouns, and third persons singular of verbs when preceded by
c, s, z,
or
g,
as in
Fa′-ces, Ho′r-ses, As-si′-zes, Ra′-ges,
&c.; but in all other terminations with silent
e
(except in Latin words) the
es
may be sounded in the same syllable, as
Bride Brides, Ride Rides, Name Names,
&c.
Particular Exceptions concerning
i
before a consonant.
5thly,
i in
Blithe, Endict,
and
Indict
(wherein
c
is mute)
Mild, Pint,
and
Wild,
retains its English, or long sound; also in
Child
and
Christ,
but not in their Derivatives,
Children, Christen,
and
Christian.
General Exceptions concerning
i
before a consonant.
6thly,
i is likewise sounded long in all primitive words (and their compounds and derivatives) ending in
nd;
as
Bind, Rind, Wind,
&c.; though in
Wind,
the substantive, and its compounds, it is sometimes pronounced short.
It is also sounded long before
gh,
as in
High, Nigh, Light,
&c. in which
gh
is mute, having no other use than that of lengthening the
i.
It is long also before
gn
at the end of a word (and the
g
is mute) as in
Benign, Sign,
and its compounds
Consign, Design,
&c. and their Derivatives in
-er, -ed, -edly,
and
-ment,
but no others; for in
Re-sig-na-tion, Con-sig-na-tion, Sig-nif-i-ed,
&c. the
i
is short according to rule, and the
g
is pronounced.
General Exceptions concerning
o
before consonants.
Except, 7thly,
o in all words ending in
ld
and
lt,
as
Beho′ld, Bold, Cold, Bolt, Colt,
&c. and all their compounds and derivatives, retains its long sound.
Particular Exceptions of
o
before a consonant.
8thly,
o is also pronounced long in
Boll, Bolster, Comb
(wherein
b
is mute)
Control, Droll, Folk
(wherein
l
is mute)
Force, Fort, Ghost, Gross, Ho′lster, Host, Most, Only, Post, Poll, Pat-ro′ll, Port, Roll, Scroll, Sloth, Sport,
and
Sword
(wherein
w
is mute)
Stroll, Toll,
and
Troll,
and in their compounds, &c. But in
Compt
and its compounds,
Ac-compt,
&c. it sounds like the English diphthong
ou,
as if spelt
Count, Ac-count,
&c.
It has the sound of a short
u
In the dialects of Lancashire, and some other places, the
o
is pronounced according to rule, in many of these words.
in
Af-fro′nt, At-to′r-ney, Bomb, Bo′r-age, Bo′r-ough, Bro′th-er, Co′l-our, Co′m-fits, Co′m-fort, Co′m-pany, Co′m-pass, Co′n-duit, Co′n-ey, Co′n-sta-ble, Co′z-en, Co′v-e-nant, Co′v-er, Co′v-et, Co′v-ey, Dis-co′m-fit, Do′z-en, Go′v-ern, Ho′n-ey, Lo′n-don, Mo′n-day, Mon-ey, Monk, Mo″n-key, Mo″n-ger, Mo″n-grel, Mo′nth, Mo′th-er, On-ion, O′th-er, O′v-en, Po′m-mel, Po′th-er, Ro′m-age, Ront, Son, Sho′v-el, Slo′v-en, Smo′th-er, Ton, Tho′r-ough-ly, Won, Wo′n-der, Word, World, Work, Worm, Wor-sted, Worth, Wo′m-an
(in the singular only, the plural being pronounced as if spelt
Wimmen
)
Wo′r-ry, Wort, Wo′r-ship,
and their compounds, &c. except
Dis-co′v-er
and
Re-co′v-er,
which are pronounced according to rule.
It is most commonly sounded like
oo
in
Tomb
and
Womb
(wherein
b
is silent)
Lo-ser, Gold, Whom,
and
Whose
In the northern parts of England the words
Gold, Who, Whom,
and
whose,
are pronounced properly as they are spelt.
: and is mute in
Jeo′p-ar-dy, Leo′p-ard,
and
People,
which are pronounced as if written
Je′p-par-dy, Lep-pard,
and
Pee-ple.
Particular Exceptions of
u
before a consonant.
Except, 9thly,
u in
Bu-sy,
and its compounds, &c. which is commonly pronounced like a short
i,
and the
s
like
z.
Of Vowels in Syllables ending with silent
e.
Rule III.
But when
e
or
ue
follow a consonant in the same syllable, the preceding vowel retains its original open or long sound.
EXAMPLES.
Ace, Face, Rece′de, Dice, Vote, Con-fu′te, Vague, Vogue, Col-le′gue,
&c. Also,
Ad-vice, De-vi′ce, En-ti′ce, Suf-fi′ce, Sac-rif-i′ce, Ali′ve, Con-ni′ve, Con-tri′ve, De-pri′ve, Deri′ve, Re-vi′ve,
and
Sur-vi′ve,
which are accented on the last syllable.
The vowel
a
is sounded long even before
two consonants,
when they are followed by
e
in the same syllable (except before
-nce
) as ĭn
Ache, Haste, Waste, Change, Grange, Range,
&c. and their compounds and derivatives; but the other four vowels are sounded short in the like case, as in
Fringe, Revenge, Solve, Serve, Tinge, Sludge, Grudge,
&c.
Note,
That derivatives from words ending in
e
for the most part retain their original sound, even when the
e
is omitted, as
Sparing, -ed,
from
Spare; Wast-er, -ing, ed,
from
Waste; Rang-er, -ing, ed,
from
Range,
&c.
General Exception.
Except, 1st,
Words having the accent on the penultima or antepenultima: in all which the last syllable, being short, is pronounced as if the
e
and
ue
final were absent, as in
Ca′l-a-mine, Ca′th-er-ine, Ca′t-a-logue, De′c-a-logue, De-po′s-ite, De′s-tine, De-te′r-mine, Dis-fra′n-chise, Do′c-trine, E′n-gine, E′p-il-ogue, Ex-quis-ite, Gra′n-ite, Har-a′ngue, Fi′-nite,
and its compounds,
Ma′r-it-ime, Me′d-ic′-ine, Mi′n-ute
(not the adjective for
small
)
Mor-tise, Pe′d-a-gogue, Pra′c-tise
(verb)
Pro′l-ogue, Pro′m-ise, Sap″-phire, Syn′-a-gogue, Tre′a-tise,
and
U-rine.
Particular Exceptions.
2dly,
The following monosyllables are likewise exceptions to this rule, viz.
Dare
(the verb)
Give, Gone, Have, Live,
and
One
One
is pronounced as if spelt
Won.
; all which are pronounced as if
e
final was absent.
Except, 3dly,
There, Were,
and
Where,
which are commonly pronounced as if spelt with the diphthong
ai, Thair, Wair,
and
Whair;
but in all other words (except what are mentioned above) the vowels
a, e, i,
or
y,
when they come before
When a consonant comes before
re
and
le
final, the
e
is never sounded last, but always before the last consonant of the word, as in
A-cre, Mi-tre, humble,
&c. which are sounded
A-ker, Mi-ter, humbel,
&c.
-re
final, are sounded long according to the third rule, as in
Are, Care, Here, Mere, Desire, Fire, Lyre,
&c. as if spelt
Air, Cair, Heer, Meer, Desier,
&c.
Particular Exceptions concerning
i
in syllables ending with silent
e.
Except, 4thly,
i in
Writhe
and
O-blige,
wherein it is commonly sounded like
ee
(though in the northern parts of England the latter is sounded according to rule).
General Exceptions concerning
i
in syllables ending with silent
e.
5thly,
i in all adjectives of more than one syllable ending in
-ile,
and in all words (except those mentioned in the above example) ending in
ice
and
ive,
is pronounced short, as in
Se′r-vile, Ju′-ven-ile, Ca′p-rice, Ma′l-ice, En′-dive, Po′s-it-ive,
&c.
Particular Exceptions concerning
o
in syllables ending with silent
e.
6thly,
o in
A-bo′ve, Come, Co′me-ly, Done, Dove, Glove, Love, Po′re-blind, Some, Shove, Sponge, Tongue,
and
Worse,
wherein it is sounded like a short
u;
and in
Lose, Move, Prove,
and
Rome,
wherein it is commonly pronounced like
oo.
Of Proper Diphthongs.
Proper Diphthongs have sounds of their own, different from the long and short sounds of the English vowels.
Rule IV
au
aw
are pronounced like the French
a
in
Ame.
Examples.
Maul, Paul, Sprawl, Law, Saw
&c.
Particular Exceptions.
Except,
Auf
(more commonly spelt
Oaf
) and
Hautboy,
wherein
au
is pronounced like a long
o; Cauliflower,
where it is pronounced like a short
o;
and
Gauge,
wherein it is commonly sounded like the English
a
long.
Rule V.
oi
oy
The proper articulation of these diphthongs is that which is given them in the English words
Oil, Boil, Coy, Hoy,
&c.
(
See List of Vowels, Diphthongs,
&c.
which cannot be expressed in foreign Letters,
page 3.)
Except,
Tor-toise,
wherein
oi
is commonly sounded like short
u.
Rule VI
oo is pronounced like the French
ou
in
Bout.
Examp'
Boot, Broom, Loop, Moor, Poor,
&c.
Except,
Blood, Flood, Foot, Good, Hood, Stood, Soot, Wood,
and
Wool,
wherein
oo
is not pronounced so full, but partakes a little of the sound of a short
u.
Except also
Door
and
Floor
are pronounced by the vulgar in the northern parts of England as they are spelt; for they give the
oor,
in these words, the same sound that it has in
Boor, Moor, Poor,
&c.
Door
and
Floor,
wherein
oo
has the sound of
o
long.
Rule VII.
ou
ow
The proper pronunciation of these diphthongs is that which is given them in the English words
Bound, Found, Crown, Cow, Flow-er, Sow
(noun),
Coward,
&c. A more particular account of this sound is given in page 3.
Particular Exceptions concerning
ou.
Except, 1st,
ou in
Bou′ge, Bou′g-et
(commonly written
Budge
and
Budget) Bo′r-ough, Cou′n-try, Cou″-ple, Cou′r-age, Cou′s-in, Dou″-ble, Dou′b-let, Jou′r-nal, Jou′r-ney, Mounch, Nou′r-ish, Tho′r-ough-ly, Tho′r-ough-fare, Trou″-ble, Touch,
Ou
in
Scourge
is sometimes like
o
long.
Scourge, Shou′d, Cou′d,
and
Wou'd,
wherein it is pronounced like a short
u;
also in
Enough, Rough, Slough
(when it signifies the part which separates from a sore) and
Tough;
in all which the
gh
final sounds like
f;
but in
Cough, Lough
(or Lake) and
Trough,
it is pronounced like a short
o,
as if spelt
Coff, Loff,
and
Troff.
Except also in
Coul-ter, Course,
(and its compounds
Discourse,
&c.)
Court, Dough, Four, Fur-lough, Gourd, Mourn, Mould, Moult, Poult, Poul-try, Poul-terer, Poul-tice, Shoul-der, Soul, Though,
wherein
ou
is sounded like
o
long; and like
oo
in
Bouse, Ca-rouse, Gouge, Through,
and
Un-couth.
General Exceptions concerning
ou.
cept,
dly,
ou before
ght,
which has a medium sound between
aw
and
o
long, as in
Ought, Bought, Thought,
&c. and in the termination of words of more than one syllable, in
-our
and
-ous,
wherein it sounds like a short
u,
as in
Ho-nour, Sa-viour, Pi-ous, Righ-teous,
&c.
Particular Exceptions concerning
ow.
cept,
dly,
ow in
Bow
when it signifies a weapon, or segment of a circle; but in the word
Bow
it is pronounced according to rule; in
Bowl
(or
Bason,
not in
Bowl
the verb, nor its derivatives, &c.)
Blow, Crow, Flow, Flown
(from
Fly) Glow, Grow, Know, Low, Mow, Owe, Own, Prow, Prowl, Row, Sow
(the verb)
Show, Slow, Snow, Strow, Stow, Tow
(noun and verb)
Trow,
and
Throw,
and their derivatives, &c. wherein it sounds like
o
long.
General Exception concerning
ow.
Except, 4thly,
ow final in words of more than one syllable, which is sounded like a short
o,
the
w
being mute; as in
Ba′r-row, Be′llow, Fo′l-low,
&c. Three words are independent of this exception, viz.
Al-low,
wherein
ow
is pronounced according to the rule, and
Be-low
and
Bestow,
wherein it sounds like
o
long.
Note,
Many of the words contained in the above exceptions are pronounced in the broad dialects of the northern parts of England as they are spelt; that is,
ou
and
ow
are pronounced according to the VIIth rule, as in
Bound, Cow,
&c. viz.
Trough
(making
gh
silent)
Four, Mould, Moult, Poultry, Poultice, Shoulder, Bowl
(or
Bason) Glow, Grow, Mow, Owe, Own, Strow, Trow, Ought, Bought,
&c.
Of Improper Diphthongs.
Improper Diphthongs take the sound of but one of their vowels, the other being mute.
Rule VIII.
ai
ay
ey
are pronounced like the French
ai,
or English
a
long.
Examples.
Dainty, Bail, Gain, Day, May, Grey, Prey, Convey, Obey, Survey, Bey, Dey,
&c.
Particular Exceptions concerning
ai.
Except, 1st,
ai in
Vil-lain
and
Mur-rain,
and sometimes in
Said,
is pronounced like a short
e.
General Exception concerning
ai.
Except, 2dly,
ai when alone or at the end of a syllable, as in
A-chai-a,
and the Hebrew names
Ben-a′i-ah, Is-a′i-ah, Mi-cai-ah, Cai-a-phas,
&c: wherein it is pronounced like the Greek
or
English i
long.
Particular Exceptions concerning
ey.
Except, 3dly,
ey
in
Hey!
and
Hey-day!
wherein it is sounded like the English
i,
and in
Ceylon, Key,
and
Sey-mour,
wherein it is pronounced like the English
e
or French
i.
General Exception concerning
ey.
Except, 4thly,
ey at the end of words of more than one syllable (when the accent is placed on a former syllable, as in
A′l-ley, At-to′r-ney, B′ar-ley, Ga′l-ley, Ho′n-ey,
&c.) is pronounced like a short
i.
Rule IX.
ae
ea
ee
ei
ie
oe
are pronounced like the French
i
in
Fille,
or the English
e
long.
Examples.
Daemon
(or
Demon
)
Beat, Dear, Lead,
and
Read
(verbs)
Meet, Feet, Re-ceipt, De-ceit, De-ceive, Ceil-ing, Seign-iory, Seize, Shield, Re-prieve, Grief, Foetus, Sub-poena,
&c.
Particular Exceptions concerning
ea.
Except, 1st,
ea is pronounced like the French é in
Bread, Break-fast, Breast, Breath
(noun only)
Cleanly,
and
Cleanse
(not in
Clean
)
Dead, Deaf, Death, Dread, En-deav-our, Feather, Head, He′av-en, He′av-y, Je′al-ous, Le′av-en, Lead
(metal)
Le′ath-er, Me′asure, Mis-tea′ch, Pea′s-ant, Phe′as-ant, Plea′sant, Ple′as-ure, Pea′s-cod, Read-y, Realm, Read
(only in preter tense and participle passive)
Stead-y, In-stead, Spread, Sweat, Teat, Thread, Threat-en, Trea′ch-ery, Tread, Tre′as-ure, Wea′th-er, Wea′p-on, Wreak, Zea′l-ous, Zeal-ot
(not in
Zeal) Yeast,
and their compounds and derivatives not already excepted. But in
Bear
In the northern parts of
England, Break
and
Great
are pronounced according to rule.
,
Break, Great, Swear, Tear
(the verb)
Wear, Wheal,
and
Weal
(the mark of a stripe, but not in
Weal
for prosperity) it is commonly sounded like the French diphthong
ai;
and like a short
a
in
Hear-ken, Hearth,
and
Heart.
Except, 2dly,
General Exceptions concerning
ea.
But in all other words before
r,
when another consonant follows in the same syllable, it is sounded like
er
or
ir,
as in
Dearth, Earl, Earn, Ea′rn-est, Earl-y, Earth, Hearse, Heard, Learn,
&c.
ea before three consonants in the same syllable is pronounced like the French é, as in
Health, Breadth, Wealth,
&c.
Except, 3dly,
Particular Exceptions concerning
ee.
ee in
Breech
(noun and verb)
Breechings,
and
Breeches,
which are pronounced like a short
i.
Except, 4thly,
Particular Exceptions concerning
ei.
ei in
Sleight (Artifice)
in which it is pronounced like the long English
i;
but it is like a short
i
in
Fo′r-feit
and
Su′r-feit;
like a short
e
in
For-eign,
and
Hei-fer;
and like the diphthong
ai
in
Hei′n-ous, Heir, Leisure
(though sometimes like a short
e
in
Lei′s-ure) Skein, Their, Veil,
and
Vein.
Except, 5thly,
General Exceptions concerning
ei.
ei is pronounced like the long English
i
when it is not followed by a consonant in the same syllable; as in
Plei′-a-des, Hei′-delberg; Hei-den-heym, Rei-gate,
&c. but in
ei-ther
and
nei-ther
it is sometimes pronounced like the English
a
long, and sometimes according to rule, like the English
e
long.
It has the sound of the English
a
in all words wherein it precedes
-gh, gn,
and
-nt
in the same syllable, as
Weigh, Freight, Deign, Feign,
&c. (in all which
g
is mute)
Feint, Teint,
&c. except in three words mentioned above, viz.
Sleight, Seignory,
and
Foreign.
Except, 6thly,
Particular Exceptions concerning
ie.
ie in
Friend,
wherein it sounds like a short
e;
and
Sieve,
wherein it sounds like a short
i.
General Exceptions concerning
ie
and
oe.
7thly,
ie
oe
at the end of a word are always pronounced like the first vowel in each diphthong, viz.
ie
like
i
long, and
oe
like
o
long, as in
Die, Foe,
&c. except in two words,
Shoe
and
Ca′n-oe,
wherein
oe
is commonly pronounced like
oo.
Note,
The same is to be observed of the diphthongs
ue
and
ye,
at the end of a word; the former being pronounced like a long
u,
and the latter like a long
i;
as in
Due, Pye,
&c. the same likewise when
s
is added to make the plural of nouns, or third person singular of verbs, as
Dies, Foes, Dues, Pyes,
&c. and the
s
so added is pronounced like
z.
Rule X.
-eu
-ew
-iew
are sounded like a single
u
long.
Examples.
Europe, Eu-nuch, Brew, Dew, View,
&c.
Except
Eau in
Beauty
(and its derivatives) has likewise the same sound.
,
ew in
Sew,
which is commonly sounded like a long
o.
Rule XI
oa is pronounced like
o
long.
Examples.
Boat, Coat, Groan, Moan,
&c. in
Broad,
Except,
A-broad,
and
Groat,
wherein it partakes a little of the sound of
aw;
and in
Goal
(when it signifies a prison) it sounds like
ai,
and the
G
is pronounced soft, as if spelt
Jail.
Rule XII.
ue
ui
before a consonant in the same syllable have the short sound of the last vowel in each diphthong; viz.
ue
like a short
e
as in
Guess, Guest,
&c.; and
ui
like a short
i,
as in
Build, Guild, Conduit,
&c. But in words ending with silent
e,
the diphthong
ui
is pronounced like the English
i
long, according to the third rule, as in
Guide, Guile, Disguise,
&c.
Except, 1st,
Particular Exceptions.
The following words, wherein the
u
alone is pronounced, viz.
Bruise, Cruise, Fruit, Juice, Nui-sance, Pur-suit, Recruit, Sluice, Suit,
and
Suit-or,
which are sounded as if spelt
Bruze, Cruze, Nusance,
&c.
Note,
When
ua, ue, ui,
and
uo
follow
Q
in the same syllable, the
u
has the power of
w,
which power cannot more easily be explained to foreigners, than by comparing it to the sound of
u
in the French word
Quoi!
or
Quoy!
as in
Qua′r-rel, Quack, Question, Quick, Quite, Quit, Quote,
&c.
A TABLE of Words which are independent of the foregoing Rules and Exceptions, with the common Pronunciation of each expressed in Italicks.
BUOY
Boey,
Victuals
Vittles,
Colonel
Curnel,
George
Jorge,
Lieutenant
Leuftenant,
Quay
Kee,
Two
Too,
Yacht
Yot,
Yeoman
Yewman,
Yelk or Yolk (of an egg)
Yoke.
A TABLE of Foreign Words which still retain their original Pronunciation (or nearly so) notwithstanding that they are in a manner adopted, by frequent Use, into the English Language.
ACcoutre, Antique, Archives, Arriere, Banditti, Beau, Bureau, Caviare, Cartouch, Connoisseur, Courier, Croup, Cuirass, Environ, Escritoire, Fascine, Groupe, Intrigue, Lieu, Machine, Magazine, Marine, Palanquin, Pas, Piquant, Pique, Piquet, Police, Poltron, Ponton, Prame, Profile, Rendezvous, Roquelaure, Rouge, Scout, Sophi, Soup, Tête-à-tête, Tornado, Toupee, Tour, Transmarine, Vermicelli, Violoncello, Jonquil, Adieu.
FINIS.
A TABLE or INDEX of the Words, which (with their several Compounds and Derivatives) are Exceptions to the foregoing Rules;
viz.
A
Vowels.
Sounded like
Rule.
Exception.
Page.
A-Bo′ve
Au-dessus
o
ŭ
3
6
17
A-bro′ad
Dehors
oa
aw
11
1
28
Ac-qui-e′sce
Acquiescer
i
ē
1
3
5
Af-fro′nt
Affront
o
ŭ
2
8
12
An′-gel
Ange
a
Ā
2
1
8
A′-ny
Aucun
a
ĕ
2
1
5
At-to′r-ney
Procureur
o
ŭ
2
8
12
Auf
Sol
au
ō
4
1
18
B
 
 
 
 
 
Bass
Basse
a
ā
2
1
8
Bear (noun & verb)
Ours
et
Supporter
ea
ai
9
1
25
Be-lo′w
En-bas
ow
ō
7
4
22
Be-sto′w
Donner
ow
Bi′-er
Une Biére
i
ē
1
2
5
Blith
Joyeux
i
ī
2
5
10
Blood
Sang
oo
ŭ
6
1
19
Blow
Coup, Souffler
ow
ō
7
3
21
Boll
Tige
o
ō
2
8
12
Bol-ster
Chevet
o
ō
2
8
12
Bomb
Bombe
o
ŭ
2
8
12
Bo′r-age
Bourache
o
ŭ
2
8
12
Bor-ough
Bourg
o
ŭ
2
8
13
7
1
20
Bouge
S′enfler
ou
ŭ
7
1
20
Bou′g-et
Bougette
ou
ŭ
7
1
20
Bouse
Boire avec excés
ou
oo
7
1
21
Bow (noun)
Arc
ow
ō
7
3
21
Bowl (or Basin)
Bassin
Bread
Pain
ea
ĕ
9
1
24
Break
Rompre
ea
ā
9
1
25
Break-fast
Déjeuné
ea
ĕ
9
1
24
B′east
Poitrine
ea
Breath (noun)
Haleine
ea
Bree′ch, -es, -ings
Fesses, Culotte
ee
ĭ
9
3
26
Broad
Large
oa
aw
11
1
28
Bro′th-er
Frere
o
ŭ
2
8
13
Bruise
Contusion
ui
ū
12
1
29
Bu′sy
Occupe
u
ĭ
2
9
14
C
 
 
 
 
 
Cam-brick
Batiste
a
ā
2
1
8
Cam-bridge
Cambridge
a
ā
2
1
8
Can-o′e
Canoe
oe
oo
9
7
27
Car-ou′se
Faire la débauche
ou
oo
7
1
21
Cau′-lif-lower
Choux-fleur
au
ŏ
4
1
18
Cey′-lon
Ceylon
ey
ē
8
3
23
Child but not their derivatives.
Enfant
i
ī
2
5
10
Christ but not their derivatives
Christ
Clean-ly not in
clean
Propre
ea
ĕ
9
1
24
Cleanse not in
clean
Nettoyer
Co′l-our
Couleur
o
ŭ
2
8
13
Comb
Peigne
o
ō
2
8
12
Come
Venir
o
ŭ
3
6
17
Come-ly
(De bonne grace)
o
ŭ
Comfits
Confitures
o
ŭ
2
8
13
Com-fort
Consolation
o
ŭ
2
8
13
Com-pany
Compagnie
o
ŭ
2
8
13
Com-pass
Contour
o
ŭ
2
8
13
Compt
Compte
o
ou
2
8
12
Con-duit
Conduit
o
ŭ
2
8
13
Con-ey
Lapin
o
ŭ
2
8
13
Con-sta-ble
(Commissaire de quartier)
o
ŭ
2
8
13
Con-trol
Controller (last syl.)
o
ō
2
8
12
Cou′d
(Verbe)
ou
ŭ
7
1
20
Cov-en-ant
Accord
o
ŭ
2
8
13
Cov-er
Couverture
Cov-et
Convoiter
Cov-ey
Volée d′ oiseaux
Cough
Toux
ou
ŏ
7
1
20
Coul-ter
(Soc de charrüe)
ou
ō
7
1
20
Coun-try
Pays
ou
ŭ
7
1
20
Cou-ple
Couple
Cour-age
Courage
Course (Discourse, &c.)
Cours
ou
ō
7
1
20
Court
Cour
Cou′s-in
Cousin
ou
ŭ
7
1
20
Coz-en (verb)
Duper
o
ŭ
2
8
13
Crow
Corneille
ow
ō
7
3
21
Cruise
Croiser
ui
ū
12
1
29
Cu′-cum-ber
Co′ncombre (1st syll.)
u
ou
1
5
7
D
 
 
 
 
 
Da′n-ger
Danger
a
ā
2
1
8
Dare
Oser
a
ă
3
2
16
Dead
Mort
ea
ĕ
9
1
24
Deaf
Sourd
ea
ĕ
9
1
24
Death
La mort
ea
ĕ
9
1
24
Discomfit
Défaire
o
ŭ
2
8
13
Do
Faire
o
oo
1
4
6
Done
Fait
o
ŭ
3
6
17
Door
Porte
oo
ō
6
1
19
Dove
Colombe
o
ŭ
3
6
17
Dou″-ble
Doubler
ou
ŭ
7
1
20
Doub-let
Doublet
Dough
Pâte
ou
ō
7
1
20
Doz-en
Douzaine
o
ŭ
2
8
13
Dread
Crainte
ea
ĕ
9
1
24
Droll
Comique
o
ō
2
8
12
E
 
 
 
 
 
En-de′av-our
Effort
ea
ĕ
9
1
25
En-dict & Indict
Stiler
i
ī
2
5
10
Eng-land
Angleterre
e
ĭ
2
3
9
En-ou′gh
Assez
ou
ŭ
7
1
20
F
 
 
 
 
 
False
Faux
a
au
2
1
9
Fa′-ther
Pere
a
aw
1
1
5
Fea′-ther
Plume
ea
ĕ
9
1
25
Flood
Deluge
oo
ŭ
6
1
19
Floor
Plancher
oo
ō
6
1
19
Flow
Couler
ow
ō
7
3
21
Flown (from Fly)
Echapé
ow
ō
7
3
21
Folk
Gens
o
ō
2
8
12
Foot
Pied
oo
ŭ
6
1
19
Force
Force
o
ō
2
8
12
Fort
Fort
o
ō
2
8
12
Fo′r-eign
Etranger
ei
ĕ
9
4
26
9
5
27
Fo′r-feit
Amende
ei
ī
9
4
26
Four
Quatre
ou
ō
7
1
20
Friend
Ami
ie
ĕ
9
6
27
Fruit
Fruit
ui
ū
12
1
29
Fu′r-lough
Congé
ou
ō
7
1
20
G
 
 
 
 
 
Gauge
Jauge
au
ā
4
1
18
Ghost
Esprit
o
ō
2
8
12
Give
Donner
i
ĭ
3
2
16
Glove
Gand
o
ŭ
3
6
17
Glow
(Etre allumé)
ow
ō
7
3
21
Goal
Prison (G soft)
oa
ā
11
1
28
Gold
Or
o
oo
2
8
13
Gone
Allé
o
ŏ
3
2
16
Good
Bon
oo
ŭ
6
1
16
Go′v-ern
Gouverner
o
ŭ
2
8
13
Gouge
Gouge
ou
oo
7
1
21
Gourd
Citrouille
ou
ō
7
1
20
Great
Grand
ea
ā
9
1
25
Groat
(
Piece de
4
sols
)
oa
aw
11
1
28
Gross
Gros
o
ō
2
8
12
Grow
Croitre
ou
ō
7
3
21
H
 
 
 
 
 
Ha′l-ser
Hausiere (l mute)
a
aw
2
1
9
Han′t (
for
have not)
(Verbe)
a
aw
2
1
8
Have
Avoir
a
ă
3
2
16
Hau′t-boy
Hautbois (t mute)
au
ō
4
1
18
Head
Tête
ea
ĕ
9
1
25
Hea′r-ken
Ecouter
ea
ă
9
1
25
Heart
Coeur
ea
ă
9
1
25
Hearth
Foyer
ea
ă
9
1
25
Hea′v-en
Le ciel
ea
ĕ
9
1
25
Heav-y
Pésant
ea
ĕ
9
1
25
Hei′f-er
Génisse
ei
ĕ
9
4
26
Hei′n-ous
Odieux
ei
ā
9
4
26
Heir
Heritier (h mute)
ei
ā
9
4
26
Hey! He′y-day!
Ouais!
ey
ī
8
3
23
Ho′l-ster
(Fourreau de pistolet
o
ō
2
8
12
Hon-ey
Miel
o
ŭ
2
8
13
Hood
Coiffe
oo
ŭ
6
1
19
Host
Hôte
o
ō
2
8
12
I
 
 
 
 
 
Jea′l-ous
Jaloux
ea
ĕ
9
1
25
Jeop-ard-y
Peril
eo
ĕ
2
8
13
In-stead
Au lieu
ea
ĕ
9
1
25
Journal
Journal
ou
ŭ
7
1
20
Jour-ney
Voïage
Juice
Jus
ui
ū
12
1
29
K
 
 
 
 
 
Key
Clef
ey
ee
8
3
23
Know
Sçavoir
ow
ō
7
3
21
L
 
 
 
 
 
Lead (noun)
Plomb
ea
ĕ
9
1
25
Lea′th-er
Cuir
ea
ĕ
9
1
25
Lea′v-en
Levain
ea
ĕ
9
1
25
Lei′s-ure
Loisir
ei
ā and sometimes ĕ
9
4
26
Leo′-pard
Leopard
eo
ĕ
2
8
13
Live
Vivre
i
ĭ
3
2
16
Lo′n-don
Londres
o
ŭ
2
8
13
Lose,-er
Perdant
o
oo
3
6
17
2
8
13
Love
Amour
o
ŭ
3
6
17
Lough (or Lake)
Lac
o
ŏ
7
1
20
Low
Bas
ow
ō
7
3
21
M
 
 
 
 
 
Ma-ma′
Maman
a
aw
1
1
5
Ma′n-ger
Mangeoire
a
ā
2
1
8
Ma′-ny
Plusieurs
a
ĕ
1
1
5
Ma′s-ter
Maître
a
aw
2
1
8
Mea′s-ure
Mesure
ea
ĕ
9
1
25
Mild
Doux
i
ī
2
5
10
Mis-tea′ch
Enseigner mal
ea
ĕ
9
1
25
Mo′n-day
Lundi
o
ŭ
2
8
13
Mo′n-ey
L′argent
o
ŭ
2
8
13
-Mon-ger
Vendeur
o
ŭ
2
8
13
Mon″-grel
Métif
o
ŭ
2
8
13
Monk
Moine
o
ŭ
2
8
13
Mon″-key
Singe
o
ŭ
2
8
13
Month
Mois
o
ŭ
2
8
13
Most
Le plus, la plus, &c.
o
ō
2
8
12
Mo′th-er
Mére
o
ŭ
2
8
13
Move
Mouvoir
o
oo
3
6
17
Mould
Moule
ou
ō
7
1
20
Moult
Muer
ou
ō
7
1
20
Mounch
Manger
ou
ŭ
7
1
20
Mourn
Deplorer
ou
ō
7
1
20
Mow
Faucher
ow
ō
7
3
21
Mu′r-rain
Mortalité parmi les bêtes
ai
ĕ
8
1
23
N
 
 
 
 
 
Nou′-rish
Nourrir
ou
ŭ
7
1
20
Nui′s-ance
Incommodité
ui
ū
12
1
29
O
 
 
 
 
 
O-bli′ge
Obliger (sometimes)
i
ee
3
4
16
One
Un, une
o
ŏ
3
2
16
On′-ion
Oignon (1st syll.)
o
ŭ
2
8
13
On′-ly
Seul (sometimes)
o
ō
2
8
12
O′th-er
Autre
o
ŭ
2
8
13
Ov-en
Four
o
ŭ
2
8
13
Owe, Own
Devoir, confesser
ow
ō
7
3
21
P
 
 
 
 
 
Pa′l-sey
Paralysie
a
aw
2
1
9
Pa-pa
Papa
a
aw
1
1
5
Pa-tro′l
Patrouille
o
ō
2
8
12
Pea′s-ant
Paysan
ea
ĕ
9
1
25
Pea′s-cod
(Cosse de pois)
Peo′-ple
Peuple
eo
ē
2
8
13
Phea′s-ant
Faisand
ea
ĕ
9
1
25
Pi-er
Jettée
i
ē
1
2
5
Pint
Chopine
i
ī
2
5
10
Pla′s-ter
Emplâtre
a
aw
2
1
8
Plea′s-ant
Agréable
ea
ĕ
9
1
25
Plea′s-ure
Plaisir
Poll
Tête
o
ō
2
8
12
Port
Port
Post
Poste
Po′m-mel
Pommeau
o
ŭ
2
8
13
Po′th-er
Embarras
o
ŭ
2
8
13
Po′re-blind
(qui a lavue courte)
o
ŭ
3
6
17
Poult
Coup de main
ou
ō
7
1
20
Poul-try, Pou′l-ter-er
Volaille, Poulailler
Pou′l-tice
Cataplâme
ou
ō
7
1
20
Pre′t-ty
Joli
e
ĭ
2
3
9
Prove
Prouver
o
oo
3
6
17
Prow
Proüe
ow
ō
7
3
21
Prowl
Roder
ow
ō
7
3
21
Pur-sui′t
Poursuite
ui
ū
12
1
29
R
 
 
 
 
 
Read (perfect tense; participle passive)
Lû
ea
ĕ
9
1
25
Rea′d-y
Prêt
ea
ĕ
9
1
25
Realm
Royaume
ea
ĕ
9
1
25
Re-cruit
Recrüe
ui
ū
12
1
29
Roll
Un roûleau
o
ō
2
8
12
Ro′m-age
Perquisition
o
ŭ
2
8
13
Rome
Rome
o
oo
3
6
17
Ront
Animal nain
o
ŭ
2
8
13
Rough
Rude
ou
ŭ
7
1
20
Row, noun & verb
Rang, ramer
ow
ō
7
3
21
S
 
 
 
 
 
Said
Dit
ai
ĕ
8
1
23
Scourge
Fleau
ou
ŭ & ō
7
1
20
Scro′ll
Une bande
o
ō
2
8
12
Sew
Coudre
ew
ō
10
1
28
Sey-mour
Sey-mour (nom)
ey
ē
8
3
23
Shoe
Un soulier
oe
oo
9
7
27
Shou′d
(Verbe)
ou
ŭ
7
1
20
Shove
Pousser
o
ŭ
3
6
17
Shov-el
Une péle
o
ŭ
2
8
13
Shou′l-der
Epaule
ou
ō
7
1
20
Show
Montrer
ow
ō
7
3
21
Sieve
Crible
ie
ĭ
9
6
27
Skein
Echeveau
ei
al
9
4
26
Sleight (Artifice)
Artifice
ei
ī
9
4
26
9
5
27
Sloth
Paresse
o
ō
2
8
12
Slough (Suppuration from a sore)
Matiere qui sort d′une playe
ou
ŭ
7
1
20
Slo′v-en
Mal-propre
o
ŭ
2
8
13
Slow
Lent
ow
ō
7
3
21
Sluice
Ecluse
ui
ū
12
1
29
Smo′th-er
Etouffer
o
ŭ
2
8
13
Snow
Neige
ow
ō
7
3
21
Some
Quelque
o
ŭ
3
6
17
Son
Fils
o
ŭ
2
8
13
Soot
Suie
oo
ŭ
6
1
19
Soul
Ame
ou
ō
7
1
20
Sow (verb)
Semer
ow
ō
7
1
20
Sponge
Eponge
o
ŭ
3
6
17
Sport
Jeu
o
ō
2
8
12
Spread
Etendre
ea
ĕ
9
1
25
Stea′d-y
Ferme
ea
ĕ
9
1
25
Stood
(Pret. de s′ arreter)
oo
ŭ
6
1
19
Stow
Arranger
ow
ō
7
3
21
Stroll
Roder
o
ō
2
8
12
Strow
Parsemer
ow
ō
7
3
21
Suit
Procés
ui
ū
12
1
29
Suit-or
Plaideur
ui
ū
12
1
29
Sur-feit
Indigestion
ei
ĭ
9
4
26
Swear
Jurer
ea
ai
9
1
25
Sweat
Suer
ea
ĕ
9
1
25
Sword
Epée
o
ō
2
8
12
T
 
 
 
 
 
Tear (verb)
Déchirer
ea
ai
1
9
25
Teat
Mammelle
ea
ĕ
1
9
25
Ti-er
Rang
i
ē
1
2
5
Their
Leur
ei
ai
9
4
26
There
Là
e
ai
3
3
16
Though
Quoique
ou
ō
7
1
20
Tho′r-ough-fare, Tho′rough-ly
Passage, parfaitement
o
ŭ
2
8
13
ou
ŭ
7
1
20
Thread
Fil
ea
ĕ
9
1
25
Threa′t-en
Menacer
ea
ĕ
9
1
25
Through
à travers
ou
oo
7
1
21
Throw
Jetter
ow
ō
7
3
21
To
à
o
ŭ
1
4
6
Toll
Péage
o
ō
2
8
12
Tomb
Tombeau
o
oo
2
8
13
Ton
Tonneau
o
ŭ
2
8
13
To′ngue
Langue
o
ŭ
3
6
17
To′r-toise
Tortüe
oi
ŭ
5
1
19
Touch
Toucher
ou
ŭ
7
1
20
Tough
Dur
ou
ŭ
7
1
20
Tow, noun & verb
Etoupes, remorquer
ow
ō
7
3
21
Trea′ch-er-y
Perfidie
ea
ĕ
9
1
25
Tread
Marcher
ea
ĕ
9
1
25
Trea′s-ure
Trésor
ea
ĕ
9
1
25
Tro′ll
Roder
o
ō
2
8
12
Trou′-ble
Peine
ou
ŭ
7
1
20
Trough
Auge
ou
ŏ
7
1
20
Trow
Croire
ow
ō
7
3
21
V
 
 
 
 
 
Veil
Voile
ei
ai
9
4
26
Vein
Veine
ei
ai
9
4
26
Vi′l-lain
Coquin
ai
ĕ
8
1
23
Un-cou′th
Grossier
ou
o
7
1
 
W
 
 
 
 
 
Wa′-ter
L′eau
a
aw
1
1
5
Weal (mark of a stripe
Marque de coup
ea
āi
9
1
25
Wea′p-on
Arme
ea
ĕ
9
1
25
Wea′th-er
Le tems
ea
ĕ
9
1
25
Wear
User
ea
ai
9
1
25
Were
(Etre)
e
ai
3
3
16
Wheal (a stripe)
Marque de coup
ea
ai
9
1
25
Where
Où
e
ai
3
3
16
Who
Qui, lequelle, laquelle
o
sometimes oo
1
4
6
Whom
Lequelle, laquelle
o
Do
2
8
13
Whose
Dont
Wild
Sauvage
i
ī
2
5
10
Womb
Matrice
o
oo
2
8
13
Wom′an, wom′en
Femme, -s
o
ŭ
2
8
13
Won
Gagné
o
ŭ
2
8
13
Won-der
Surprise
o
ŭ
2
8
13
Wood
Bois
oo
ŭ
6
1
19
Wool
Laine
Word
Mot
o
ŭ
2
8
13
World
Monde
Work
Ouvrage
o
ŭ
2
8
13
Worm
Ver
Wo′rs-ted
Etame
Wo′r-ry
Dechirer
o
ŭ
2
8
13
Wo′r-ship
Adoration
Wort
Moût
Worth
Prix
Worse
Pire
o
ŭ
2
8
13
Wou′d
(Verbe)
ou
ŭ
7
1
20
Wreak
Assouvir sa vengece
ea
ĕ
9
1
25
Writhe
Guirlande, tordre
i
ee
3
4
16
Y
 
 
 
 
 
Yeast
Levure
ea
ĕ
9
1
25
Ye′l-low
Jaune
e
ă
2
3
9
Yes
Oui
e
ĭ
2
3
9
Yet
Encore
Z
 
 
 
 
 
Zea′l ous, Zea′lot
Zelé, zelateur
ea
ĕ
9
1
25
AN APPENDIX, CONTAINING A Brief ACCOUNT of the chief Peculiarities of the ENGLISH CONSONANTS.
1.
B
is mute before
t,
or after
m,
in the same syllable, as
Debt, Lamb,
&c.
2.
C
sounds soft, like
s,
when followed by
e, i,
or an apostrophe (denoting the absence of
e
) as
Cedar, City, Danc′d,
&c.
C
sounds like
sh,
when followed by
ea, ia, ie,
or
io,
making different syllables, as
Ocean, Ancient, Precious, Social,
&c. except
Society.
CC
when followed by
e
or
i,
sounds like
x,
as
Accept, Accident,
&c.
C
is mute in
Indict, Victuals, Scene, Scent, Science, Sciatica, Scissors, Scission, Scymiter, Scythe,
and the proper names
Scyros, Scylla,
and
Scythia.
In all other cases
C
sounds hard like
k.
3.
Ch,
when properly English, has the same sound with the Italian
c,
before
e
or
i.
Examp.
Child, Chain,
&c.
It sounds also like
sh,
in words derived from the French, as
Chaise, Champaigne,
&c. and like
k
in words of Greek extraction, as
Christ, School, Stomach, Archangel,
&c. pronounced
Ark-angel.
But if
Arch
comes before a consonant,
ch
has then its proper English sound, as in
Archbishop.
Ch
in
Loch
sounds like
f.
Ch
is mute in
Drachm, Schedule,
and
Schism.
4.
D
is mute before
ge,
as in
Judge, Bridge,
&c. also in
Soldier.
5.
F
in
Of
sounds like
v.
6.
G
sounds
soft
like
j
before
e, i,
or an
apostrophe,
and
hard
(like the Greek
y
) in all other cases.
Examp.
Angel, Rage, Rag′d, Giant, Ginger,
&c.
Exceptions to
G
′s sounding soft.
1. In the participles passive of words ending in
g hard
(and also where-ever
g
is doubled) it continues hard, notwithstanding the vowels
e
or
i,
or an apostrophe, as in
Dragg′d, Begging, Digging,
&c.
2. In the termination
ger,
where-ever it makes a distinct syllable,
g
sounds hard, as in
An″-ger, Fin″ger, Lon″ger, Stron″ger,
&c. in which kind of words it may be observed that the
g
sounds double, so as to belong to both syllables.
3. Derivatives in
er, ed,
or
ing
from primitives in
ng,
retain the
g
hard, as
Singing, Sing-er,
from
Sing; Hang-ing, Hang-er,
from
Hang; Winged
or
Wing′d
from
Wing,
&c. In which kind of words it may be observed, that
g
sounds
single,
and belongs to the
first syllable only.
4. In the following words
G
is hard, notwithstanding it comes before
e
or
i;
viz.
Geese, Gewgaw, Geld, Gelt, Gertrude, Get
(with its compounds)
Gibberish, Gibbous, Giddy, Gift, Gig, Giggle, Gild, Girl, Give, Forgive, Gilt, Gimblet, Gimp, Gird, Girt, Girdle, Begin, Gizzard, Gideon, Gibbons, Gilbert,
and
Gilpin.
G
is mute before
n
in the same syllable, as
Gnash, Sign, Sovereign,
&c. also in
Phlegm, Seraglio,
and
Bagnio.
7.
Gh
sounds like
G hard
in
Ghost,
and like
ff
in
Cough, Lough, Laugh, Laughter, Rough, Slough, Tough, Trough,
and
Enough.
In other words it is mute.
8.
H
is mute in
Hour, Honour, Honest, Heir, Herb, Humour, Hostler, Thyme, John, Thomas, Thomasin,
and
Thames.
Also in Greek words, when preceded by
R,
as
Rheum, Rhyme, Rhetoric, Myrrh,
&c. and lastly at the end of words, as
ah, hah, Isaiah, Sarah,
&c.
9.
K
is mute before
n
in the same syllable, as
Knave, Know, Knight,
&c.
10.
L
is mute in
Balk, Talk, Walk, Stalk, Balm, Calm, Calf, Calves, Falcon, Half, Halves, Holme
(an island) and
Holmes
(a surname)
Psalm, Qualm, Salmon, Could, Should,
and
Would.
11.
N
is mute after
m
in the same syllable, as
Hymn, Autumn, Solemn,
&c.
12.
P
is mute before
s,
and between
m
and
t,
as
Psalm, Tempt,
&c.
13.
Ph
is always sounded like
f,
except in
Stephen, Nephew,
and
Phial,
where it sounds like
v.
Ph
is mute in
Phthisic,
and is pronounced
Tizzic.
14.
Q
is always followed by
u,
and, when it begins a syllable, sounds like
cw,
by which (as Mr. Johnson observes) our Saxon ancestors well expressed it. But in terminations from the Latin
-quus,
and also in words of French extraction, it sounds like
k.
Examp.
Oblique, Antique, Quoif, Conquer, Risque, Traffique,
&c. some of which words are now more commonly spelt with
c
or
k,
as
Coif, Risk, Traffic,
&c.
15.
S
sounds like
z.
1st, In the third persons singular of all verbs, and the plural number of all nouns, as in
Has, Was, Tries, Bees, Times,
&c.
2dly, In pronouns possessive, as
His, Hers, Theirs,
and also when preceded by the comma denoting possession, as
Father′s, Mother′s, Tom′s, Will′s,
&c. (also in the particle
as.
)
Exception to the two last Sections.
S
has its proper sound when preceded by
c, k, ck, f, p, q,
or
t,
which admit not the sound of
z
so easily after them, as
Speaks, Beats, Rocks, Jack′s, Dick′s, Gilbert′s, Cock′s-spur, Cat′s-paw,
&c.
3dly,
S
sounds like
z
preceded by a liquid in the same syllable, as
Dam-sel, Crimson, Thames, Jer-sey, Guern-sey,
&c. And also,
4thly,
S
between two vowels most commonly sounds like
z,
as
Daisy, Reprisal, Peasant, Please, Rosin,
&c.
Except
House, Mouse, Louse, Goose, Geese, Sausage, Purchase, Promise, Case, Mason, Bason, Basis, Phasis,
and
Thesis.
Except also substantives in
use,
derived from Latin verbs, as
U′se, Abu′se, Disu′se, Re′fuse, Excu′se,
&c. and adjectives derived from the participles passive of some Latin verbs, as
Reclu′se, Profu′se, Abstru′se,
&c.
Lastly, Except also the words contained in the next section but one, where
s
sounds like
zh.
S
and
ss
sound like
sh
in
Sure
(with its compounds)
Issue, Tissue, Fissure, Pressure, Russian,
&c. also in the terminations
-assion, -ession, -ission, -ussion,
as in
Passion, Impression, Mission, Concussion,
&c.
S,
when preceded by a vowel and followed by
ion
or
ian,
sounds like
zh,
as
Invasion, Ephesian, Vision, Delusion,
&c. But if it be preceded by a consonant, it sounds like
sh,
as in
Conversion, Persian,
&c.
S
sounds also like
zh
before
-ier,
as
Osier, Hosier, Glasier, Brasier,
&c. and in the words
Leisure, Measure, Pleasure,
and
Treasure.
S
is mute in
Isle, Lisle, Carlisle, Island, Viscount,
and
Demesne.
16.
T
before
io
or
ia
(making part of the same syllable with
i
) sounds like
sh,
as
Na-tion, Cau-tious, Egyp-tian, Sa-ti-ate,
&c. But if
t
belong to the former syllable, it retains its proper Sound, as
Quest-ion, Fustian, Combust-ion,
&c.
T
is mute in words ending with
-stle,
as
Castle, Thistle, Bristle,
&c.
17.
Th
has two sounds, the one soft, as in
Thy,
the other hard (like the Greek
) as in
Thigh.
I.
Th
sounds soft,
1st, In
Thence, There
(with their compounds)
Then, That, The, Thee, These, This, Those, Thus, Thou, Thy, Thine, Their, Theirs, Them, Though, Although, Beneath, Bequeath, Betroth, Mouths, Tythe, Scythe, Wreath, Booth,
and in the verbs
Bathe, Mouth, Seeth, Loathe, Soothe,
and
Breathe.
2dly, Where-ever it occurs between two vowels, as
Father, Mother,
&c. Except words of Greek extraction, and also derivatives from words ending with
th
hard, as
Earthen
from
Earth,
&c.
3dly,
Th
sounds soft when placed between
r
and a vowel, as
Burthen, Murther,
&c. though in such words
d
is often written and pronounced instead of
th,
as
Murder, Burden.
In other cases
th
sounds
hard.
Th
is mute in
Asthma,
with its derivatives.
8.
W
is mute before
r
in the same syllable, as
Write, Wrath,
&c. also in
Sword, Swoon,
and
Answer,
with their compounds and derivatives.
The other consonants have the same powers as in other languages.
FINIS.
ERRATA.
Preface, p. xiv. for 340, read 342.
— Note, for 54 r. 47.
— for page 15, r. page 30.
Page 21, for word, r. verb.