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 [Page vi] 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, [Page vii] 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.
[Page viii]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.
[Page ix]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, [Page x] 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 [Page xi] his * 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 [Page xii] 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. * -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. [Page xiii] -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 [Page xiv] syllables in all future editions of English dictionaries were divided according to the * 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 [Page xv] 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 [Page xvi] 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.
[Page xvii]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.*
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, [Page xviii] 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 † 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 * 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.
[Page 2]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 * 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 †, as in Bi-ble, Mi-tre, Nitre, Pirate, &c.
[Page 3]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)
- [Page 4]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 * [...] 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, [Page 6] 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 * 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 [Page 7] 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.
- 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 * Italian or French é, as in Bed, Fed, Led, Red, &c.
- i has a short articulation of the † 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 [Page 9] 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 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 Af-fro′nt, At-to′r-ney, Bomb, Bo′r-age, [Page 13] 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 *: and is mute in Jeo′p-ar-dy, Leo′p-ard, and People, [Page 14] 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 [Page 15] 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 *; 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 † -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 [Page 17] 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.)
[Page 19] Except, Tor-toise, wherein oi is commonly sounded like short u.
Rule VIoo 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, 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, * 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 [Page 21] 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.
[Page 23] 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, [Page 25] 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 *, 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, [Page 26] 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 [Page 27] 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.
[Page 28] 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 *,ew in Sew, which is commonly sounded like a long o.
Rule XIoa 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 [Page 29] 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.
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.
[Page 2] 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.
[Page 3]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 [Page 4] 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.
[Page 5]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 [Page 6] 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,
[Page 7]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 [Page 8] 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 [Page 9] 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.
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.