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several classes, and denominated as follows: t ed labials, which are formed by the lips; those are formed with the teeth; palatals, that are the palate; and nasals, that are formed by the

The importance of obtaining, in early life. tinct, and accurate knowledge of the sounds of ciples of language, and a wish to lead young n ther consideration of a subject so curious and induced the compiler to bestow particular att preceding part of his work. Some writers th subjects do not properly constitute any part and consider them as the exclusive province book; but if we reflect, that letters and their constituent principles of that art, which teach and write with propriety, and that, in gene knowledge of their nature is acquired by the we must admit, that they properly belong and that a rational consideration of these ele ciples of language, is an object that demand of the young grammarian. The sentiments cious and eminent writer (Quinctilian) resp of grammar, may, perhaps, be properly int present occasion.

"Let no person despise, as inconsiderable of grammar, because it may seem to the small consequence, to show the distinction and consonants, and to divide the latter mutes. But they who penetrate into the of this temple of science, will there disco ment and subtility of matter, as are not sharpen the understandings of young perso to give exercise for the most profound kno dition."

The elementary sounds, under their sm tion, produce a syllable; syllables properl duce a word; words duly combined prod and sentences properly combined produce course. Thus it is, says HARRIS, in his principles apparently so trivial as a few sounds, we owe that variety of articulate been sufficient to explain the sentiments a multitude, as all the present and past gen

A SYLLABLE is a sound, either simple or comunded, pronounced by a single impulse of the ice, and constituting a word, or part of a word: -a, an, ant.

Spelling is the art of rightly dividing words to their syllables, or of expressing a word by 5 proper letters.

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The following are the general rules for the division o ords into syllables.

1. A single consonant between two vowels, must be joini to the latter syllable: as, de-light, bri-dal, re-course: xcept the letter x; as, ex-ist, ex-amine: and except like. ise words compounded: as, up-on, un-even, dis-ease. 2. Two consonants proper to begin a word must not be parated; as, fa-ble, stiffe. But when they come beween two vowels, and are such as cannot begin a word, hey must be divided; as, ut-most, un-der, in-sect, er-ror, of-fin.

3. When three consonants meet in the middle of a word, they can begin a word, and the preceding vowel be proounced long, they are not to be separated; as, de-throne, e-stroy. But when the vowel of the preceding syllable is ronounced short, one of the consonants always belongs to hat syllable; as, dis-tract, dis-prove, dis-train.

4. When three or four consonants, which are not proper o begin a syllable, meet between two vowels, such of them is can begin a syllable belong to the latter, the rest to the former syllable: as, ab-stain, com-plete, em broil, dan-dler, dap-ple, con-strain, hand-some, parch-ment.

5. Two vowels, not being a dipthong, must be divided into separate syllables; as, cru-el, de-ni-al, so-ci-e-ty.

6. Compounded words must be traced into the simple words of which they are composed; as, ice-house, glow. worm, over-power, never-the-less.

7. Grammatical and other particular terminations, are generally separated: as, teach-est, teach-eth, teach-ing, teach-er, contend-er, great-er, wretch-ed; good-ness, free◄ dom, false-hood.

thor's English spelling-book, thirteenth, or any edition, page 210-215.

CHAPTER III.

Of WORDS in general, and the RULES for spe WORDS are articulate sounds, used b consent, as signs of our ideas.

A word of one syllable is termed a lable; a word of two syllables, a Diss word of three syllables, a Trissyllab word of four or more syllables, a Polys All words are either primitive or de A primitive word is that which ca duced to any simpler word in the lan man, good, content.

A derivative word is that which may to another word in English of greater as manful, goodness, contentment, Yo

There are many English words which, pounds in other languages, are to us primitiv cumspect, circumvent, circumstance, delude, plicate, &c. primitive words in English, will rivatives, when traced in the Latin tongue.

The orthography of the English languag with much uncertainty and perplexity. But part of this inconvenience may be remedied to the general laws of formation; and for learner is presented with a view of such g in spelling primitive and derivative words, a most universally received.

RULE I.

Monosyllables ending with fl, or s, pre gle vowel, double the final consonant; pass, &c. The only exceptions are, of, if, a yes, his, this, us, and thus.

A compound word is included under the h words: as penknife, teacup, looking-glass; may b er words of greater simplicity.

nt; excepting add, ebb, butt, egg, odd, err, inn, bunn, , and buzz.

RULE III.

Words ending with y, preceded by a consonant, form the als of nouns, the persons of verbs, verbal nouns, pást iciples, comparatives, and superlatives, by changing y i; as, spy, spi; I carry, thou carriest; he carrieth, arries; carrie, carried; happy, happier, happiest. he present participle in ing, retains the y, that i may be doubled; as carry, carrying; bury, burying, &c. ut y, preceded by a vowel, in such instances as the e, is not changed; as, boy, boys; I cloy, he cloys, ed, &c.; except in lay, pay, and say; from which are ned, laid, paid, and said; and their compounds, unlaid, aid, unsaid, &c.

RULE IV.

Vords ending with y, preceded by a consonant, upon asning an additional syllable beginning with a consonant, monly change y into i; as happy, happily, happiness. when y is preceded by a vowel, it is very rarely changIn the additional syllable: as coy, coyly; boy, boyish, hood; annoy, annoyer, annoyance, joyless, joyful.

RULE V.

Monosyllables, and words accented on the last syllable, ling with a single consonant preceded by a single vowel, ble that consonant, when they take another syllable bening with a vowel: as wit, witty; thin, thinnish; to et, an abettor; to begin, a beginner.

But if a dipthong precedes, or the accent is on the preling syllable, the consonant remains single; as, to toil, ling; to offer, an offering; maid, maiden, &c.

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Words ending with any double letter but , and taking 88, less, ly, or full, after them, preserve the letter double; harmlessness, carelessness, carelessly, stiffly, successful, stressful, &c. But those words which end with double 1, d take ness, less, ly, or full, after them, generally omit el; as fulness, skilless, fully, skilful, &c.

RULE VII.

Ness, less, ly, and full, added to words ending with silent

except in a few words; as, duly, truly, awful.

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Ment, added to words ending with silent e, serves the e from elision; as,jabatement, cha ci ement, &c. The words judgment, abridgn edgment, are deviations from the rule.

Like other terminations, ment changes preceded by a consonant: as, accompany, ac merry, merriment.

Able and ible, when incorporated into wor silent e, almost always cut it off: as, bla cure, curable; sense, sensible, &c. :. but if e before e in the original word, the e is the words compounded with able; as, chang peace, peaceable, &c.

Words taken into composition, often d which were superfluous in the simple wo dunghil, withal; also, chilblain, foretel.

The orthography of a great number of far from being uniform, even amongst writ Thus, honour and honor, inquire and enqui negociate, controul and control, expense an and alledge, surprise and surprize, compi connexion and connection, abridgment and many other orthographical variations, are the best modern publications. Some auth differences of this nature, appears to b where can we find one of equal pretensio son's Dictionary? though a few of his de pear to be warranted by the principles of alogy, the stable foundations of his imp the weight of truth and reason (says Nare of Orthoephy") is irresistible, Dr. Johns nearly fixed the external form of our lan convenient is it to have one acknowledge to; so much preferable in matters of thisn

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