PREFACE.

pronunciation were not to be caught and described by the pen, that the very per-ceptible difference between the initial accented syllables of money and monitor , or thefinal unaccented syllables of finite and infinite , could not be sufficiently marked uponpaper. Cannot we show that cellar , a vault, and seller , one who sells, have exactlythe same sound ; or that the monosyllable full, and the first syllable of fulminate, aresounded differently, because there are some words in which solemnity will author-ize a different shade of pronunciation from familiarity ? Besides, that colloquialpronunciation which is perfect is so much the language of solemn speaking, that,perhaps, there is no more difference than between the same picture painted to beviewed near and at a distance. The symmetry in both is exactly the same ; andthe distinction lies only in the colouring. The English Language , in this respect, seemsto have a great superiority over the French , which pronounces many letters in thepoetick and solemn style that are wholly silent in the prosaick and familiar. But ifa solemn and familiar pronunciation really exists in our Language, is it not the busi-ness of a grammarian to mark both r And if he cannot point out the precise sound ofunaccented syllables, (for these only are liable to obscurity,) he may, at least, give thosesounds which approach the nearest, and by this means become a little more useful thanthose who so liberally leave every thing to the ear and taste of the speaker.

The truth is, Dr. Johnson seems to have had a confused idea of the distinctness and in-distinctness with which, on solemn or familiar occasions, we sometimes pronounce theunaccented vowels; and, with respect to these, it must be owned, that his remarks are notentirely without foundation. The English Language , with respect to its pronunciation,is evidently divisible into accented and unaccented sounds. The accented syllables, bybeing pronounced with greater force than the unaccented, have their vowels as clearlyand distinctly sounded as any given note in musick; while the unaccented vowels, forwant of the stress, are apt to slide into an obscurity of sound, which, though sufficientlydistinguishable to the ear, cannot be so definitely marked out to the eye by other soundsas those vowels that are under the accent. Thus some of the vowels, when neither underthe accent nor closed by a consonant, have a louger or a shorter, an opener or a closersound, according to the solemnity or familiarity, the deliberation or rapidity, of our de-livery. This will be perceived in the sound of the e in emotion ,* of the o in obedience ,and of the u in monument. In the hasty pi enunciation of common speaking, the e inemotion is often shortened, as if spelt im-mo-tion; the o in obedience shortened and obscured,as if written ub-be-di-ence ; and the u in monument changed into e, as if written mon-ne-ment ; while the deliberate and elegant sound of these vowels is the long open soundthey have when the accent is on them in equal, over, and unit: but a, when unaccented,seems to have no such diversity; it has generally a short obscure sound, whether endinga syllable, or closed by a consonant. Thus the a in able has its definite and distinctsound; but the same letter in tolerable t goes into an obscure indefinite sound, approach-ing the short u; nor can any solemnity or deliberation give it the long open soundit has in the first word. Thus, by distinguishing vowels into their accented andunaccented sounds, we are enabled to see clearly what Dr. Johnson saw but obscurely;and by this distinction entirely to answer the objection.

Equally indefinite and uncertain is his general rule, that those are to be considered asthe most elegant speakers who deviate least from the written words. It is certain, wherecustom is equal, this ought to take place ; and if the whole body of respectable English speakers were equally divided in their pronunciation of the word busy, one half pro-nouncing it bew-ze, J and the other half biz-ze, that the former ought to be accountedthe most elegant speakers; but, till this be the case, the latter pronunciation, thougha gross deviation from orthography, will still be esteemed the more elegant. Dr. John-son s general rule, therefore, can only take place where custom has not plainly decided;but, unfortunately f or th e English Language , its orthography and pronunciation are so

• See the words Collect, Command, Despatch, Domestick, Efface, Occasion.

t Principles, Nos. 88, S43.

J Principles, No. 17s.