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The Horizontal Line (-) denotes the Monotone.

The Rising Slide

() denotes the Rising Inflection.

The Falling Slide
The Curve

(\) denotes the Falling Inflection.
denotes the Circumflex.

The MONOTONE is that sameness of sound, which arises from repeating the several words or syllables of a passage in one and the same general tone.

REMARK.-The Monotone is employed with admirable effect in the delivery of a passage that is solemn or sublime.

EXAMPLES.

1. 0 thou that rōllēst ābōve, rõūnd ās thē shield of my fathērs: whence are thy bēāms, O sūn, thỹ ēvērlāsting light?

OSSIAN.

2.

'Tis midnight's hōly hour, and silence now

Is brōōding, like ā gēntlē spīrīt, ō'ēr

The still and pūlselēss wōrld. Hark! on the winds
The bells' deep tōnes are swelling; 'tis the knēll
Of the departed yēār.

PRENTICE.

3. God came from Tēmān, and the Holy One from Mount Pārān. Sēlāh. His glory covered thē heavens, and thē earth was full of His praise.

4. Before Him went the pestilēnce, and būrning cōals went fōrth at His feet. He stood and measured the earth: Hē bēhēld, and drōve āsūndēr thē nātions; and thē ēvērlāstīng mōūntaīns wēre scāttēred, the pērpētūāl hills did bōw: His ways āre ēvērlāsting.

BIBLE.

5. The heavens dēclāre thē glōry ōf Gōd, and the firmāmēnt showēth His handy work. Dāy untō dāy ūttērēth spēēch, and nīght untō night shōwēth knōwlēdge. Thēre īs nō spēēch nōr language, where their voice is not heard.

6.

How brief is life! how passing brief!

Hōw brief īts jõÿs ānd cāres!

It seems to be in league with time,

And leaves us ūnāwāres.

ID.

7.

The thunder rolls: bē hushed the prōstrate world,
While cloud to cloud returns the sōlēmn hymn.

THOMSON.

REMARK.-The inappropriate use of the monotone,—

obstinate error.

-a fault into which young people naturally fall,-is a very grave and It is always tedious, and often even ridiculous.

It should be studiously avoided.

The RISING INFLECTION is an upward turn, or slide of the voice, used in reading or speaking; as, Are you

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The FALLING INFLECTION is a downward turn, or slide of the voice, used in reading or speaking; as, What are

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In the falling inflection, the voice should not sink below the general pitch; but in the rising inflection, it is raised above it. The two inflections may be illustrated by the following diagrams:

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Is honor's lofty soul forever fled'?

Is virtue lost? Is martial ardor dead/?

Is there no heart where worth and valor dwell'?
No patriot WALLACE? No undaunted TELL/?
Yes', Freedom, yes'! thy sons, a noble band,
Around thy banner, firm, exulting stand'.

REMARK.-The same degree of inflection is not, at all times, used, or indicated by the notation. The due degree to be employed, depends on the nature of what is to be expressed. For example; if a person, under great excitement, asks another:

earnest?

Are you in

the degree of inflection would be much

greater, than if he playfully asks: Are you in earnest?

former inflection may be called intensive, the latter, common.

The

RULES FOR THE USE OF INFLECTIONS.

RULE I.

Direct questions, or those which may be answered by yes or no, usually take the rising inflection; but their answers, generally, the falling.

EXAMPLES.

1. Will you meet me at the depot'? Yes'; or, I will'.
2. Did you intend to visit Boston'? No'; or, I did not.

3. Can you explain this difficult sentence'? Yes'; I can.

4. Are they willing to remain at home? They are'.

5. Is this a time for imbecility and inaction'? By no means'.

6. King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets'? I know that thou believest'.

7. Were the tribes of this country, when first discovered, making any progress in arts and civilization'? By no means'.

&

To purchase heaven has gold the power'?
Can gold remove the mortal hour?

In life, can love be bought with gold'?
Are friendship's pleasures to be sold'?
No'; all that's worth a wish, a thought,
Fair virtue gives unbribed, unbought.

9. What would content you'? Talents'? No'. Enterprise'? No. Courage/? No'. Reputation/? No'. Virtue'? No'. The man whom you would select, should possess not one, but all of these'.

NOTE I.—When the direct question becomes an appeal, and the reply to it is anticipated, it takes the intense falling inflection.

EXAMPLES.

1. Is he not a bold and eloquent speaker'?
2. Can such inconsistent measures be adopted'?
8. Did you ever hear of such cruel barbarities'?
4. Is this reason? Is it law? Is it humanity'?
5. Was not the gentleman's argument conclusive`?

RULE II.

Indirect questions, or those which can not be answered by yes or no, usually take the falling inflection, and their answers the same.

EXAMPLES.

1. How far did you travel yesterday'? Forty miles'.

2. Which of you brought this beautiful bouquet'? Julia'.

3. Where do you intend to spend the summer? At Saratoga.

4. When will Charles graduate at college'? Next year'.

5. What is one of the most delightful emotions of the heart? Gratitude'.

NOTE I.-When the indirect question is one asking a repetition of what was not, at first, understood, it takes the rising inflection.

EXAMPLES.

1. When do you expect to return? Next week.

When did you say? Next week.

2. Where did you say William had gone? To New York.

NOTE II.—Answers to questions, whether direct or Indirect, when expressive of indifference, take the rising inflection, or the circumflex.

EXAMPLES.

1. Did you admire his discourse? Not much.

2. Which way shall we walk? I am not particular.

3. Can Henry go with us? If he chooses'.

4. What color do you prefer? I have no particular choice?

NOTE III.-In some instances, direct questions become indirect by a change of the inflection from the rising to the falling.

EXAMPLES.

1. Will you come to-morrow' or next day'? Yes.

2. Will you come to-morrow, or next day? I will come to-morrow.

REMARK. The first question asks if the person addressed will come within the two days, and may be answered by yes or no; but the second asks on which of the two days he will come, and it can not be thus answered.

RULE III.

When questions are connected by the conjunction or, the first requires the rising, and the second, the falling inflection.

EXAMPLES.

1. Does he study for amusement', or improvement' ?

2. Was he esteemed for his wealth', or for his wisdom?

3. Sink' or swim', live or die', survive or perish', I give my hand and heart to this vote.

WEBSTER.

4. Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath-days', or to do evil? to save life', or to kill?

BIBLE.

5. Was it an act of moral courage', or cowardice', for Cato to fall on his sword?

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