stin's Chironomia_, p. 38.

OBS.--The principles of articulation constitute the chief exercise of all
those who are learning either to speak or to read. So far as they are
specifically taught in this work, they will be found in those sections
which treat of the powers of the letters.

SECTION II.--OF PRONUNCIATION.

Pronunciation, as distinguished from elocution, or delivery, is the
utterance of words taken separately. The correct pronunciation of words, or
that part of grammar which teaches it, is frequently called _Orthoepy_.

Pronunciation, or orthoepy, requires a knowledge of the just powers of the
letters in all their combinations; of the distinction of quantity in vowels
and syllables; and of the force and seat of the accent.

ARTICLE I--OF THE POWERS OF LETTERS.

The JUST POWERS of the letters, are those sounds which are given to them by
the best readers. These are to be learned, as reading is learned, partly
from example, and partly from such books as show or aid the pronunciation
of words.

It is to be observed, however, that considerable variety, even in the
powers of the letters, is produced by the character and occasion of what is
uttered. It is noticed by Walker, that, "Some of the vowels, when neither
under the accent, nor closed by a consonant, have a longer or a shorter, an
opener or a closer sound, according to the solemnity or familiarity, the
deliberation or rapidity of our delivery."--_Pronouncing Dict., Preface_,
p. 4. In cursory speech, or in such reading as imitates it, even the best
scholars utter many letters with quicker and obscurer sounds than ought
ever to be given them in solemn discourse. "In public speaking," says
Rippingham, "every word should be uttered, as though it were spoken singly.
The solemnity of an oration justifies and demands such scrupulous
distinctness. That careful pronunciation which would be ridiculously
pedantic in colloquial intercourse, is an essential requisite of good
elocution."--_Art of Public Speaking_, p. xxxvii.

ARTICLE II--OF QUANTITY.

QUANTITY, or TIME in pronunciation, is the measure of sounds or syllables
in regard to their duration; and, by way of distinction, is supposed ever
to determine them to be either _long_ or _short_.[471]

The absolute time in which syllables are uttered, is very variable, and
must be different to suit different subjects, passions, and occasions; but
their relative length or shortness may nevertheless be preserv