Page 13 - Third Book of Reading Lessons
P. 13
12 INTRODUCTORY LESSON.
lables, and on their relative importance when laid on words, Nouns, adjectives, principal verbs, adverbs-when not mere ly connective,-demonstrative and interrogative pronouns, interjections, and words put in opposition to each other, are accented : all others are unaccented. Qualifying words, and those which, in each passage, limit the sense, should receive the more forcible, or primary accent; and words of minor importance, the less rcible, or secondary accent.
Emphasis is a peculiar expression given to words or mem bers of sentences, which we desire particularly to distinguish, and usually, if not always, suggests some contrast. It is often placed on unaccented words, and may be expressed by a higher or lower tone of the voice, by a pause, or by some peculiarity in the manner of the reader. A misplaced em phasis annuls or mnterially alters the sense of a passage. The well known example, "Do you ride to town to-day?" is, by altering the emphasis, susceptible of at least ur dif rent meanings.
odulation the Voice.-Tbe middle pitch, or ordinary speaking tone of the voice, is that which should most usually be chosen. As a general rule, the reader should suit his tone or pitch to the size of the room in which he reads, or to the distance at which he is to be heard. As he proceeds, his tones should swell, and animation increase with the in creasing importance of his subject.
Time.-A li less, drawling manner of reading is always wearisome and disagreeable; but the more ordinary fault of young persons is precipitancy. Against the latter, there re, they should be especially cautioned, as, having once grown l1abitual, it is more di cult to be corrected.
A reader should adapt his manner to the nature of his subject, avoiding every appearance of constraint and a ecta tion on the one hand, and of bashful timidity on the other. Thus, he will please and instruct his hearers, and improve his ordinary manner of speaking, by the habit of correctness he will have thus acquired.
