Enquire Within Upon Everything Part 32

[A COW CONSUMES 100 LBS. OF GREEN FOOD DAILY.]

184. When the full Accent falls on a Vowel,

that vowel should have a long sound, as in _vo'cal_; but when I it, falls on or after a consonant, the preceding vowel has a short sound, as in _hab'it_.

[2,300 SILKWORMS PRODUCE 1LB OF SILK.]

185. To obtain a Good Knowledge of p.r.o.nunciation,

it is advisable for the reader to listen to the examples given by good speakers, and by educated persons. We learn the p.r.o.nunciation of words, to a great extent, by _imitation_, just as birds acquire the notes of other birds which may be near them.

[A QUEEN BEE PRODUCES 100,000 EGGS IN A SEASON.]

186. Double Meaning.

But it will be very important to bear in mind that there are many words having a double meaning or application, and that the difference of meaning is indicated by the difference of the accent. Among these words, _nouns_ are distinguished from _verbs_ by this means: _nouns_ are mostly accented on the first syllable, and _verbs_ on the last.

[A COW YIELDS 168 LBS. OF b.u.t.tER PER ANNUM.]

187. Noun signifies Name;

_Nouns_ are the names of persons and things, as well as of things not material and palpable, but of which we have a conception and knowledge, such as _courage_, _firmness_, _goodness_, _strength_; and _verbs_ express _actions, movements,_ &c. If the word used signifies that anything has been done, or is being done, or is, or is to be done, then that word is a _verb_.

[IT WOULD TAKE 27,600 SPIDERS TO PRODUCE 1 LB. OF WEB.]

188. Examples of the above.

Thus when we say that anything is "an in'sult," that word is a _noun_, and is accented on the first syllable; but when we say he did it "to insult' another person," the word insult' implies _acting_, and becomes a verb, and should be accented on the last syllable. The effect is, that, in speaking, you should employ a different p.r.o.nunciation in the use of the same word, when uttering such sentences as these:--"What an in'sult!" "Do you mean to insult' me?"

In the first sentence the stress of voice must be laid upon the first syllable, _in'_, and in the latter case upon the second syllable, _sult'_.

189. Meaning varied by Accentuation.

A list of nearly all the words that are liable to this variation is given in the following page. It will be noticed that those in the first column, having the accent on the first syllable, are mostly nouns; and that those in the second column, which have the accent on the second and final syllable, are mostly verbs:

Noun, &c. Verb, &c. Noun, &c. Verb, &c. Noun, &c. Verb, &c.

--------------------- ---------------------- -------------------- Ab'ject abject' Con'trast contrast' In'lay inlay'

Ab'sent absent' Con'verse converse' In'sult insult'

Ab'stract abstract' Con'vert convert' Ob'ject object'

Ac'cent accent' Con'vict convict' Out'leap outleap'

Affix affix' Con'voy convoy' Per'fect perfect'

As'pect aspect' De'crease decrease' Per'fume perfume'

At?tribute attribute' Des'cant descant' Per'mit permit'

Aug'ment augment' Des'ert desert' Pre'fix prefix'

Au'gust august' De'tail detail' Pre'mise premise'

Bom'bard bombard' Di'gest digest' Pre'sage presage'

Col'league colleague' Dis'cord discord' Pres'ent present'

Col'lect collect' Dis'count discount' Prod'uce produce'

Com'ment comment' Ef'flux efflux' Proj'ect project'

Com'pact compact' Es'cort escort' Prot'est protest'

Com'plot complot' Es'say essay' Reb'el rebel'

Com'port comport' Ex'ile exile' Rec'ord record'

Com'pound compound' Ex'port export' Ref'use refuse'

Com'press compress' Ex'tract extract' Re'tail retail'

Con'cert concert' Fer'ment ferment' Sub'ject subject'

Con'crete concrete' Fore'cast forecast' Su'pine supine'

Con'duct conduct' Fore'taste foretaste' Sur'vey survey'

Con fine confine' Fre'quent frequent' Tor'ment torment'

Con'flict conflict' Im'part impart' Tra'ject traject'

Con'serve conserve' Im'port import' Trans'fer transfer'

Con'sort consort' Im'press impress' Trans'port transport'

Con'test contest' Im'print imprint' Un'dress undress'

Con'text context' In'cense incense' Up'cast upcast'

Con'tract contract' In'crease increase' Up'start upstart'

190. Exceptions

Cement' is an Exception to the above rule, and should always be accented on the last syllable. So also the word Consols'.

191. Hints to "c.o.c.kney Speakers."

The most objectionable error of the c.o.c.kney, that of subst.i.tuting the _v_ for the _w_, and _vice versa_, is, we believe, pretty generally abandoned. Such sentences as "Are you going to Vest Vickkam?" "This is wery good weal," &c., were too intolerable to be retained. Moreover, there has been a very able schoolmaster at work during the past forty years. This schoolmaster is no other than the loquacious Mr. _Punch_, from whose works we quote a few admirable exercises:

i. Low c.o.c.kney.--"Seen that party lately?" "What! the party with the wooden leg, as come with--" "No, no--not that party. The party, you know, as--" "Oh! ah! I know the party you mean, now." "Well, a party told me as he can't agree with that other party, and he says that if another party can't be found to make it all square, he shall look out for a party as will."--(_And so on for half an hour._)

ii. Police.--"Lor, Soosan, how's a feller to eat meat such weather as this! Now, a bit o' pickled salmon and cowc.u.mber, or a lobster salid, _might_ do."

iii. c.o.c.kney Yachtsman.--(Example of affectation.) Scene: the Regatta Ball.--"I say, Tom, what's that little craft with the black velvet flying at the fore, close under the lee scuppers of the man-of-war?" "Why, from her fore-and-aft rig, and the cut of her mainsail, I should say she's down from the port of London; but I'll signal the commodore to come and introduce us!"

iv. Omnibus Driver.--_Old acquaintance_. "'Ave a drop, Bill?"

_Driver._ "Why, yer see, Jim, this 'ere young hoss has only been in 'arness once afore, and he's such a beggar to bolt, ten to one if I leave 'im he'll be a-runnin' hoff, and a smashin' into suthun.

Howsoever--here--(_handing reins to a timid pa.s.senger_)--lay hold, sir, I'LL CHANCE IT!"

v. Costermonger (_to extremely genteel person_).--"I say, guv'ner, give us a hist with this 'ere bilin' o' greens!" (A large hamper of market stuff.)