mencement, The Contrast, The Series, The Question and Answer, The Echo, The Antecedent, The Variation, and The Cadence. I shall not contend for the strictly logical propriety of this classification, but shall content myself with hoping that it may have a tendency to place several important particulars of pronunciation in a clearer and more distinct point of view; and by that means gain them a more attentive consideration, and an easier admission to the understanding. Nothing can be a greater proof of the advancement of science than a new Nomenclature. If new combinations and new distinctions of ideas are discovered, there must necessarily be new terms to express them.

The Interrogation.

It must be first observed, that, with respect to pronunciation, all questions may be divided into two classes; namely, into such as are formed by the interrogative pronouns or adverbs, and into such as are formed only by an inversion of the common arrangement of the words *; the first with respect to inflexion of voice, except in some few cases, may be considered as purely declarative; and like declarative sentences, they require the falling inflexion at the end and the last, with some few exceptions, require the rising inflexion of voice on the last word; and it is this rising inflexion at the end which distinguishes them from almost every other species of sentence: -of both these in their order.

* Mr. Harris calls the former of these questions indefinite, and the latter definite; as these may be answered by yes or no, while those often require a whole sentence to answer them. See Hermes, b. i. p. 151.

The indefinite Question, or the Question with the Interrogative Words.

RULE I. When an interrogative sentence commences with any of the interrogative pronouns or adverbs, with respect to inflexion, elevation, or depression of voice, it is pronounced exactly like a declarative sentence.

EXAMPLES.

How can he exalt his thoughts to any thing great and noble, who only believes that, after a short turn on the stage of this world, he is to sink into oblivion, and to lose his consciousness for ever? Spectator, No 210.

As an illustration of the rule, we need only alter two or three of the words to reduce it to a declarative sentence; and we shall find the inflexion, elevation, and depression of voice on every part of it the same.

He cannot exalt his thoughts to any thing great or noble, because he only believes that, after a short turn on the stage of this world, he is to sink into oblivion, and to lose his consciousness for ever.

Here we perceive, that the two sentences, though one is an interrogation, and the other a declaration, end both with the same inflexion of voice, and that the falling inflexion; but if we convert these words into an interrogation, by leaving out the interrogative word, we shall soon perceive the difference.

Can he exalt his thoughts to any thing great or noble, who only believes that, after a short turn on the stage of this world, he is to sink into oblivion, and to lose his consciousness for éver?

In pronouncing this sentence with propriety, we find the voice slide upwards on the last words contrary to the inflexion it takes in the two former examples. If grammarians, therefore, by the elevation of voice, which they attribute to the question, mean the rising inflexion, their rule, with some few exceptions, is true only of questions formed without the interro

gative words; for the others, though they may have a force and loudness on the last words, if they happen to be emphatical, have no more of that distinctive inflexion which is peculiar to the former kind of interrogation, than if they were no questions at all. Let us take another example: -Why should not a female character be as ridiculous in a man, as a male character in one of the female sex? Here the voice is no more elevated at the end than if I were to say-A female character is just as ridiculous in a man, as a male character in one of the female ser; but if I say, Is not a female character as ridiculous in a man, as a male character in one of the female sex? Here not only the emphasis, but the rising inflexion is on the last words; essentially different from the inflexion on these words in the first question, Why should not a female character be as ridiculous in a man, as a male character in one of the female sex? We may presume, therefore, that it is the emphasis, with which these questions sometimes terminate, that has led the generality of grammarians to conclude, that all questions terminate in an elevation of voice, and so to confound that essential difference there is between a question formed with and without the interrogative words.

RULE II. Interrogative sentences commencing with interrogative words, and consisting of members in a series depending necessarily on each other for sense, are to be pronounced as a series of members of the same kind in a declarative sentence. See Series, page 106.

EXAMPLES.

From whence can he produce such cogent exhortations to the practice of every vìrtue, such ardent excitements to piety and devotion, and such assistance to attain them, as those which are to be met with throughout every page of these inimitable writings? Jenyns's View of the Internal Evid. p. 41.

Where, amidst the dark clouds of pagan philosophy, can he show us such a clear prospect of a future státe, the immortality of the soul, the resurrection of the dead, and the general judgment, as in St. Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians? Ibid. p. 40.

The definite Question, or the Question without the interrogative Words.

RULE I. When interrogative sentences are formed without the interrogative words, the last word must have the rising inflexion. If there be an emphatical word in the last member, followed by several words depending on it, which conclude the sentence, both the emphatical word and the concluding words are to be pronounced with the rising inflexion*: thus the words making one, and cause of the shipwreck, in the two following examples, have all the rising inflexion.

EXAMPLES.

Would it not employ a beau prettily enough, if, instead of eternally playing with his snuff-box, he spent some part of his time in making one? Spectator, No 43.

If the owner of a vessel had fitted it out with every thing necessary, and provided to the utmost of his power againt the dangers of the sea, and that a storm should afterwards arise and break the masts, would any one in that case accuse him of being the cause of the shipwreck?

Demosthenes on the Crown. Rollin,

Would an infinitely wise Being make such glorious beings for so méan a purpose? Can he delight in the production of such abòrtive intelligencies, such short-lived reasonable beings? Would he give us talents that are not to be exérted, capacities that are not to be grátified? Spectator, No 111.

It is said of Diogenes, that meeting a young man who was going to a feast, he took him up in the street and carried him home to his friends as one who was running into imminent danger, had he not prevented him. What would that philosopher

* That is, the word one is to be pronounced as if it were an unaccented syllable of the word making, and as if written making one. See The different Forces of Emphatical Words.

have said had he been present at the gluttony of a modern meal?

Would not he have thought the master of a family mad, and have begged his servants to tie down his hands, had he seen him devour fowl, fish, and flesh; swallow oil, and vinegar, wines, and spices: throw down sallads of twenty different herbs, sauces of a hundred ingredients, confections and fruits of numberless sweets and flavours? Spectator, No 195.

Should a spirit of superior rank, who is a stranger to human nature, accidentally alight upon the Earth, and take a survey of its inhabitants, what would his notions of us bè? Would not he think that we are a species of beings, made for quite different ends and purposes than what we really áre? Must not he imagine that we were placed in this world to get riches and honours? Would not he think that it was our duty to toil after wealth, and station and title? Nay, would not he believe we were forbidden poverty by threats of eternal punishment, and enjoined to pursue our pleasures under pain of damnation? He would certainly imagine that we were influenced by a scheme of duties quite opposite to those which are indeed prescribed to us. Ibid. No 575.

In these examples we find, that, however variously the voice may employ itself on the rest of the sentence, the concluding words on the last member must necessarily be suspended with the rising reflexion. The only exception to this rule is, when these interrogative sentences are connected by the disjunctive or; for in that case the sentence or sentences that succeeded the conjunction are pronounced as if they were formed by the interrogative words, or were merely declarative.

RULE II. When interrogative sentences connected by the disjunctive or, succeed each other, the first ends with the rising, and the rest with the falling inflexion.

EXAMPLES.

Shall we in your person crówn the author of the public calamities, or shall we destroy him?

Eschines on the Crown. Rollin.