Anonymous, Grammar manuscript 1, page 1, pre-1830

Anonymous, Grammar manuscript 1, page 1, pre-1830 English Grammar is the art of speaking and writing the English language with propriety. It is divided into four parts viz. Orthography, Etymology Syntax and Prosody, Orthography teaches us the nature and powers of letters, and the just method of spelling words. A letter is the first principle or least part of a word. The letters of the English language, called the English alphabet are twenty six in number. These letters are the representations of certain articulate sounds the elements of the language. An articulate sound is the sound of the human voice formed by the organ of speech Letters are divided into vowels and consonants A vowel is an articulate sound that can be perfectly uttered by itself; as, a, e, o; which are formed without the help of any other sound; A consonant is an articulate sound which cannot be perfectly uttered without the help of a vowel as b, d, f, l; which require vowels to express them fully The vowels are a, e. i, o, u, and sometimes w, and y. W, and Y, are consonants when they begin a word or syllable; but in every other situation they are vowels. Consonants are divided into mutes and simivowels. The mutes cannot be sounded at all without the aid of a vowel, They are b, p, t, [?], k, and c, and g, hard The simivowels have an imperfect sound of themselves. They are f, [b?], m, n, r, v, [w?], z, t, and g. soft. Four of the simivowels namely l, m, n, r, are also distingu =ished by the name of liquids from their readily uniting with other consonants and flowing as it were into their sounds. A diphthong is the union of two vowels pronounced by a single impulse of the voice; as ea in beat, ou in sound A tripthong is the union of three vowels pronounced in like manner; as eau, in beau, iew in view A proper diphthong is that in which both the vowels are sounded as; oi in voice, ou in ounce. An improper diphthong has but one of the vowels sounded as in ea in eagle oa in boat General observation on the sounds of the letters A has four sounds; the long or slender, the broad the short or open, and the middle, The long; as in name basin creation, The broad as in call, wall, all, The short; as in barrel, fancy, glass, The middle; as in ar, farm Sources Various Known Unknown Author Lindley Murray Book Title An English Grammar: Comprehending the Principles and Rules of the Language, illustrated by appropriate exercises and a Key to the Exercises Publisher Date published 1795 Writer Anonymous Date pre-1830, as identified by Aidan Meehan Paper xcm x xcm; in in, Pen Penmanship Style File name Unknown2 18xx-001-001-001