EXERCISE
10.
Divide the words in the following passage into syllables and pronounce them, placing the accent as indicated:
Vā́dĕ ăd fŏrmī́căm, Ō pĭ́gĕr, ĕt cōnsī́dĕrā vĭ́ās ĕ́iŭs ĕt dĭ́scĕ săpĭĕ́ntĭăm: quae cŭm nōn hắbĕăt dŭ́cĕm nĕc praecĕptṓrĕm nĕc prī́ncĭpĕm, pắrăt ĭn aestā́tĕ cĭ́bŭm sĭ́bĭ ĕt cŏ́ngrĕgăt ĭn mĕ́ssĕ quŏd cŏ́mĕdăt.
[Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: which, having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer and gathereth her food in the harvest.]
QUANTITY
11. The quantity of a vowel or a syllable is the time it takes to pronounce it. Correct pronunciation and accent depend upon the proper observance of quantity.
12. Quantity of Vowels. Vowels are either long ( ¯ ) or short ( ˘ ). In this book the long vowels are marked. Unmarked vowels are to be considered short.
- 1. A vowel is short before another vowel or h ; as pŏ-ē'-ta, tră'-hō.
- 2. A vowel is short before nt and nd, before final m or t, and, except in words of one syllable, before final l or r. Thus a'-mănt, a-măn'-dus, a-mā'-băm, a-mā'-băt, a'-ni-măl, a'-mŏr.
- 3. A vowel is long before nf, ns, nx, and nct. Thus īn'-fe-rō, re'-gēns, sān'-xī, sānc'-tus.
- 4. Diphthongs are always long, and are not marked.
13. Quantity of Syllables. Syllables are either long or short, and their quantity must be carefully distinguished from that of vowels.
- 1. A syllable is short,
- a. If it ends in a short vowel; as ă'-mō, pĭ'-grī.
Note. In final syllables the short vowel may be followed by a final consonant. Thus the word mĕ-mŏ'-rĭ-ăm contains four short syllables. In the first three a short vowel ends the syllable, in the last the short vowel is followed by a final consonant.
