Orthography Part 30

"_I_const.i.tuting or ending an unaccented syllable, not initial, is always short, and is usually short even in initial syllables, if unaccented."

divide tirade sentinel fidelity residence direct intimate continent digest levity finance indivisible defensible hilarious reticent imitate equidistant predicate maritime reticule piazza n.o.bility finance invitation direction

In the _initial_ syllables _i_, _bi_, _chi_, _cli_, _cri_, _pri_, _tri_, however, _i_ is generally _long_.

idea biology climatic primeval tripod idle Chinese criterion triangular triune isothermal chirography biennial binomial priority

#[Fifth Month.]#

_E_ before terminal _n_ should always be silent in participles, and also in most other words.

given stolen ridden bidden forsaken taken proven shaken woven gotten broken driven written shaven risen spoken frozen arisen chidden smitten fallen hidden beaten eaten stricken

also

heaven oaken happen burden leaven often leaden seven garden brazen widen golden even eleven christen

But in the following words _e_ should be sounded:

hyphen chicken marten lichen sudden linden linen gluten mitten aspen

_E_ should also be sounded in any word (not a participle) in which terminal _en_ is immediately preceded by _l_, _m_, _n_, or _r_.

women Ellen Helen omen pollen barren linen woolen Allen Warren

#[Sixth Month.]#

"_E_ before terminal _l_ should usually be sounded."

Abel model morsel cancel marvel level travel rebel gravel barrel nickel apparel towel channel kennel chapel citadel revel Mabel libel camel laurel bevel funnel parcel

But in the following words and in their derivatives _e_ before terminal _l_ should not be sounded:

easel weasel ravel mantel shekel navel chattel shrivel drivel snivel shovel grovel mussel hazel teasel

#[Seventh Month.]#

"In most words _i_ before terminal _l_ or _n_ should be sounded."

Latin vigil anvil goblin coffin cavil cabin council rosin origin javelin pencil axil a.s.sa.s.sin tranquil resin bobbin violin peril moccasin retail satin utensil pistil daffodil

In the following words _i_ should not be sounded:

devil basin evil cousin weevil raisin

#[Eighth Month.]#

"_I_ accented in most words from the French has the sound of long _e_."

pique quarantine police critique unique machine routine ravine regime intrigue caprice suite valise Bastile magazine guillotine fatigue antique

SEVENTH YEAR.

RULES OF SPELLING.

Many people think that rules of spelling are of no value, because they are hard to remember and because of numerous exceptions. This is certainly true of a great many such rules (and there are a great many); but three or four of these rules apply to so many words difficult to spell, and they have such a small number of exceptions that they are well worth while. Several hundred words are spelled according to the first rule given below. The rule itself is short, and all of the exceptions could be learned "for keeps" by a pupil in an hour. But _pupils must have drill in applying the rules_ or they may be able to repeat the rules perfectly and glibly and not be able to spell the words coming under them.

Since the rule given for the work of the first month, seventh year, and that given for the second month, are counterparts, each of the other, I prefer to take them together. Knowing that "_silent final e is dropped when a suffix beginning with a vowel is added_", we naturally infer its counterpart, viz.: "_Silent final e is retained when a suffix beginning with a consonant is added._"

To bring about the necessary drill and insure attention to the application of the rule, I suggest that a cla.s.s of pupils, reciting by turns, spell at least twenty-five words according to the following model. [The words are on the board in this form: love + able, care + less.]

"The suffix _able_ begins with the vowel _a_; therefore when it is added to the word _love_ the final silent _e_ is dropped, and the word is spelled _lovable_." Or,

"The suffix _less_ begins with the consonant _l_; therefore, when it is added to the word _care_ the final silent _e_ is not dropped, and the word is spelled _careless_."

Words to be spelled according to this model should be mixed,-those in which the suffix to be added begins with a vowel mixed with those in which the suffix begins with a consonant. Exceptions ought to be thrown into the mixture, and when a pupil comes to an exception, he can proceed according to the model, concluding with, "but this word is an exception to the rule".

Fifty words are here given to ill.u.s.trate this rule, but pupils who want to do thorough work should spell several such fifties.

#[First Month.]#

love-able adventure-ous decide-ing care-less change-ing ice-berg blame-able extreme-ly house-keeper achieve-ment fickle-ness idle-ness brake-man fore-cast excite-ment cure-able compare-able console-able discourage-ment continue-ally endure-ance prove-able contrive-ance amaze-ment move-able guide-ance fierce-ness acquire-ing forgive-ness peace-ful else-where hate-ful deface-ment enlarge-ment believe-ing disgrace-ful admire-able converse-ed blue-ish abide-ing hedge-hog lodge-ing advertise-ment achieve-ing amuse-ment eye-brow hoa.r.s.e-ness dine-ing pursue-ing argue-ing revenge-ful

EXCEPTIONS.

Words ending in _ce_ and _ge_ retain the _e_ when a suffix beginning with _a_ or _o_ is added.

changeable challengeable p.r.o.nounceable exchangeable peaceable advantageous chargeable serviceable outrageous manageable traceable courageous marriageable noticeable vengeance

OTHER EXCEPTIONS.

hoeing singeing seer nursling truly shoeing tingeing seeing loathsome duty toeing freeing agreeable awful wisdom dyeing fleeing mileage duly wholly

Five other exceptions, to be remembered together: argument, judgment, lodgment, abridgment, acknowledgment.

The exceptions here given, which are practically all of the exceptions to this rule, should be reviewed until they cannot be forgotten. The value of the rule depends much on a thorough committal of the exceptions.