INFLECTION. (18)
Inflection is a bending or sliding of the voice either upward or downward.
The upward or rising inflection is an upward slide of the voice, and is marked by the acute accent, thus, ('); as,
Did you call'? Is he sick'?
The downward or falling inflection is a downward slide of the voice, and is marked by the grave accent, thus, ('); as,
Where is London'? Where have you been'?
Sometimes both the rising and falling inflections are given to the same sound. Such sounds are designated by the circumflex, thus, (v) or thus, (^). The former is called the rising circumflex; the latter, the falling circumflex; as,
But nobody can bear the death of Clodius.
When several successive syllables are uttered without either the upward or downward slide, they are said to be uttered in a monotone, which is marked thus, (—); as,
Roll on, thou deep and dark blue Ocean—roll
EXAMPLES. (19)
Does he read correctly' or incorrectly'?
In reading this sentence, the voice should slide somewhat as represented in the following diagram:
Does he read cor-rectly or incorrect-ly?
If you said vinegar, I said sugar,
To be read thus:
If you said vinegar, I said sugar,
If you said yes, I said no.
To be read thus:
If you said yes, I said no.
What! did he say no?
To be read thus:
What! did he say no?
He did'; he said no',
To be read thus;
He did; he said no.
Did he do it voluntarily', or involuntarily'?
To be read thus:
Did he do it voluntarily, or involuntarily?
He did it voluntarily', not involuntarily',
To be read thus:
He did it voluntarily, not involuntarily.
EXERCISES. (20)
Do they act prudently', or imprudently'?
Are they at home', or abroad'?
Did you say Europe', or Asia'?
Is he rich', or poor'?
He said pain', not pain'.
Are you engaged', or at leisure'?
Shall I say plain', or pain'?
He went home' not abroad'.
Does he say able', or table'?
He said hazy' not lazy'?
Must I say flat', or flat'?
You should say flat' not flat'.
My father', must I stay'?
Oh! but he paused upon the brink.
It shall go hard with me, but I shall use the weapon.
Heard ye those loud contending waves,
That shook Cecropia's pillar'd state'?
Saw ye the mighty from their graves
Look up', and tremble at your fate'?
First' Fear', his hand, its skill to try',
Amid the chords bewildered laid';
And back recoiled', he knew not why'
E'en at the sound himself had made'.
Where be your gibes' now? your gambols'? your songs'? your flashes of merriment, that were wont to set the table on a roar'?
Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is
Holy; "I dwell in the high and holy place."
FALLING INFLECTION. (21)
RULE I.—Sentences, and parts of sentences which make complete sense in themselves, require the falling inflection.
EXAMPLES. (21)
1. By virtue we secure happiness'.
2. For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven': I will exalt my throne above the stars of God': I will sit, also, upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north'.
3. The wind and the rain are over'; calm is the noon of the day\: the clouds are divided in heaven'; over the green hills flies the inconstant sun'; red through the stormy vale comes down the stream'.
4. This proposition was, however, rejected,' and not merely rejected, but rejected with insult'.
Exception.—Emphasis sometimes reverses this rule, and requires the rising inflection, apparently for the purpose of calling attention to the idea of an unusual manner of expressing it.
EXAMPLES. (21)
1. I should not like to ride in that car'. 2. Look out! A man was drowned there yesterday'. 3. Presumptuous man! the gods' take care of Cato',
RULE II.—The language of emphasis generally requires the falling inflection.
EXAMPLES. (22)
1. Charge', Chester, charge'; on', Stanley, on'.
2. Were I an American, as I am an Englishman, while a single' foreign troop' remained' in my country, I would never' lay down my arms'—never', never', never.'
3. Does anyone suppose that the payment of twenty shillings, would have ruined Mr. Hampden's fortune? No'. But the payment of half twenty shillings, on the principle' it was demanded, would have made him a slave'.
4. I insist' upon this point': I urge' you to it; I press' it, demand' it.
5. All that I have', all that I am', and all that I hope' in this life, I am now ready', here, to stake' upon it.
RULE III.—Interrogative sentences and members of sentences, which can not be answered by yes or no, generally require the falling inflection.
EXAMPLE. (22)
1. How many books did he purchase'?
2. Why reason ye these things in your hearts'?
3. What see' you, that you frown so heavily to-day'?
4. Ah! what is that flame which now bursts on his eye'?
5. Whence this pleasing hope', this fond desire',
This longing after immortality'?
Exception.—When questions usually requiring the falling inflection are emphatic or repeated, they take the rising inflection.
EXAMPLES.