The treasury of knowledge and library of reference / [Samuel Maunder].

Maunder, Samuel, 1785-1849

Date:: 1848

Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The treasury of knowledge and library of reference / [Samuel Maunder]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

19/976

Introtfuftrrry Oft'Jcr&atfnu^. guide for the correct p^onunciatio^ of words, they will often, very often, be left to the mere mechanical operation of the memory. In fact, I have never known an instance of Orthoepy having been studied in this way, in which the learner did not continually discover his own helplessness, as well as the imbecility of the system, either by his want of confidence when he met with a word with which he did not happen to be familiar, or by some ludicrous misconception of his “ pro- nouncing” instructor. Dr. Johnson observes, that “most writers of English Grammars have given long tables of words pronounced otherwise than they are written ; and seem not sufficiently to have considered, that, of English, as of all living tongues, there is a double pronunciation : one, cursory and colloquial; the other, regular and solemn. The cursory pronunciation is always vague and un- certain, being made different, in different mouths, by negligence, nnskilfulness, or affectation. The solemn pronunciation, though by no means immutable and permanent, is yet always less remote from the orthography, and less liable to capricious innovation. They have, however, generally formed their tables ac- cording to the cursory speech of those with whom they happened to converse, and, concluding that the whole nation combines to vitiate language in one manner, have often established the jargon of the lowest of the people as the model of speech.” For my own part, I consider that a correct pronunciation, like a polite address, is seldom thoroughly acquired without an intercourse with good society, or the advantage of having received instruction, in early life, from persons whose previous habits and studies qualified them for the task ; and such, I presume, are the majority of those who undertake the education of respectable youth. As far as any assistance can be derived from a careful accentuation of the words, that assistance may be found here; the accentual mark being placed not merely on the emphatic syllable, but on the right letter of that syllable ; and, where the use of the double accent would better explain the intention, it has been invariably adopted. [See also “ Concise Directions ” at the end of Part I.] For a considerable time post I have been collecting and arranging materials for a philological work, in which more than ordinary attention will be paid to rhe- torical acciuacy, and, consequently, to the powers of letters in their various com- binations ; but I found it much too diffuse for my present purpose, and being unwilling to mutilate that which at some future period may appear in a complete form, I was glad to avail myself of the Compendium herein printed, which, under the title of The Miniature English Grammar,” * has already received the ap- probation of discerning critics. The “Engiish Verbal Distinctions,” which follow, are, I trust, not less appropriate: the mode of classing them is both novel and discriminative: and I feel satisfied they will be well received by all who take the trouble to examine them. Part n. commences with a iTeio Universal Gazetteer; in which, I believe, all the information really necessary in a work of geographical reference will be found condensed. It cannot be expected that copious descriptions of every place could be given, but no important features have been omitted, nor has anything that could add to its usefulness been overlooked. Appended to the Gazetteer, are se- veral Statistical Tables, which, together with IVic List of Cities, Market-Towns, Boroughs, Sec. of the United Kingdom, have been derived from the best sources for accuracy, and cannot fail to be serviceable. The Compendious Classical Dictionary, it will be seen, is far more compre- hensive than the usual abridged accounts of the Heathen Deities j and, tliough • Upon a close eiamlnallon of thcOnAHMAR, It w.is thought expedient to make some material additions and alterations in various parts. It l», consequently, rather less concise than l«fore; but the Kdltor humbly presumes that the few auditional pages add to the utility of the volume.