FRENCH GRAMMAR. FRENCH GRAMMAR is the art of speaking and writing the French language correctly. To speak and to write, so as to convey a correct idea of our thoughts, we employ words. Words are composed of letters, a collection of which is called the Alphabet. Part First. OF THE ALPHABET, ITS DIVISIONS AND SOUNDS. The French Alphabet contains twenty-five letters, namedα b, C, d, e, f, 9, h, i, j, k, 1, m, Ah, bay, say, day, a, eff, zhai, ash, ee, jhee, kah, l, m, n, 0, P, r, S, t, u, v, n, X, y, 2. o, pey, ku, air, s, tey, u, vey, eeks, egraic, zed, These letters are divided into vowels and consonants. OF THE VOWELS. There are five vowels, a, e, i, o, u. Vowels are divided into simple, compound, and nasal. A SIMPLE VOWEL is a sound represented by one vowel only, as i in ici, here; a in tabac, snuff. A COMPOUND VOWEL is one sound represented by the union of two or more vowels, as ou in vous, you; eau in peau, skin. A NASAL VOWEL is a sound represented by adding the letter m or n to a simple or compound vowel, as an in dans, in; on in don, gift; ain in pain, bread; aim in faim, hunger. From these vowels are produced fifteen simple sounds; all other combinations of sounds must be produced from these fifteen sounds. B 1. e, at the end of words is mute, or faintly heard. See page 5. 2. é, this close accent, called acute, is used over the vowel e only, and imparts to it always the sound of a in ape. 3. è, this open accent, called grave, is used over the vowels a, e, u, but affects the e only, to which it imparts the sound of e in press. Note. There is another accent, called circumflex, which is used to impart to the vowel over which it is placed, not a new, but a longer, a fuller sound than the same vowel had before; so â in château, is the same sound as a 2, in bas, stocking, but longer and fuller; it is used for the same purpose over e and ai, 5, as bête, beast; maître, master; over î, 6, epitre, epistle; over o, 8, côte, coast; over u, 9, flûte, flute; over eu, 10, jeune, fast; and over ou, 11, in croûte, crust. 4. The lips forward as in the act of whistling, then articulate a tone, and the sound of the French u will be produced. 5. This compound vowel is generally pronounced é, 4, when final, and è, 5, when followed by a consonant. 6. au, is generally preceded by e, which is mute. 7. This sound is a little longer than the guttural e, in le, pronounced like u long in būr. S. The lips not quite so close, nor quite so extended, as in pronouncing u, the tongue in the same position. 9. In pronouncing these nasal vowels a teacher must be consulted. A DIPHTHONG is an assemblage of vowels forming but one syllable, producing two sounds by one emission of the voice. A SIMPLE DIPHTHONG is two simple vowels. A COMPOUND DIPHTHONG is a simple and compound vowel, or two compound vowels. A NASAL DIPHTHONG is a simple or compound vowel joined to a nasal vowel. |