An Introduction to the Pronunciation of French
From the Author's PREFATORY NOTE.
There is surely no need to convince intelligent American teachers of the deplorable lack of ability to pronounce the French language in our school and college classes. But, when the defects of an old method have become apparent, and a scientific but practical system stands ready to take its place, it is certainly time to expect a change for the better. According to the old plan of teaching pronunciation, the student first learned what the French sounds are "like in English," and with these half-truths in mind was sent floundering through chance selections of the text nearest at hand; system, scientific analysis, and prepared exercises were completely lacking. The new method, though scientific, can be made eminently practical, and need never be technical. It aims to present a rational explanation of the phenomena of phonetics ("the science of articulate sound "), rules for the proper production of the sounds of the language, and graded exercises to train the vocal organs. Surely it would seem wiser to spend the early months of one's work in the language learning these things and repeating carefully prepared exercises, than in blundering through pages of unpronounceable French.
This book is the result of study and observation in France, and of research among the most recent scholarly works on the subject of practical phonetics, — a science of whose unique value in the study of pronunciation I have personal knowledge. In preparing my work I have freely used Franz Beyer's "Französische Phonetik für Lehrer und Studierende," second revised edition, Cöthen, 1897, Passy's "Les Sons du Français," Paris, 1899, and the "Précis de Prononciation Française," by Rousselot and Laclotte, Paris, 1903; and I have found many valuable rules for quality in Prof. Louis Bevier's "French Grammar," Henry Holt and Co., New York, 1897. Other non-original sources are the lectures of Professor Colardeau, of Grenoble University, France, and the lectures and private lessons of M. Adolphe Zünd-Burguet of Paris. My guide in debatable pronunciations has been, in most cases, the "Dictionnaire Phonétique de la Langue Française," by H. Michaelis and P. Passy (Hannover, Berlin, 1897); this is cited as the "Dict.-phon." I must, furthermore, cheerfully acknowledge my indebtedness, for a suggestion or two, to publications like my own by Prof. John E. Matzke ("A Primer of French Pronunciation," Henry Holt, New York) and M. Burguet ("Méthode Pratique, Physiologique et Comparée de Prononciation Française," Paris, Soudier, 1902).
The aim of this "Introduction" is purely practical. It is neither a contribution to the study of phonetics, nor an exhaustive treatise on shades of pronunciation. It does not contain a word about "pitch," gives but scant attention to "length," and intentionally omits a few of the most complicated rules for quality. All this is true, because my little book is meant to serve a practical purpose in an elementary way, and because I believe that, for the purpose of mastering the finer points, elaborate rules are too often but a clumsy substitute for unconscious imitation....
–P. H. C.
"1102666762"
There is surely no need to convince intelligent American teachers of the deplorable lack of ability to pronounce the French language in our school and college classes. But, when the defects of an old method have become apparent, and a scientific but practical system stands ready to take its place, it is certainly time to expect a change for the better. According to the old plan of teaching pronunciation, the student first learned what the French sounds are "like in English," and with these half-truths in mind was sent floundering through chance selections of the text nearest at hand; system, scientific analysis, and prepared exercises were completely lacking. The new method, though scientific, can be made eminently practical, and need never be technical. It aims to present a rational explanation of the phenomena of phonetics ("the science of articulate sound "), rules for the proper production of the sounds of the language, and graded exercises to train the vocal organs. Surely it would seem wiser to spend the early months of one's work in the language learning these things and repeating carefully prepared exercises, than in blundering through pages of unpronounceable French.
This book is the result of study and observation in France, and of research among the most recent scholarly works on the subject of practical phonetics, — a science of whose unique value in the study of pronunciation I have personal knowledge. In preparing my work I have freely used Franz Beyer's "Französische Phonetik für Lehrer und Studierende," second revised edition, Cöthen, 1897, Passy's "Les Sons du Français," Paris, 1899, and the "Précis de Prononciation Française," by Rousselot and Laclotte, Paris, 1903; and I have found many valuable rules for quality in Prof. Louis Bevier's "French Grammar," Henry Holt and Co., New York, 1897. Other non-original sources are the lectures of Professor Colardeau, of Grenoble University, France, and the lectures and private lessons of M. Adolphe Zünd-Burguet of Paris. My guide in debatable pronunciations has been, in most cases, the "Dictionnaire Phonétique de la Langue Française," by H. Michaelis and P. Passy (Hannover, Berlin, 1897); this is cited as the "Dict.-phon." I must, furthermore, cheerfully acknowledge my indebtedness, for a suggestion or two, to publications like my own by Prof. John E. Matzke ("A Primer of French Pronunciation," Henry Holt, New York) and M. Burguet ("Méthode Pratique, Physiologique et Comparée de Prononciation Française," Paris, Soudier, 1902).
The aim of this "Introduction" is purely practical. It is neither a contribution to the study of phonetics, nor an exhaustive treatise on shades of pronunciation. It does not contain a word about "pitch," gives but scant attention to "length," and intentionally omits a few of the most complicated rules for quality. All this is true, because my little book is meant to serve a practical purpose in an elementary way, and because I believe that, for the purpose of mastering the finer points, elaborate rules are too often but a clumsy substitute for unconscious imitation....
–P. H. C.
An Introduction to the Pronunciation of French
From the Author's PREFATORY NOTE.
There is surely no need to convince intelligent American teachers of the deplorable lack of ability to pronounce the French language in our school and college classes. But, when the defects of an old method have become apparent, and a scientific but practical system stands ready to take its place, it is certainly time to expect a change for the better. According to the old plan of teaching pronunciation, the student first learned what the French sounds are "like in English," and with these half-truths in mind was sent floundering through chance selections of the text nearest at hand; system, scientific analysis, and prepared exercises were completely lacking. The new method, though scientific, can be made eminently practical, and need never be technical. It aims to present a rational explanation of the phenomena of phonetics ("the science of articulate sound "), rules for the proper production of the sounds of the language, and graded exercises to train the vocal organs. Surely it would seem wiser to spend the early months of one's work in the language learning these things and repeating carefully prepared exercises, than in blundering through pages of unpronounceable French.
This book is the result of study and observation in France, and of research among the most recent scholarly works on the subject of practical phonetics, — a science of whose unique value in the study of pronunciation I have personal knowledge. In preparing my work I have freely used Franz Beyer's "Französische Phonetik für Lehrer und Studierende," second revised edition, Cöthen, 1897, Passy's "Les Sons du Français," Paris, 1899, and the "Précis de Prononciation Française," by Rousselot and Laclotte, Paris, 1903; and I have found many valuable rules for quality in Prof. Louis Bevier's "French Grammar," Henry Holt and Co., New York, 1897. Other non-original sources are the lectures of Professor Colardeau, of Grenoble University, France, and the lectures and private lessons of M. Adolphe Zünd-Burguet of Paris. My guide in debatable pronunciations has been, in most cases, the "Dictionnaire Phonétique de la Langue Française," by H. Michaelis and P. Passy (Hannover, Berlin, 1897); this is cited as the "Dict.-phon." I must, furthermore, cheerfully acknowledge my indebtedness, for a suggestion or two, to publications like my own by Prof. John E. Matzke ("A Primer of French Pronunciation," Henry Holt, New York) and M. Burguet ("Méthode Pratique, Physiologique et Comparée de Prononciation Française," Paris, Soudier, 1902).
The aim of this "Introduction" is purely practical. It is neither a contribution to the study of phonetics, nor an exhaustive treatise on shades of pronunciation. It does not contain a word about "pitch," gives but scant attention to "length," and intentionally omits a few of the most complicated rules for quality. All this is true, because my little book is meant to serve a practical purpose in an elementary way, and because I believe that, for the purpose of mastering the finer points, elaborate rules are too often but a clumsy substitute for unconscious imitation....
–P. H. C.
There is surely no need to convince intelligent American teachers of the deplorable lack of ability to pronounce the French language in our school and college classes. But, when the defects of an old method have become apparent, and a scientific but practical system stands ready to take its place, it is certainly time to expect a change for the better. According to the old plan of teaching pronunciation, the student first learned what the French sounds are "like in English," and with these half-truths in mind was sent floundering through chance selections of the text nearest at hand; system, scientific analysis, and prepared exercises were completely lacking. The new method, though scientific, can be made eminently practical, and need never be technical. It aims to present a rational explanation of the phenomena of phonetics ("the science of articulate sound "), rules for the proper production of the sounds of the language, and graded exercises to train the vocal organs. Surely it would seem wiser to spend the early months of one's work in the language learning these things and repeating carefully prepared exercises, than in blundering through pages of unpronounceable French.
This book is the result of study and observation in France, and of research among the most recent scholarly works on the subject of practical phonetics, — a science of whose unique value in the study of pronunciation I have personal knowledge. In preparing my work I have freely used Franz Beyer's "Französische Phonetik für Lehrer und Studierende," second revised edition, Cöthen, 1897, Passy's "Les Sons du Français," Paris, 1899, and the "Précis de Prononciation Française," by Rousselot and Laclotte, Paris, 1903; and I have found many valuable rules for quality in Prof. Louis Bevier's "French Grammar," Henry Holt and Co., New York, 1897. Other non-original sources are the lectures of Professor Colardeau, of Grenoble University, France, and the lectures and private lessons of M. Adolphe Zünd-Burguet of Paris. My guide in debatable pronunciations has been, in most cases, the "Dictionnaire Phonétique de la Langue Française," by H. Michaelis and P. Passy (Hannover, Berlin, 1897); this is cited as the "Dict.-phon." I must, furthermore, cheerfully acknowledge my indebtedness, for a suggestion or two, to publications like my own by Prof. John E. Matzke ("A Primer of French Pronunciation," Henry Holt, New York) and M. Burguet ("Méthode Pratique, Physiologique et Comparée de Prononciation Française," Paris, Soudier, 1902).
The aim of this "Introduction" is purely practical. It is neither a contribution to the study of phonetics, nor an exhaustive treatise on shades of pronunciation. It does not contain a word about "pitch," gives but scant attention to "length," and intentionally omits a few of the most complicated rules for quality. All this is true, because my little book is meant to serve a practical purpose in an elementary way, and because I believe that, for the purpose of mastering the finer points, elaborate rules are too often but a clumsy substitute for unconscious imitation....
–P. H. C.
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An Introduction to the Pronunciation of French
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Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781663576422 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Barnes & Noble Press |
| Publication date: | 10/01/2020 |
| Pages: | 86 |
| Sales rank: | 710,689 |
| Product dimensions: | 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.21(d) |
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