(_a_) When the vowel is short; _tab-let_, _res-cue_, _mus-ket_.
(_b_) When the consonants are _st_, _str_, or _sp_, if either the
preceding or following vowel is accented; _mis-tress_, _aus-tere_,
_oys-ter_, _sus-pect_.
When a consonant is doubled (not forming a digraph) the two are generally
separated; _beg-gar_, _bril-liant_, _cun-ning_.
The old-fashioned method of oral spelling by syllables
_m-a-s-mas-t-e-r-ter-master_ will be found extremely useful in teaching
correct syllabication. It is recommended that constant use be made of it in
spelling drill.
ACCENT
When a word consists of two syllables one of them receives more stress of
voice than the other. This stress of voice is called accent. If the word
consists of three or more syllables there is usually another syllable
stressed in somewhat less degree. This is called a secondary accent. In
some cases there may even be a third accent if the word is very long;
_In'-come_, _val-e-tu'-di-na'-ri-an_. This fact arises from the tendency
natural to all human speech to take more or less musical forms. The
monotony of a series of stressed or of unstressed sounds would be
unbearable. The pronunciation of such a series would be a highly artificial
and very difficult performance. Correct pronunciation is very greatly
concerned with the proper placing of the accent. Indeed the meaning of a
familiar word may be quite obscured by a misplaced accent.
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