CHAPTER XI. 5B A. The first rule is this : A consonant betwixt two vowels must be joined to the latter of them, as a-bide, pa-per, sta -leed; except the letter x, which is always joined to the vowelthat goes -before, as ox-en, ex-er-cise. Observe here, that ch, ph, th, and sh, are to be counted single consonants, and belong to this rule, as fa-ther, cypher, except where they are sounded apart, as ùp-hour, pot-hook, grass-hopper. 6 Q. Are there not some words wherein a single consonant, between two vowels, is pronounced in the former syllable ; as image, body, mother ; and some others ? A. In all such words the sound of the consonant is truly double, and belongs to both syllables; but custom has determin- ed that the consonant shall be rather joined to the latter in writing and spelling, as i-mage, bo-dq, mo-ther. 7 Q. What is the second rule for true spelling ? A. When two consonants of the same kind come together in the middle of a word, they must be parted, that is, one to the former syllable, and the other to the latter, as bor-row, coin. 2uin, lit-tle. 8 Q. What is the third rule? A. When several consonants come together in the middle of a word, thy must be placed in the syllables according to the distinct sounds ; as in the words.re-store, be-speak, a-skew, a- squint, fa-ble, all the middle consonants belong to the last sylla- ble ; but the very same consonants in mas-ter, whis-per, bas-ket, mus-quet, pub-lish, must be divided, one to the first syllable, and the other to the latter, because they are so pronounced. O Q. What is the fourth rule ? A. When two vowelscome together in the middle of a word, and both are fully pronounced in distinct sounds, they must be divided in distinct sounds, as ere-ate, ru-in, No-oh; though the very same vowels are diphthongs in the wordsfear, guilt, goat, and make but one syllable. CHAP. XI. Of Compound and Derivative Words. I. QUESTION. WHAT sort of words are excepted from these particular rules ? Answer. Compound words and derivatives. 2 Q. What is a compound word ? A. A cpmppund word is either made up of. two distinct words, as where-in, thankful, sap-less, cart-horse, up-hold; or it ismade of one word, which is called the primitive, and a syllable going before it which is called a preposition ; such as -a'd, en, nn, sub, per, de, dis, pre, trans, re, Sic. whence arise
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