CHAPTER XV. without such an opposition, the accent would lie on the last syl lable ; as, Iwould never confórm to their urj£cst practices. As there may be two accents upon one word, so there may be two or three emphasis in one sentence ; as, James is neither a` tool, nor a wit, a blockhead, nor a poet. Now in this sentence, fool, wit, blockhead, poet, are all emphatical words The great and general rule to find out which is the empha- tical word in a sentence, is this ; Consider what is thechief design of the speaker or writer; and that word whieh shows the chief design of the sentence, is the emphatical word : for it is for the sake of that word, or words, the whole sentence seems to be made. There might be some particularrules given to find the em- phatical word, such as these : Ist. When a question is asked, the emphasis often lies on the questioning word, such as, who, what, when, whither; as Who is there? What is the matter? Whither did you go? But 'tis not always so; as, Who was the strongest, or the wisest man ? Inwhieh sentence, wisest and strongest are the emphatical words. 2dly. When two words are set in opposition one to the other, and one of them is pronounced with an emphasis, then the other should have an emphasis also ; as, If they run, we will run, for our feet are as good as theirs. In this sentence they and we, ours and theirs, are the emphatical words. . In readinga discourse which we know not before, sometimes we happen to place the emphasis very improperly ; then we must read the sentence over again, in order to pronounce it with a proper sound: But when a person speaks his own mind, or reads a discourse which he is acquainted with, be scarce ever gives theemphasis to the wrong ward. To make it appear of how great importance it is to place the emphasis aright, let us consider, that the very sense and meaningof a sentence is oftentimes very different, according as the accentor emphasis is laid opon different words ; and the poi- Ocular design Of the speaker is distinguished hereby, as in this short question, May a man walk in at the door now ? If the :emphasis he laid upon the word moan, the proper negative answer to it is, No, but abay may. If the emphasis be laidupon the word walk, the answer is, No, but he may creep in. If the em- phasis be put on the worddoor, the. answer will be, No, but he may at the great gate. And if the emphasis, beplaced onthe word now., the negative answer is plainly this, lac, but he:might yesterday. And let us but consider how impertinent either of these answers will be, if the enquirer did not lay the emphasis on the proper word, that should give the true meaning of his question. Take the utmost care therefore, inreading, todistinguish. the ç3
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