The Project Gutenberg EBook of 1001 Questions and Answers on Orthography and Reading, by B. A. Hathaway This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net Title: 1001 Questions and Answers on Orthography and Reading Author: B. A. Hathaway Release Date: December 21, 2004 [EBook #14403] Language: English Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ORTHOGRAPHY *** Produced by Juliet Sutherland, William Flis, and the PG Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
In presenting this, the seventh book of the "1001 Question and Answer Series," we feel that a great want is partially met. It is evident, from the number of inquiries made for such a book, that the works devoted to the subject of Orthography are very limited.
We are also aware that the Authors of the different Grammars devote such a limited space to the subject of Orthoepy and technical Orthography, that both Teacher and Pupil turn away from the subject in disgust.
In preparing this list of questions and answers we have consulted the best authority of the present day, and believe we have gone over the ground in such a way that it will meet the approval of all interested.
The questions and answers on Reading we trust will add to the interest of the book, and only hope that it will be received with as gracious a welcome and hearty approval as the rest of the series.
PAGE.
Letters, 5
Orthoepy, 13
Substitutes, 17
Definitions and Words, 20
Rules and Terms, 25
Numerical Values of the Letters, 32
Capitals and Italics, 35
Abbreviations, 38
Accent and Punctuation, 40
Diacritical Marks, 44
Prefixes and Suffixes, 46
Promiscuous Questions, 56
Reading and Elocution, 60
Miscellaneous Exercises, 80
1. What is Orthography?
The science and art of the Letters of a language.
2. Of what does Orthography treat?
The nature and power of letters, and correct spelling.
3. From what is the word Orthography derived?
Two Greek words, signifying "To write right."
4. What is a Letter?
A character used to represent an elementary sound, or combination of sounds.
5. What is an Alphabet of a Language?
A complete list of its letters.
6. What is the origin of the word Alphabet?
It is derived from the first two letters of the Greek Alphabet: Alpha and Beta.
7. Where did the Alphabet originate?
The English comes from the Greek, which was brought by Cadmus from Phoenicia, about the year 1490 B.C.
8. What was the first Alphabet ever used?
The Hebrew.
9 How many letters were in the original Alphabet?
Sixteen.
10. Where did the other letters originate?
They have been added since the time of Cadmus, as their use became necessary.
11. What was the last letter added to the English Alphabet?
W.
12. Why was it called W?
On account of it being composed of two u's, or a double u.
14. How many in the Latin Alphabet?
Twenty-five.
15. What is the difference between the Latin Alphabet and the English?
The Latin omits the letter W.
16. What Alphabet has the greatest number of letters?
The Chinese.
17. How many letters in the Chinese Alphabet?
Over two hundred.
18. What is a Perfect Alphabet?
One which contains the same number of letters that it has elementary sounds.
19. Is the English a perfect Alphabet?
It is not.
20. How many Elementary sounds in the English Language?
About forty-three.
21. What is an Imperfect Alphabet?
One in which the number of sounds exceeds the number of letters.
22. What is an Equivocal Alphabet?
An Imperfect one.
23. What is an Unequivocal Alphabet?
Same as Perfect.
24. Is the English Alphabet Equivocal or Unequivocal?
Equivocal.
25. What is a Univocal Alphabet?
One that has a separate character for each elementary sound.
26. What is an Alphabetic Language?
A language in which the characters represent separate articulate sounds.
27. What is a Phonetic Alphabet?
One in which there is a separate character for each elementary sound.
[pg 7]28. Is there any Phonetic Alphabet of the English Language?
There have been several published, but they are not in general use.
29. How many letters in the English Phonetic Alphabet?
Forty-three.
30. What is the name of a Letter?
The appellation by which it is known.
31. What is the difference between a Letter and its Name?
The letter is the character, and the name is its appellation.
32. What Letters name themselves?
The vowels A, E, I, O, and U.
33. How are the Letters divided?
Into Vowels and Consonants.
34. What are Vowels?
Those letters which represent only pure tones.
35. Name all the Vowels.
A, E, I, O, U, and in some situations W and Y.
36. What is a Consonant?
A letter that represents an interruption of sound or breath.
37. Why called Consonants?
Because they cannot be used alone in a word, but must be connected with a Vowel.
38. How many kinds of Consonants are there?
Two; single Letters and Combinations.
39. Name the Consonant letters.
B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, Q, R, S, T, V, W, X, Y, and Z.
40. Name the Consonant Combinations.
Th, Sh, Ch, Zh, Wh, and Ng.
41. Name the two Orders of the Consonants.
Mutes and Semi-vowels.
42. What are Mutes?
Those letters which admit of no escape of breath while the organs of speech are in contact.
[pg 8]43. Name the Mutes.
B, D, K, P, T, and C and G hard.
44. What other term is often applied to the Mutes?
Close Consonant.
45. What are Semi-vowels?
Those letters that admit of an escape of breath while the organs of speech are in contact.
46. Name the Semi-vowels.
F, H, J, L, M, N, R, S, V, W, X, Y, Z, and C and G soft.
47. Are the Combinations Mutes or Semi-vowels?
They are all Semi-vowels.
48. What letters are called Nasals?
M, N, and Ng.
49. What other term is often applied to the Semi-vowels?
Loose Consonant.
50. What letters are called Liquids?
L, M, N, and R.
51. Why are the Liquids so called?
Because of their flowing sound, which readily unites with the sound of other letters.
52. What are Sibilants?
Letters which have a hissing sound; as, S and Z.
53. What letter is called the Mute Sibilant?
The letter X.
54. What letters represent no sound of their own?
C, Q, and X.
55. What are these letters called?
Redundant letters.
56. Why are they so named?
Because they are not necessary for the completion of the Alphabet.
58. What letters represent the sound of Q?
Kw.
59. What letters represent the sound X?
Ks.
60. What letters of themselves form words?
A, I, and O.
61. Spell all of the Consonants.
Bee, Cee, Dee, Eff, Gee, Aitch, Jay, Kay, Ell, Em, En, Pee, Kw, Ar, Ess, Tee, Vee, Double-u, Ex, Wy, and Zee.—Goold Brown.
62. What letters are called the Twins?
Q and U.
63. Why so called?
Because Q is always followed by U in English spelling.
64. Is there any exception to this rule?
The word LEECLERCQ is sometimes given as an example, but in English it is spelled LEECLERC.
65. What is meant by style of letters?
Different type; as, Roman, Script, Italics, etc.
66. How many forms have letters?
Two.
67. What are they?
Small letters and Capitals.
68. What are the Natural Divisions of Consonants?
Subvocals and Aspirates.
69. What are Subvocals?
Those Consonants which produce an undertone of voice when their sounds are uttered.
70. Name the Subvocals.
B, D, G hard; J and G soft; L, M, N, R, V, W, Y, Z, Zh, and Ng.
72. Name the Aspirates.
C, F, H, K, P, Q, S, T, X, Ch, Sh, and Wh.
73. What Combination is both Aspirate and Subvocal?
Th.
74. What are Cognate letters?
Those which are produced by the same organs of speech in a similar position.
75. Give an example of a Cognate letter.
D is a cognate of T.
76. What are Quiescent letters?
Those that are silent.
77. How many uses have Silent letters?
Five.
78. What are they?
To modify vowels; to modify consonants; to determine signification; to determine origin; and to distinguish words of like signification.
79. What are Explodents?
Those letters whose sound cannot be prolonged.
80. Name the Explodents.
B, D, G, J, P, Q, T, and K.
81. What are the principle organs of speech?
Lips, teeth, tongue, and palate.
82. What is meant by Organical division of the consonants?
Pertaining to those particular organs used in their pronunciation.
83. Name the Organical divisions.
Labials, Dentals, Linguals, and Palatals.
84. What are Labials?
Those letters whose sounds are modified by the lips.
85. Name them.
B, F, M, P, V, W, and Wh.
87. Name them.
J, S, Z, Ch, Sh, Zh, C and G soft.
88. What are Linguals?
Those letters whose sounds are modified by the tongue.
89. Name them.
D, L, N, R, T, Y, and Th.
90. What are Palatals?
Those letters whose sounds are modified by the palate.
91. Name them.
K, Q, X, Ng, C and G hard.
92. What letters have no Organical classification?
H, and all the vowels.
93. What is an Aphthong?
A silent letter or combination.
94. How many kinds of Aphthongs?
Three.
95. What are they?
Vowels, Consonants, and Combinations.
96. What letters are never silent?
F, J, Q, R, and X.
97. In what words is V silent?
Sevennight and twelvemonth.
98. In what word is Z silent?
Rendezvous.
99. What letters are never doubled?
X and H.
100. How many words contain all the vowels in regular order?
Two.
101. What are they?
Abstemious and Facetious.
102. What is a Diphthong?
Two vowels sounded together in the same syllable.
104. How many sounds do they represent?
Two.
105. What are the sounds called?
Diphthongal sounds.
106. How many kinds of Diphthongs are there?
Two.
107. What are they?
Separable and Inseparable.
108. Which ones are Separable?
Oi and Oy.
109. What is an Improper Diphthong?
The union of two vowels in a syllable, one of which is silent.
110. By what other name are they known?
Digraph.
111. How many Digraphs are there?
Twenty-five.
112. Name them.
Aa, Ae, Ai, Ao, Au, Aw, Ay, Ea, Ee, Ei, Eo, Eu, Ew, Ey, Ie, Oa, Oe, Oi, Oo, Ou, Ow, Ua, Ue, Ui, and Uy.
113. What is a Trigraph?
A union of three vowels in one syllable, two of which are silent, or all three representing one sound.
114. How many Trigraphs are there?
Eight.
115. Name them.
Awe, Aye, Eau, Eou, Eye, Ieu, Iew, and Uoi.
116. What is a Tetragraph?
Union of four vowels in one syllable.
117. How many Tetragraphs are there?
One.
119. May the terms Digraph, etc., be used with the Consonants?
They may.
120. Give example of Consonant Digraph.
Gh, in the word laugh.
121. Give example of Consonant Trigraph.
Thr, in the word throw.
122. Give example of Consonant Tetragraph.
Phth, in the word phthisic.
123. What is a regular Triphthong?
A vowel trigraph in which all three of the vowels are sounded.
124. Give an example.
Quoit.
1. What is Orthoepy?
That science which treats of the elementary sounds and the pronunciation of words.
2. What is Phonology?
The science of the elementary sounds uttered by the human voice in speech.
3. What is an Elementary sound?
One that cannot be divided so as to be represented by two or more letters.
4. What is Sound?
A sensation produced on the auditory nerve by the rapid vibratory motion of any elastic substance.
5. What is the least number of vibrations that will produce an audible sound?
Sixteen per second.
[pg 14]6. What is the greatest number that can be heard?
About forty thousand per second.
7. What is Voice?
Sound produced by the vocal chords.
8. What is an Articulate sound?
One made by the organs of speech and used in language.
9. What is a Vocal sound?
One that is modified but not obstructed by the articulatory organs.
10. What is a simple Vocal sound?
One made without any change in the position of the articulatory organs during its emission.
11. What is a Coalescent?
An articulate sound that always precedes and unites with a vocal.
12. What is a Guttural sound?
One that is modified by the soft palate.
13. What are Unarticulate sounds?
The sounds of the vowels.
14. How many Elementary sounds do the vowels represent?
Fifteen.
15. How many do the Consonants represent?
Eighteen.
16. How many do the Combinations represent?
Seven.
17. How many do the Diphthongs represent?
Only one, as oi and oy only repeat sounds already represented by a and i.
18. How many sounds has A?
Five.
19. What are they?
Long, Short, Medial, Flat, and Broad.
21. What are they?
Long and Short.
22. How many sounds has I?
Two.
23. What are they?
Long and Short.
24. How many sounds has O?
Three.
25. What are they?
Long, Short, and Slender.
26. How many sounds has U?
Three.
27. What are they?
Long, Short, and Medial.
28. How many sounds has B?
One; as heard in the word babe.
29. How many sounds has C?
None that may be properly called its own.
30. How many sounds has D?
One; as heard in the word did.
31. How many sounds has F?
One; as heard in the word flew.
32. How many sounds has G?
Two; as heard in the words go and age.
33. How many sounds has H?
One; as heard in the word high.
34. How many sounds has J?
None of its own, but represents one; the sound of G.
35. How many sounds has K?
One; as heard in the word key.
36. How many sounds has L?
One; as heard in the word lily.
38. How many sounds has N?
One; as heard in the word nat.
39. How many sounds has P?
One; as heard in the word pie.
40. How many sounds has R?
One; as heard in the word roar. (REM.—Some authors give r three sounds.)
41. How many sounds has S?
One; as heard in the word same.
42. How many sounds has T?
One; as heard in the word tight.
43. How many sounds has V?
One; as heard in the word view.
44. How many sounds has W?
One; as heard in the word we.
45. How many sounds has X?
None of its own, as it is a redundant letter.
46. How many sounds has Z?
One; as heard in the word ooze.
47. How many sounds has Th?
Two; as heard in the words thigh and the.
48. How many sounds has Ch?
One; as heard in the word church.
49. How many sounds has Sh?
One; as heard in the word ash.
50. How many sounds has Zh?
One obscurely; represented by si in such words as fusion, zi in glazier.
51. How many sounds has Wh?
One; as heard in the word what.
52. How many sounds has Ng?
One; as heard in the word sing.
53. What are regular sounds?
The long sounds of the letters.
1. What is a Substitute?
A letter representing a sound usually represented by another.
2. What are Equivalent letters?
Letters representing the same sound.
3. What properties do Substitutes assume?
The properties of the letter whose sound it represents.
4. How many Substitutes has a long?
Four.
5. What are they?
E in tete; ei in feint; ey in they; and ao in gaol.
6. How many Substitutes has a middle?
Two.
7. What are they?
E in there; and ei in heir.
8. How many Substitutes has a broad?
Two.
9. What are they?
O in cord; and ou in sought.
10. How many Substitutes has e long?
Three.
11. What are they?
I in marine; ie in fiend; and ay in quay.
12. How many Substitutes has e short?
Two.
13. What are they?
A in says; and u in bury.
14. How many Substitutes has i long?
Two.
16. How many Substitutes has i short?
Six.
17. What are they?
Y in hymn; e in England; u in busy; o in women; ee in been; and ai in captain.
18. How many Substitutes has o long?
Two.
19. What are they?
Eau in beau; and ew in sew.
20. How many Substitutes has o short?
One.
21. What is it?
A in what.
22. How many Substitutes has u long?
One.
23. What is it?
Ew in new.
24. How many Substitutes has u short?
Three.
25. What are they?
E in her; i in sir; and o in son.
26. How many Substitutes has u medial?
One.
27. What is it?
O in wolf.
28. How many Substitutes has F?
Two.
29. What are they?
Gh in laugh; and ph in philosophy.
30. How many Substitutes has J?
Three.
32. How many Substitutes has S?
Two.
33. What are they?
C soft, as in central; and z in quartz.
34. How many Substitutes has T?
One.
35. What is it?
Ed final, after any aspirate except t.
36. How many Substitutes has V?
One.
37. What is it?
F in of.
38. How many Substitutes has W?
One.
39. What is it?
U in quick.
40. How many Substitutes has X?
One.
41. What is it?
Ks in exist.
42. How many Substitutes has Y?
One.
43. What is it?
I in alien.
44. How many Substitutes has Z?
Three.
45. What are they?
S in was; c in suffice; and x in xebec.
46. How many Substitutes has Ch?
Two.
47. What are they?
Ti in question; and t in nature.
49. What are they?
Ce in ocean; ci in social; si in mansion; ti in motion; ch in chaise; and s in sugar.
50. How many Substitutes has Zh?
Four.
51. What are they?
Si in fusion; zi in brazier; z in azure; and s in rasure.
52. How many substitutes has Ng?
One.
53. What is it?
N generally before palate sounds; as, conquer, etc.
54. What letters have no Substitutes?
B, D, G, H, L, M, N, P, and R.
55. What combinations have no Substitutes?
Th and Wh.
56. Why is X never doubled?
It already represents the sounds of K and S.
57. What letter ends no English word?
J.
1. What is Language?
Any method for the communication of thought and feeling.
2. What is Natural Language?
Instinctive methods of communicating thought or feeling.
3. What is Artificial Language?
That which must be learned before it can be used.
5. How many kinds of Artificial Language?
Two.
6. What are they.
Spoken and written.
7. What is Spoken Language?
That produced by the vocal organs.
8. What is Written Language?
Any method of communicating thought or feeling by the use of written or printed characters.
9. What are the messengers of thought?
Sentences.
10. What is a Sentence?
An assemblage of words conveying a thought.
11. What is a Word?
A sign of an idea.
12. What is Lexicology?
That science which treats of the meaning of words.
13. What is Etymology?
That science which treats of the origin and derivation of words.
14. What is Orthogeny?
That science which treats of the classification of words into parts of speech.
15. What is Syntax?
That science which treats of the relation and connection of words in the construction of a sentence.
16. What is Prosody?
That science which treats of punctuation and the laws of versification.
17. Of what is a word composed?
A syllable or combination of syllables.
19. What is the essential part of a syllable?
A vowel.
20. Can there be a syllable without it containing a vowel sound?
There cannot.
21. What is Syllabication?
That branch of etymology which treats of the division of words into syllables.
22. How many methods of Syllabication are there?
Two.
23. What are they?
English and American.
24. What is the object of the English method?
To separate words into their elementary parts without regard to pronunciation; as, a-tom.
25. What is the object of the American method?
To indicate the proper pronunciation by separating affixes from the roots.
26. What is a word of one syllable called?
A monosyllable.
27. What is a word of two syllables called?
A dissyllable.
28. What is a word of three syllables called?
A trisyllable.
29. What is a word of more than three syllables called?
A polysyllable.
30. What is the Ultimate syllable of a word?
The last syllable.
31. What is the Penultimate syllable?
Next to the last syllable in a word.
32. What is the Antepenultimate syllable?
The last syllable but two in a word.
34. What other way may the syllables be described?
In their numerical order; as, first, second, etc.
35. How many syllables can a word have?
As many as it has vowels or diphthongs sounded.
36. How many words in the English language?
About one hundred and twenty thousand.
37. How are words divided in reference to form?
Into simple and compound.
38. How are they divided in reference to origin?
Into primitive and derivative.
39. What is a Simple word?
One that is not composed of two or more whole words.
40. What is a Compound word?
One that is composed of two or more distinct words.
41. What is a Primitive word?
One in no way derived from another in the same language.
42. What is a Radical word?
Same as primitive.
43. What is a Derivative word?
One formed by joining to a primitive some letter or letters to modify its meaning.
44. What is Analysis?
Separating a word or syllable into its elements or parts.
45. What is Synthesis?
The process of combining elements to form syllables and words.
46. What is the Base of a Compound word?
That word representing the fundamental idea.
47. What is the Modifier in a Compound word?
That word which describes the other.
48. What is the Base of a Derivative word?
The primitive from which it is derived.
50. What is an Affix?
That part of a derivative word attached to the root.
51. How many Root words in the English language?
Over one thousand.
52. What is a Prefix?
That part of a derivative word placed before the root.
53. What is a Postfix?
That part of a derivative word placed after the root.
54. What is a Suffix?
Same as a postfix.
55. What are Affixes?
Prefixes and postfixes together are called affixes.
56. How many kinds of Derivatives are there?
Two.
57. What are they?
Regular and irregular.
58. What is a Regular derivative?
One that is formed by the addition of affixes without changing the letters in the primitive part (except final e silent).
59. What is an Irregular derivative?
One in which the letters of the primitive part are changed.
60. In using Affixes, what rule should be observed?
The affix and root should be from the same language.
61. Is the same rule to be observed in forming Compound words?
It is.
62. What is a Mongrel compound word?
One formed contrary to the rule.
63. Give an example.
Cable-graph and cable-gram.
64. What are Barbarisms?
Same as mongrel.
65. When use the hyphen in Compound words?
When they are not permanently compounded.
66. What is an Obsolete word?
One gone out of date.
1. What is Spelling?
A distinct expression of the letters or sounds of a word in their proper order.
2. How many kinds of Spelling?
Two.
3. What are they?
Orthographic and Phonic.
4. What is Orthographic spelling?
An expression of the letters of a written or printed word in their proper order.
5. What is Phonic spelling?
An expression of the elementary sounds of a word in their proper order, according to established usage.
6. What is meant by good usage?
The usage, or custom, of the best speakers and writers of the times.
7. How do we know when we have spelled a word correctly?
By reference to the Dictionary?
8. What is a Lexicographer?
An author of a dictionary.
9. Can we spell by Rules?
We cannot.
10. Why?
Because there are too many exceptions.
11. What makes a rule in Orthography?
Whenever a letter is silent, or usually so, a rule is formed.
12. Why is c placed before r in acre, massacre, etc.?
To preserve the hard sound of c.
14. Give rule for E final.
E final is silent when another vowel precedes it in the same syllable.
15. What effect does final E have on the preceding vowel?
It usually preserves its long sound.
16. When is B silent?
Before t, or after m, in the same syllable.
17. When is C silent?
Before k in the same syllable; also, before z, l, or
t, in a few words.
18. When is D silent?
Before g in the same syllable.
19. When is G silent?
Before m or n in the same syllable.
20. When is H silent?
After g or r in the same syllable; and h final after a vowel is always silent; also, in a few words after t, and initial in a few words.
21. When is L silent?
After a when followed by f, m, k, or v, except in the word valve; also, before d in could, etc.
22. When is M silent?
Before n in a few words.
23. When is N silent?
Final after l or m.
24. When is P silent?
Initial before n, s, or t.
25. When is S silent?
In a few irregular words; as, isle, puisne, viscount, corps, etc.
26. When is T silent?
Before ch in the same syllable; also, in Christmas, eclat, mortgage, etc.
[pg 27]27. When is V silent?
In two words only—Sevennight and Twelvemonth.
28. When is W silent?
Before r in the same syllable also, in whoop, sword, two, etc.
29. When is Gh silent?
After i in the same syllable; also, after au and ou in some words.
30. When is Ch silent?
In a few words; as, drachm, yacht, etc.
31. When is Z silent?
In one word only—Rendezvous.
32. What letters are never silent?
F, J, Q, and R.
33. What is meant by Antecedent part of a syllable?
That part before the vowel.
34. What is the Consequent part of a syllable?
That part which follows the vowel.
35. How many words end in Ceed?
Three.
36. What are they?
Exceed, proceed, and succeed.
37. How many of the English words are derived from the Latin?
About, three-fourths.
38. What Language is called "Our mother tongue?"
Anglo-Saxon.
39. From what language do we get most of our Scientific terms?
The Greek.
40. How many English words begin with IN as a prefix?
Two hundred and fifty.
42. How many begin with un?
About two thousand.
43. Were final E not silent, what would be the result?
Another syllable would be formed.
44. When is final E dropped in spelling?
Before vowel terminations mostly.
45. Why is the final E retained in such words as changeable and traceable?
To preserve the soft sound of the c or g.
46. In the words fleeing, seeing, etc., why retain both Es?
To determine the proper meaning of the word.
47 What is a Figure of orthography?
Any departure from the ordinary spelling of a word.
48. How many Figures are there?
Two.
49 What are they?
Archaism and Mimesis.
50. What is Archaism?
The spelling of a word according to ancient usage.
51. What is Mimesis?
The spelling of a word in imitation of a false pronunciation.
52. When is i used as a consonant?
When followed by a vowel in the same syllable; as in alien, etc.
53. When is y final changed to e?
Before the suffix ous; as in beauteous.
54. When is y final changed to i?
Before the suffix ful; as in beautiful.
55. What is a Redundant prefix?
One that does not change the signification of the root; as, a in the word adry.
57. When use the digraph ei in spelling?
Ei follows c soft, and begins words.
58. When use ie in spelling?
Ie follows consonants (except c soft), and ends words.
59. In changing the word hoe to hoeing, why retain the e?
To preserve its signification.
60. What is the origin of the suffix less?
Anglo-Saxon.
61. What is the origin of the word English?
It is derived from the word Angles.
62. Who were the Angles?
They were a tribe of people who came from the land of the Low Germans and settled in Britain in the fifth century.
63. What does the word England mean?
"The land of the Angles."
64. Why is our language sometimes called the "Teutonic language"?
Because it is derived from the ancient Germans, who were called Teutons.
65. What kind of words end in ize?
Verbs derived from the Greek.
66. What kind of words end in ise?
Most words derived from the French.
67. Why is the English called a Composite Language?
Because it is derived from so many different sources.
68. Does adding a single consonant to a word ever make an additional syllable?
It does.
69. Give examples.
Grade, grad-ed; confide, con-fi-ded.
71. How distinguish between an affix and a part of a compound word?
If all the parts retain their literal signification they form a compound; if not, the part which loses its signification becomes an affix in a derivative.
72. Is the word outside compound or derivative?
It is compound.
73. Is the word outrun compound or derivative?
It is derivative.
74. What is Derivation?
That branch of etymology which treats of the sources of the words of a language.
75. How many kinds of Derivation?
Two.
76. What are they?
Paronymous and Historical.
77. What is Paronymous derivation?
That part of etymology which treats of present sources of English words.
78. Give examples of Paronymous derivation.
Kingdom, from king; Manly, from man, etc.
79. What is Historical derivation?
That part of etymology which treats of the foreign sources of the English language.
80. Give examples of Historical derivation.
Book, from boc; Moon, from mona, etc.
81. When use a, and when an, in a sentence?
Use a before all words beginning with a consonant sound, and use an before words beginning with a vowel sound, or with h mute, or h initial, if the accent is on any other syllable than the first.
83. What is a new word?
One that has recently come into use.
84. Name some new words.
Outsider, intensify, repudiate, and idiom.
85. What is meant by suspended animation of a word?
A word that passes out of use for a while and then resumes its place in literature.
86. Give examples of suspended words.
The words reckless, abate, and abandon, fell into disuse in the seventeenth century, but have since been revived.
87. What letters are called the pivots?
Y and w.
88. Why are they so called?
Because of their peculiar sounds in changing from vowels to consonants.
89. What kind of new words should be avoided?
Any word formed contrary to the genius of the language.
90. What is meant by idiom?
A peculiar mode of expression.
91. What is diction?
Diction treats of the selection and right use of words.
92. When is our diction pure?
When we use only such words as belong to the idiom of our language.
93. What are Synonyms?
Words having a similar signification.
94. What is a Synonymicon?
A dictionary of synonymous words.
95. What is meant by a reputable word?
One that is used by educated people.
96. What is an Anacoluthic word?
One that is unnecessary to the completion of a sentence.
98. What is an Ideographical language?
One in which the characters represent ideas rather than sounds.
99. Can there be a derivative word without an affix?
There can; as, brought from bring.
100. What is Dactylology?
The art of spelling words with the fingers.
101. What is the Pythagorean letter?
Y.—Am. Cyclopedia.
102. Why so called?
Because its Greek original represents the sacred triad used to designate the diverging paths of virtue and vice.
1. What is meant by the Numerical value of letters?
Its value as a numeral used in the notation of different languages.
2. Have all the letters Numerical value?
All except J, U, W, and Y.
3. What is the Numerical value of A?
500.
4. By whom used?
The ancient European Nations.
5. What is the Numerical value of B?
300.
6. By whom used?
The Romans.
8. What is the Numerical value of D?
500 in the Roman notation.
9. What is the Numerical value of E?
5.
10. By whom used?
The ancient Greeks.
11. What is the Numerical value of F?
40 in some of the Ancient notations; 80 in the Arabian; and 10,000 in the Armenian.
12. What is the Numerical value of G?
400.
13. By whom used?
The Latins.
14. What is the Numerical value of H?
100 in the Greek notation; and 200 in the Latin.
15. What is the Numerical value of I?
1 in the Roman notation; and 100 in some of the Ancient notations.
16. What is the Numerical value of K?
20 in the Greek notation; and 60 in the Semitic.
17. Give the Numerical values of L.
50 in Roman, and 30 in Semitic notation.
18. What are the Numerical values of M?
As a Roman numeral, 1,000; Greek and Hebrew, 40.
19. What is the value of N as a Numeral?
In the Greek notation, 50; Roman, 90; and by some other, 900.
20. What is the Numerical value of O?
70 in the Greek; and 11 in the Ancient Latins.
21. What is the Numerical value of P?
In the Greek notation, 5; in the Latin, 80; and in the Roman, by some authors, 7, by one, 100, and by still another, 400.
[pg 34]22. As a Numeral, what is the value of Q?
500.
23. By whom used?
Several of the Ancient Nations of Europe.
24. What is the Numerical value of R?
80
25. By whom used?
The ancient Romans.
26. What is the Numerical value of S?
7
27. By whom used?
The Ancients.
28. Give the values of T as a Numeral.
300 in the Greek notation; in the Latin, 160.
29. What is the Numerical value of V?
5 in the Roman notation.
30. What are the values of X as a Numeral?
In the Roman, 10; in the Greek, 60.
31. What are the Numerical values of Z?
7 in the Greek notation; and 2,000 in the Roman.
32. Why have J, U, W, and Y no Numerical values?
Because they have been introduced into the Alphabet since the Science of Arithmetical Notation was invented.
33. What effect does it have on the value of a letter to draw a line above it?
In most cases it increases its value a thousand times.
34. Is a line ever drawn beneath a letter for the same purpose?
In some instances it is.
35. What effect does it have on a letter as a numeral to repeat it?
Repeats its value as often as it is repeated.
1. What is a Capital letter?
A large letter.
2. What is an Italic letter?
A form of oblique letters derived from the Italians.
3. What is Rule 1 for the use of Capitals?
Title pages and headings of chapters should be entirely in capitals.
4. Give Rule 2.
The first word of every book, tract, essay, letter, etc., should begin with a capital.
5. Give Rule 3.
The first word of every sentence should begin with a capital.
6. Give Rule 4.
Clauses separately numbered should begin with a capital.
7. Give Rule 5.
The first word after an interrogation point should usually begin with a capital.
8. Give Rule 6.
The first word of a clause, or sentence, given as an example, should begin with a capital.
9. Give Rule 7.
In quoting a title of a book, each important word of the title should begin with a capital.
10. Give Rule 8.
First word of a direct question should begin with a capital.
12. Give Rule 10.
All letters used as numerals should be written or printed in capitals.
13. Give Rule 11.
The pronoun I should always be a capital.
14. Give Rule 12.
The vocative particle O should always be a capital.
15. Give Rule 13.
The first word of every line of poetry should begin with a capital.
16. Give one exception to Rule 13.
In humorous poetry, when a word is divided at the end of a line, the detached syllable at the beginning of the next line should begin with a small letter.
17. Give Rule 14.
All names and titles of the Deity should begin with a capital.
18. Give Rule 15.
All proper names should begin with a capital.
19. Give Rule 16.
All words derived from proper nouns should begin with a capital.
20. Give Rule 17.
Titles of honor and distinction should begin with capitals.
21. Give Rule 18.
The words father, mother, sister, brother, aunt, etc., when followed by a proper noun, should always begin with a capital.
22. Give Rule 19.
All words referring to the Bible should begin with a capital.
24. Give Rule 21.
The names of famous events, historical eras, noted documents, etc., should begin with a capital.
25. What establishes a rule for Capitals?
Good usage, or custom.
26. Give Rule 1 for the use of Italics.
Words for emphasis should be printed in italics.
27. Give Rule 2.
Names of books, poems, etc., are usually printed in italics.
28. Give Rule 3.
Words from foreign languages are printed in italics.
29. Give Rule 4.
Words in the Bible supplied by the translators are printed in italics.
30. How are written words marked that are to be printed in Capitals?
By underscoring the words with two lines.
31. How are written words marked that are to be printed in Italics?
By underscoring the words with one line.
32. When use the Interjection O?
The letter O is a vocative particle, and should always be used before nouns or pronouns in the absolute case by direct address.—[Ridpath.]
33. When use Oh?
In all cases where it is not followed by nouns, or pronouns, in the vocative case.—[Ridpath.]
1. What is an abbreviation?
One or more of the letters of a word standing for the whole word.
2. What is the signification of A.C.S.?
American Colonization Society.
3. Give meaning A.B.C.F.M.
American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.
4. What is the signification AAA.?
Amalgamation.
5. What is the signification of Ang.-Sax.?
Anglo-Saxon.
6. Give signification of A.T.
Arch-Treasurer.
7. What is the signification of C.A.S.?
Fellow of the Connecticut Academy.
8. What is the signification of C.C.?
County Court, or County Commissioner.
9. What is the meaning of D.C.L.?
Doctor of Civil Law.
10. What is the signification of D.M.?
Doctor of Music.
11. What is the signification of A.U.C.?
In the year of the city.
12. What is the meaning of F.E.S.?
Fellow of the Entomological Society.
13. What is the signification of H.R.I.P.?
Here rests in peace.
14. What is the signification of L.C.J.?
Lord Chief Justice.
16. What is the signification of P.a.?
Participial adjective.
17. What is the signification of P.v.?
Post village.
18. What is the signification of Qy.?
Query.
19. What is the signification of Ro.?
Righthand page.
20. What is the signification S.C.L.?
Student of the Civil Law.
21. What is the signification of S.R.I.?
Holy Roman Empire.
22. What is the signification of S.J.C.?
Supreme Judicial Court.
23. What is the signification of U.S.S.?
United States Ship.
24. What does U.K. signify?
United Kingdom.
25. What does V.R. signify?
Queen Victoria.
26. What does V.G. signify?
For example.
27. What does Xt. signify?
Christ.
28. What does Xmas. signify?
Christmas.
29. What is the signification of Y.B.?
Year Book.
30. What is the signification of Zoöl.?
Zoölogy.
31. What does Yt. signify?
That.
32. What is the signification of S.T.P.?
Doctor of Divinity.
1. Why is a word divided into syllables?
For the purpose of showing their proper pronunciation and etymological composition.
2. What is Accent?
A greater stress of voice placed on one syllable of a word than the others.
3. What kind of words have no accent?
Monosyllables.
4. Why?
Accent implies comparison, and there can be no comparison with one syllable.
5. How many kinds of accent?
Common, Emphatic, and Discriminating.
6. What is common accent?
Ordinary accent of spelling.
7. How many kinds of common accent?
Two.
8. What are they?
Primary and secondary.
9. What is primary accent?
The principal accent.
10. What is secondary accent?
The partial accent.
11. What kind of accent is essential to every word of more than one syllable?
Primary.
12. How close can primary and secondary accent come together?
Not closer than two syllables.
14. How many secondary accents can a word have?
Two.
15. In case of two secondary accents, where are they placed?
On the first and third.
16. In case of two secondary, where is the primary accent?
On the last but two.
17. Do the primary and secondary ever change places?
They do.
18. In words of two syllables, where is the accent?
Usually on the first.
19. In trisyllables, what syllable is accented?
Usually the first.
20. Are there any exceptions?
There are.
21. In polysyllables, where is the accent?
On the antepenult usually.
22. In all words ending in ation, where is the accent?
On the syllable next to the last.
23. What is Emphatic accent?
Accent used for emphatic distinction.
24. Have monosyllables any accent?
They have sometimes an emphatic, or poetic.
25. What is Discriminating accent?
That used to determine parts of speech.
26, Give some examples.
Au'gust, Au-gust'; Reb'el, Re-bel'.
27, What is Punctuation?
The use of certain characters to aid the reader in determining the thought of the writer.
28. How many kinds of punctuation are there?
Four.
30. What is Rhetorical punctuation?
That used for rhetorical effect.
31. What is Etymological punctuation?
That used in Orthography and Orthoepy.
32. What is Reference punctuation?
That used to refer the reader to the margin of the page.
33. What is punctuation for the Printer?
That used by the writer to inform the printer the kind of type to use.
34. What are the principal Etymological points?
Apostrophe, Caret, Dieresis, Macron, Breve, Tilde, Grave Accent, Acute Accent, Circumflex Accent, Hyphen, and Period.
35. What is the use of the Apostrophe?
To indicate the omission of a letter, or letters, of a word.
36. What letter is omitted in the word o'clock?
The letter f.
37. What is the use of the Caret?
To correct an error of omission.
38. Is the Caret used in printed copy or manuscript?
In manuscript.
39. For what is the Dieresis used?
To separate two vowels which would otherwise form a diphthong.
40. Give an example of the use of the Dieresis.
Zoölogy, and Diëresis.
41. What is the use of the Macron?
To mark the long quantity of syllables.
42. What is a long syllable?
One in which the vowel has the long sound.
43. What is the use of the Breve?
To mark the short quantity of syllables.
45. What kind of a mark is the Tilde?
A Spanish mark.
46. How many uses has the Tilde?
Two.
47. What are they?
Placed over n it gives the sound of ny as, in cañon. In English it indicates certain sounds of the vowels.
48. How many accent marks are there?
Three.
49. What are they?
Grave, Acute, and Circumflex.
50. What is the use of the Grave accent?
To mark the falling inflection.
51. What is the use of the Acute accent?
To mark the primary accent, and the rising inflection.
52. What is the use of the Circumflex?
To mark the peculiar inflection of the voice in the pronunciation of a word.
53. How many uses has the Hyphen?
Three.
54. What are they?
To separate the parts of a compound word; to separate a word into syllables; and to divide a word at the end of a line.
55. When should the Hyphen be used in a compound word?
When the word has not become permanently compounded.
56. When use the Dieresis instead of the Hyphen?
When the syllables are divided by the hyphen, there is no hyphen used between the vowels of the digraph.
57. What is the use of the Period?
To denote an abbreviation.
59. Where else is the Period used?
In Rhetorical punctuation.
60. Name the points used in Reference punctuation.
Asterisk, Obelisk, Parallels, Section, Paragraph, and Index.
61. Are these marks ever doubled?
They are.
62. Are Letters ever used for reference?
They are.
1. What are Diacritical Marks?
Characters indicating the different sounds of letters.
2. Name the Diacritical Marks.
Macron, Breve, Dieresis, Semi-Dieresis, Caret, Tilde, Cedilla, and the inverted T.
3. Make the Diacritical Marks in the order named:
(¯); (˘); (¨); (·); (ˇ); (~); (¸); ( ˔).
4. What does the Macron indicate?
Over a vowel, its long sound; under e, the sound of a, long; across c, the sound of k; over g, the hard sound; across th, the subvocal sound, and over oo, the long sound.
5. What are the uses of the Breve?
Over vowels, it indicates their short sound, and over oo, its short sound.
6. What does the Dieresis indicate?
Over a, its Italian sound; under a, its broad sound; over i, the sound of e, long; under u, when preceded by r, makes it equivalent to o, Italian.
7. What is the use of the Semi-Dieresis?
Over a, gives it the medium sound; under a, the sound of o, short; over o, the sound of u, short; under o, the Italian sound; over g, the soft sound; and under u, the sound of Italian o.
[pg 45]8. Where is the Cedilla used?
Under c, to give it the sound of s.
9. What is the use of the Caret as a Diacritical Mark?
Over a, it indicates the flat sound; over e, the sound of a, flat; over u, the sound of e, in her.
10. Where is the Tilde used?
Over n in Spanish words it indicates that the sound of y immediately follows. It is also used over e in such words as her, and over i in sir, etc.
11. What is the use of the inverted ˔?
Under s, it gives it the sound of z; under x, it gives the sound of gz.
12. Give some words illustrating the use of the Macron.
Māte, bēam, fīne, bōat, tūbe, ro͞od, ḡo, and pre̱y.
13. Give words showing the use of the Breve.
Măt, sĕt, lŏt, tŭb, and fo͝ot.
14. Illustrate the use of the Dieresis.
Cär, polïce, fa̤lling, and trṳe.
15. Give words showing the use of the Semi-Dieresis.
Mȧsk, whạt, mȯney, ġin, wọlf, and bụsh.
16. Illustrate the use of the Caret.
Fâir, thêre, sûrge, and sometimes over o as in stôrm.
17. Give words showing the use of the Tilde.
Mẽrge and cañon.
18. Illustrate the use of the Cedilla.
Çell and çhaise.
19. Give some words showing the use of the inverted t.
Was̝ and ex̝ist.
20. Are there any other names for the inverted t?
It has been given different names by different authors.
[pg 46]21. What are they?
"The Perpendicular," "Suspended Macron," etc.
22. Is the letter y ever marked by Diacritical Marks?
It is, sometimes.
23. What marks are used for y?
Macron and Breve.
24. Give examples where y is marked with the Macron.
Spȳ, slȳ, stȳ, etc.
25. Give example where y is marked with the Breve.
Hy̆mn.
26. What mark is used to cancel silent letters?
Short bar, similar to the Macron.
1. What is the signification of A as a Prefix?
On, in, at, to, or towards.
2. Is A as a prefix ever redundant?
It is.
3. Give examples.
Adry and ameliorate.
4. What does the prefix Ab signify?
From.
5. What does Ab signify?
Away from.
6. What is the signification of Ante?
Before.
7. Name all the prefixes meaning To.
Ad, ac, af, ag, al, an, ap, ar, and at.
9. What does Bis signify?
Twice.
10. What other prefix means the same?
Dis, from the Greek.
11. What does Be signify?
Upon.
12. What does Circum signify?
Around, as circumscribe.
13. What is the meaning of Cis?
On this side, as cisalpine.
14. What prefixes signify With?
Con, com, co, col, and cor.
15. What prefixes signify Against?
Contra and counter.
16. What does Di signify?
Two, as ditone.
17. What prefixes signify Out of, or From?
E, and ex.
18. What does Dys signify?
Ill, or difficult, as dysentery and dyspepsia.
19. What does Enter signify?
Between or among.
20. What does Epi signify?
On, as epitaph; during, as ephemeral.
21. What prefix signifies Equal?
Equi, as equidistant.
22. What does Extra signify?
Beyond, as extraordinary.
23. What is the signification of Eu?
Well, or agreeable, as euphony.
24. What does Gain signify?
Against, as gainsay.
26. What does Hyper signify?
Over, as hypercriticism.
27. What does Hypo signify?
Under, or beneath, as hypotenuse and hypocrite.
28. What prefixes signify Not or In?
In, im, il, and ir.
29. What is the signification of Inter?
In the midst of, or between, as intellect and intermarry.
30. What does Intra signify?
Within, or on the inside of.
31. What other prefix means the same as Intra?
Intro.
32. What is the signification of Juxta?
Joined to, or next, as juxtaposition.
33. What does Mal signify?
Bad, as malpractice and maladministration.
34. What is the signification of Meta?
In the middle, after, and with.
35. What does Mis signify?
Amiss, or wrong, as misapply and mishap.
36. What is the signification of Mono?
One, as monotheistic.
37. What prefixes signify Many?
Multi and poly, as multiform and polysyllable.
38. What does Non signify?
Not, as nonsense, nonessential, etc.
39. What other prefixes signify Not?
Neg, as in negative, and ne, as in nefarious.
40. What does Ob signify?
In the way of, as obstruct.
41. What does Oct signify?
Eight, as octagon.
43. What is the signification of Out?
Beyond, as outlaw, outbid, outbalance, etc.
44. What does Over signify?
Above, as overseer, overreach, etc.
45. What does Ovi signify?
An egg, as oviform.
46. What does Para signify?
Beside, as parallel, paragraph, etc.
47. What is the signification of Pene?
Almost, as peninsula—almost an island.
48. What does Per signify?
Through, or by, as permit, perchance, etc.
49. What does Peri signify?
Around, as perimeter, periosteum.
50. What does Pleni signify?
Completeness, or full, as plenitude, etc.
51. What does Post signify?
After, or backwards, as postfix, and postpone.
52. What does Pre signify?
Before, as prefer, prefix, etc.
53. What is the signification of Preter?
Beyond, as preternatural.
54. What is the signification of Pro?
Before, forth, and for.
55. What does Pros signify?
To, as proselyte.
56. What is the signification of Proto?
First, as protocol, protoplasm, etc.
57. What does Quad signify?
Four, as quadrangle, etc.
58. What does Re signify?
Back, or again, as react, recollect, etc.
60. What does Retro signify?
Backwards, as retrospect and retrograde.
61. What does Se signify?
By itself, as separate, seclude, etc.
62. What prefixes signify Half?
Semi, demi, and hemi, as semicircle, demitone, and hemisphere.
63. What does Sine signify?
Without, as sinecure.
64. What does Stereo signify?
Solid, as stereotype.
65. What does Sub signify?
Under, or inferior, as subterranean and subordinate.
66. What does Super signify?
Over, above, or beyond, as supernatural, etc.
67. What does Suf signify?
Less or after, as suffix, etc.
68. What does Supra signify?
Same as Super.