Author: NARES (Robert):
Title: Elements of Orthoepy: Containing a Distinct View of the Whole Analogy of the English Language; so far as it relates to Pronunciation, Accent, and Quantity.
Description: London: Printed for T. Pay and Son..., 1784 FIRST AND ONLY EDITION. 8vo, 214 x 127 mms., pp. xxvi [xxvii note, xxviii blank], 372 [373 - 375 Addenda, 376 blank, 377 - 416 Index], contemporary calf, spine ornately gilt in compartments, red leather label; front joint cracked, rear joint slightly cracked, corners slightly worn, binding a little rubbed, but a good copy. The philologist and clergyman Robert Nares (1753–1829) was one of the most innovative of the scholars in the late 18th century interested in the structure of language, and ODNB notes, "It was one of a number of works published during the last quarter of the eighteenth century (and later) which aimed to provide speakers, especially the linguistically insecure and those aspiring to middle-class status, with clear guidance on how certain words were to be pronounced. He drew particular attention to words in which the stress pattern was susceptible of variation, designating this area of vocabulary 'the most unstable part of the English language'. His list included such words as 'abdomen', 'aristocrat', 'balcony', 'controversy', 'illustrate', 'research', and 'vibrate'. The work was popular, but, inevitably, controversial. James Boswell, nevertheless, thought highly of it, considering it a 'work of uncommon merit and great utility', and claiming that he knew of no work which contained 'in the same compass, more learning, polite literature, sound sense, accuracy of arrangement, and perspicuity of expression'." The Monthly Review concurred with this assessment, concluding in a long review, "We earnestly recommend this work to the lovers of Philology; and we do not scruple to pronounce it the most useful, perspicuous, and complete publication that hath appear on the subject of English Orthoepy."

Keywords: pronunciation language literature


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