degrees of value in the various parts of a
discourse, relative to the initial consonant.

The object of the preposition 1

The verb to be and the prepositions 2

The direct or indirect regimen 3

The limiting (possessive and demonstrative) adjectives 4

The qualifying adjectives 5

The participles or substantives taken adjectively or
attributively; that is to say, every word coming
immediately after the verb, in fine, the attribute 6

The adverbs 7

Conjunctions, superlative ideas or additional figures 8

The interjection 9

The pronoun is either subject or complement, and therefore included in
the rest. As for the article, it is not essential to a language; there
is no article in Latin.

Thus the value of our ideas is expressed by figures. We have only to
reckon on our fingers. We might beat time for the pronunciation of the
consonants as for the notes of music. Let the pupil exercise his
fingers, and attain that skill which allows the articulation of a
radical consonant only after he has marked with his finger the time
corresponding to its figure. If difficulties present themselves at
first, so much the better; he will only the more accurately distinguish
the value of the words.

Chapter V.

French and Latin Prosody.

_French Prosody._

Prosody is the rhythmic pronunciation of syllables according to accent,
respiration, and, above all, quantity.

In the Italian there are no two equal sounds; the quantity is never
uniform. Italian is, therefore, the most musical of languages. Where we
place one accent upon a vowel, the Italians place ten.

There is a euphonic law for every language; all idioms must have an
accent. In every language there are intense sounds and subdued sounds;
the Italians hold to this variety of alternate short and long sounds.
Continuous beauty should be avoided. A beautiful tone must be introduced
to relieve the others. Monotony in sounds as well as in pronunciation,
must be guarded against. Harmony lies in opposition.

There is but one rule of quantity in French pronunciation. Here is the
text of this law:

_There are and can be only long initial or final vowels_--whence we
conclude:

1. Every final is long and every pe