Post on 09-Mar-2023
A HANDBOOK OF
FRENCH PHONETICS
WILLIAM A . NITZE
AND
ERNEST H . WILKINSUniversity of Chicago
W ITH EXERC ISES BY
CLARENCE E . PARMENTERUniversi ty of Chicago
NEW YORK
HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY
PREFACE
THIS little book is intended as a manual for elementaryand advanced students of the French language. In ele
mentary courses it may be employed as a substitute for thepages devoted t o pronunciation in whatever Grammar theteacher is using . In such courses the material printed insmall type should be omitted . In advanced courses, thebook may be used as a basis for a review of the pronunciation
,and as a reference book .
The authors have endeavored t o present the essentialfacts of French pronunciation , but have purpo sely excludedthe treatment of minor variations in sound (for example,intermediate vowel qualities) and the registration ofwordswhich are distinctly rare . In many cases Frenchmen themselves vary in the utterance of a given word or group of
words : in such cases we have generally given only the
variety which seems approved by the best usage . For suchdisputed questions, and for all matters of greater detail
,
the reader is urged t o consult the books listed in the Bibliography.
We have endeavored t o present the essential facts as
clearly and effectively as possible . Most earlier publications on the same subj ect mingle the treatment of the severalsounds wi th the rules for the pronunciation of the severalletters . The results of such a method seem t o us unfortunatethe student confuses his material, and rarely concentrateshis attention on the really important matter the actuallearning of the difficult French sounds; These dangers wehave tried t o avo id by treating , first , one by one, the severalsounds ; then, one by one
,the several letters .
iv PREFACE
Thus,under the heading ofAnalysis, the sounds of French
are explained in sections Each sound is representedby a phonetic symbo l . It s formation is set forth , it s variousspellings are listed , and French words containing it are givenas examples. The sounds are arranged in their most logicalphonetic order, starting with the lip- sounds and movingtoward those made in the back of the mouth . The lists of
the various spellings of the several sounds are of little valuet o the beginner , and are therefore printed in small type .
To the advanced student they may be very useful, part icu
larly in training for the identification of French words as
spoken .
The letters are treated, in alphabetical order, in sections70—95 . In each case rules are given , showing what soundthe letter in question represents under each of it s varyingconditions. Care has been taken t o classify and interrelatethe rules ; and the typographical arrangement is so devisedas t o reenforce the logical classification . It is hoped thatthe student will thus be enabled t o solve quickly, by ref
erence t o these sections, his particular difficulties as t o thepronunciation of given wo rds.
Proper names and fo reign words having marked peculiarities are relegated t o sections 96 and 97. In most earliertreatises on French pronunciation such words are introducedamong the normal French words , thus causing bewilderingand relatively unimportant additions t o the fundamentalset of rules. Our treatment prevents this unnecessary con
fusion . Our list of these words is of course merely selectivethe attempt t o give even a moderately complete list of themwould be beyond the scope of the present book .
The second division of the treatise, called Synthesis, dealswith the problems of actual speech , that is, connected speech.
Here the student will find an explanation of the chief principles of syllabificat ion, stress, quantity, linking, and in
PREFACE
tonation . But it cannot be t oo often said that French is aliving language and should be learned as such . The justificat ion for any practical treatise on Phonetics is that it canbe used as a scientific educational too l by a good teacher,himself possessing a fair pronunciation of the language andbeing always ready t o impart his knowledge through the useof viva voce methods . For such use this book is intended ;and consequently the second part
,in particular
, offers sug
gestions rather than dogmatic rules . This applies withparticular force t o the difficult subject of Intonation , whichthe authors are convinced can really be mastered only byimitating those who speak French well .Recognizing the fact that the needs and the methods of
individual teachers vary greatly, we have so distributed thestatements and the exercises that the teacher may by selection and rearrangement construct and assign a series of
lessons precisely adapted t o his own purposes . In elementary courses, for example, the teacher may think it best,particularly if time is limited, t o assign first only the mostimportant of the paragraphs in large print, with the corresponding exercises, and t o assign the more detailed materiallater and gradually, as the student’s vocabulary and knowledge of grammar increase . Or if in any course the teachershould prefer t o vary the order in which the sounds are presented should he, for example, prefer in teaching the oralvowels t o begin with the extreme positions [i] , [a] , [u] , andthen fill in with the intermediate sounds he will find notrouble in making his assignments accordingly.
The exercises may be expanded ad libi tum . They mayserve as models on which others may be constructed by theteacher or the class .
The phonetic symbo ls used in this book are those of the
A ssociation phonétique internationale.
CONTENTS
ANALYSIS
SOUNDS
THE PRODUCT ION OF SPEECH - SOUNDSTHE SOUNDS OF FRENCHTHE RELATION OF FRENCH SOUNDS To FRENCH SPELLINGDIPHTHONGSVOWELSOrala t
BackMixed (Rounded Front)
NasalSEMICONSONANTS
CONSONANT SClassifi cation Of ConsonantsConsonants Sim ilar in French and EnglishExplosiveFricativeNasalTrilledLateralTABLE OF SOUNDS , USUAL SPELLINGS , AND EXAMPLE SLETTERS AND SIGNSALPHABETACCENT SDIJERE SIS
CEDILLALETTERSDOUBLE CONSONANT - LETTERSFINAL CON SONANT—LETTER STHE INDIVIDUAL LETTER SFOREIGN WORDS
PROPER NAME S
viii CONTENTS
SYNTHESIS
SYLLABIC DIVISIONIN SPEECH
INQSPELLING AND WR IT ING
STRESSIN A SINGLE WORD
IN CONNECTED SPEECHWord GroupsLogical and Emotional Stress
VOWEL QUANTITYLIAISONASSIMILATIONELISIONPITCHINTONATIONBIBLIOGRAPHYEXERCISESPHONETIC READINGSFRENCH SELECTIONS FOR ORAL PRACTICEINDEX
A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PnoN-ETIOS
ANALYS I S
SOUNDS
1 . The Product ion of Speech- Sounds . The chief factor
in any speech- sound is breath . As the breath passes upwardbetween the vocal chords it may or it may not be transformed into a musical sound called voi ce. It is transformedinto vo ice if the vocal chords are stretched and broughtclose together so that they vibrate periodically as the breathpasses between them . It remains simply breath if the vocalchords remain lax and apart . If the breath is transformedinto vo ice
,the speech- sound is called a voiced sound ; if the
breath remains simply breath , the speech- sound is called avoiceless sound . In the English word “ fad
,
”for instance,
the f is voiceless and the a and d are vo iced .
When the breath or vo ice issues upward from the vocalchords it enters a triple cavity consisting of the t op Of
the throat (pharynx) , the mouth , and the nasal passagesee Diagram A . The speech- sounds are differentiated fromeach other according t o the shape assumed by this cavityand according t o the Openings and stoppages it presents t othe breath . The shape Of the cavity is altered chiefly by themotion of the tongue , the rounding or unrounding Of the
lips , the lowering or raising of the lower j aw, and the lowering or raising of the soft palate (velum) at the back entranceof the nasal passage . The possible Openings for the escapeof the breath are the oral Opening , between the lips , and thenasal opening , the nostrils . The oral opening may be closedby the lips ; the who le nasal passage may be shut Off by theraising Of the soft palate . The tongue may effect partialstoppage Of the breath at various points in the mouth .
2 A , HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
If the breath becomes voice at the vocal chords andissues through the mouth , or through the mouth and nose ,without enough stoppage t o produce audible friction, thespeech—sound is called a vowel.1
If the stoppage of the breath is sufficient t o cause audiblefriction , or no ise , and the amount Of no ise is approxim atelyequal t o the amount of vo ice, the speech- sound is called asemi consonant (or a semivowel) . In English the letters wand y usually represent semiconsonant sounds .
If the no ise predominates over the vo ice, or if the breath
issues from the vocal chords without becoming vo ice (thatis,if it produces only audible friction) , the speech- sound is
called a consonant . Accordingly,
consonants are eithervo iced or vo iceless .
Thus , the basis Of a vowel is vo ice or musical sound,that
of a consonant is no ise or audible friction,and that of a
semiconsonant is an almost equal amount of no ise and voice .
2 . The Sounds ofFrench . The French language has 37 different sounds : 16 vowels , 3 sem iconsonant s, and 18 consonants.
For each Of these sounds we use a phonetic symbo l .Most Of these sym bo ls are identical in form with ordinaryletters
,for example : [a] , [f] , [t] . Others are letters modified
in some particular way : [a] , [p ] , Others are special signs :[S] , [a] . All letters or signs printed in thi s book in squarebrackets are phonetic symbo ls .
The entire series , or alphabet , of thethirty- seven phoneticsymbols requisite for French is tabulated in section 63 .
3 . The Relation of French Sounds to French Spelling.
French spelling, like English '
spelling , is not phonetic . A
given sound m ay be represented in a given word by one
letter or combination Of letters, and in another word by an
other letter or combination Of letters, whi le a given letter or1 This defini tion does not hold good for whispered speech, in whi ch
of course audible friction is present.
SOUNDS o
DIAGRAM A
Nostrils ; 2 , Nasal passage ; 3 , Lips ;4 , Teeth ; 5 , Palate ; 6 ,
Velum , raised (asfor oral vowels) ; 7 , Velum ,
low ered (asfor nasal vowels) ; 8 ,
Uvula ( the t ip of
t he velum ) ; 9 , T ongue ; 10 ,Pharynx ;
11, Vo cal chords (glottis) . The advancedstudent w ill do well t o consult a good
m edical chart of t he throat , m outh , andnose .
combination of letters may represent now one sound, now ah
other. Many letters, moreover, in French as in English , arein certain cases silent , that is, do not represent sounds at all.In English , for instance , the sound Of e in “
me”is some
times represented by e, as in the word me,
”sometimes by
cc, as in“ reed, sometimes by ea , as in “ read ” (present
4 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
tense) ; while the ea in read (present tense) represents asound different from that represented by ea in “ read ” (pasttense) . In the word
“ knight ” the k, g, and h are silent . So/in French the words est and aient, though spelled very different ly, are identical in sound, and in each the consonantletters are silent (each word consists simply of the sound [e] :see section 10) while in t he word aimai the two ai
’s have
different sounds ( [e] and [e] : see sections 10 and
4. Diphthongs. A true diphthong is a combination of two vowelsounds uttered with the same M pulse of breath and in the same syllable . In English
,diphthongs are frequent . They are represented
sometim es by two vowel- letters, as in the word “voice, sometimesby a single letter, as in the words “my,” which is pronouncedand “ go,” whi ch is really pronounced The second element Ofthe diphthong, in such a word as “ go, is often called an ofi -
glide.
In French there are no true diphthongs . The French combinationswhich most nearly resemble diphthongs are those consisting of a sem iconsonant and a vowel sound : see sections 28—38 .
A combination of two letters representing a. single sound, like theea in “
read ,” is called a digraph.
VOWELS
5 . Vowels are sounds in which the voice issues throughthe mouth , or through the mouth and nose, with little or no
stoppage : see section 1.
The French language has 16 vowels, Of which 12 are oralvowels and 4 are nasal vowels.
ORAL VOWELS
6. An oral vowel is one spoken through the mouth only.
In it s utterance the velum is raised, thus shutting Off the
nasal passage .
The French oral vowels are pronounced more distinctlyand more tensely than the English vowels . In English thevocal organs Often relax during the pronunciation of a vowel,so that it ends in a sort of Off- glide ;
“go ,
”for instance, is
VOWELS 5
really pronounced gou ” see section 4. In French there is no
such Off- glide ; the vocal organs retain their position until thepronunciation of the vowel is complete. The student shouldbe on his guard against carrying over into his pronunciationof French his habits Of English vowel pronunciation.
DIAGRAM B
DIAGRAM C
nous
Diagram B shows the different places in the mouth atwhich the several oral vowels are formed, and indicates themanner of their formation . The left end of the horizontalline represents the position of the teeth ; the right end, theposition Of the '
uvula . The nearness Of the symbol t o thehorizontal line indicates the degree t o which the tongue israised in the formation of the vowel in question . The fourvowels whose symbo ls appear on the straight slanting lineare called front vowels . The four on the solid curved line arecalled back vowels . The four on the dotted curved line are
called mixed vowels, or rounded front vowels .
Diagram C gives representative words (key-words) containing the several vowel sounds.
A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
FRONT VOWELS
7. In the formation of all the French front vowels thereo ccurs a forward movement or fronting Of the tongue . The
lips are drawn closer t o the teeth than in the formation Of
the corresponding English vowels.
8 . [i] . In the formation Of this sound the blade Of the
tongue is close t o the front of the hard palate . The tip of
the tongue is bent down so as t o touch the lower teeth .
The mouth is very nearly closed . The corners of the lipsare drawn back , and t he j aws do not move .
This sound is similar t o the vowel sound in Englishbeet ,
”but it is pronounced more tensely. The vowel
sound Of English “ it ” does not o ccur in standard French .
This sound is represented in spelling EXAMPLES 1 SYMBOLSusually by i or i (that is, i with a circum fini [fini]flex accent, called “
i circumflex ”: the ao v ie [v i]
cents wi ll be di scussed in section 65) ile [i zl]
in a few words, after the sounds [a] or [o] , na‘ff [naif] 2by i (that 18 , “ i with a diaeresis ” : see sec
tion 66)
in the word y, and in a few booki sh words, lyreY11/For the representation of the phoneticcombinations [ijl and [ji], see sections 30and 31.
1 In all French words chosen as giv ing examples of the severalsounds, the portion of the word printed in bold—face type has thesound in question . Each examplep is followed by a set Of phoneticsymbols indicating the exact pronunciation of the word . The
sonant- letters used as symbols in sections 8—54 represent sounds apfiroximat ely eqequivalent to t he ordinary sounds of the correspondingglish letters ; except that [r] and [I]
.
represent sounds somewhatdifferent from English r and I (see secti ons 61 and and that [j ]represents a sound equivalent to the ordinary sound of English y. The
phonetic symbol [g] represents the sound of g in“go
”
; the symbol [8 ]represents the sound of the voiceless s Of
“base .
”The Sign z ai ter a
vowel- symbol indicates that the vowel represented by that symbol islong . Vowels whose symbols are not followed by that sign are short .
2 For the sound indicated by the symbol [a] , see section 11.
VOWELS 7
9 . [e] . This sound is called close e.
The blade Of the tongue is slightly lower than for [i] , andthe mouth is wider open .
This sound is Similar t o the a in English fate, but it is
pronounced more tensely, and the lips are drawn back more .
It is represented in spelling EXAMPLES SYMBOLSusually by e
,e (
“e acute or ai ; et
ne z
é t é
gaiin the word abbaye, and in the word pays paysand its derivatives, by a ;
in a few bookish words, as initial, by cc . oedipe
10 . [c] . This sound is called open e.
The blade Of the tongue is slightly lower than for [e] , andthe mouth is wider open . The sides Of the tongue come intocontact with the upper front mo lars .
This sound is opener than that of e in English “bed .
It is represented in spelling EXAMPLES SYMBOLSusually by e
, e (“e grave é, ai , ai ai met
or ci ; pennedés [dc ]bé t e [be zt ]fait lfs ]fait’e [fe zt ]peine [pen]
in some words,before y, by a; payer [peje]
in t he word payement, by ay; payement [pem ii ] 2
in the word Noél,by e“. N0 61 [noel] 3
11. [a] . In the formation of this sound the tongue re
mains flat , with it s tip still pressed against the lowerincisors . The mouth and lips are opened t o a normallywide position .
1 These words are sometimes otherwise pronounced : see section 70 .
2 For the sound indicated by the symbol [a] , see section 25 .
3 For the sound indi cated by the symbol see section 14.
8 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
In formation and in acoustic effect this sound lies betweenthe a in English “ pat ” and the a In English “ father .” 1
It is represented in spelling EXAMPLE S SYMBOLSusually by a; patte [pat]
cave [kaxv ]
in a few words, when final, by a; la [la]in certain verb endings Of the 1st conin aimames [emam]gat ion, by a;in a few words, before m or n
,by e. femme
For the representation Of the phoneticcombination [wa] , see section 35 .
BACK VOWELS
12 . In the formation Of all the back vowels the tongue isdrawn back
,and the lips are rounded .
13 . [a] . This sound differs distinctly from [a] . The bladeOf the tongue is as low as possible in the mouth . The tipdoes no t qui te touch the lower teeth . The lips are slightlyrounded .
This sound is somewhat deeper in tone than the normalpronunciation Of the a in English “ father .”
It is represented in spelling EXAMPLES SYMBOLSusually by a or a; pas [pa]
tasse [tuzs]ame [arm ]
sometimes,before n in liaison (see sec en é t é [anet e]
tions 104 by e.
For the representation of the phoneticcombination [wa] , see section 37 .
14. [o] . This sound is called open 0 .
The back of the tongue is slightly higher than for [a] , andthe lips are more rounded .
This sound lies between the u in English fun and thea in “ law.
”
1 “ father, in the phonetic notation of Webster’s New Interna tionalDictionary.
10 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
18 . [y] . In the formation Of this sound the tongue andj aws have the Same position as for [i] , and the lips are roundedas for [u] .This sound has ‘
no counterpart in English . It is quiteunlike either English u
,as in “mute,
”or English 0 0
,as in
“m oot .”
It is represented in spelling EXAMPLES SYMBOLSusually by u or it; une
cuvedfi [dyl
in certain forms of the verb avoir, by eu eus [y]or ea. efit [y ]
19 . [a] . This sound is called close eu .
In it s formation the tongue and j aws have the same position as for [e] , and the lips are rounded as for
It is represented in spelling : EXAMPLE S SYMBOLSby eu , ea, or am . feu [fa ]
m eute [me zt ]jefiner [gene] 1ncs ud [na]
2 0. [as] . This sound is called open eu .
In it s formation the tongue and j aws have the same position as for [e] , and the lips are rounded as for [o] .It is not unlike the u in English “ burn ” when the r is not
sounded .
It is represented in spellingusually by eu or (Pu;
in a few words, before medial i ll or finali l, by cv;
in the few words in whi ch it stands between c or g and medial i ll or final i l, byue;
sometim es , before n in liaison, by u . un am i [oenami ]
1 For the sound indicated by the symbol see section 55 .
VOWELS 11
21. [s ] . This sound is called mute e or feminine 6 .
It differs from [os] chiefly in that it is not so tense. It isalways very short, and never stressed .
It is no t unlike the unstressed e in English the man, or
the a in “Louisa .
It is represented in spellingusually by e;
0
in the stem - syllable of certain formsderivatives of the verb fa ire, by ai ;in the word monsieur, by on. monsieur [mesjo ]
NASAL VOWELS
2 2 . A nasal vowel is one pronounced Simultaneouslythrough the mouth and the nose . The velum is dropped ,and the breath passes through both the oral and the nasalpassages. The tongue position , for all nasal vowels , is low .
They are as distinct as the oral vowels. They have nothing of the American nasal twang .
”Care must be taken
not t o close the mouth until the pronunciation of the vowelis completed .
The sign over a vowel- symbo l indicates that the vowelis nasal .
2 3 . In spelling, nasal vowels are represented by vowelletters followed by checked m or n : that is, m or n fo llowedby a consonant o ther than m or n,
or final. 1 The checkedm or n is itself silent .Thus the m or n is checked, and the preceding vowel isnasal
,in the words camp [kfi ] , comte faim [fé ] , onz e
[fizz ] , saint [SB] , un [de] ; whereas the m or n is no t checked,
1 The terms “ checked m and checked n are new . They maynot at first commend them selves to phoneticians who are accustomed
“ checked ” to vowels only ; but we believe the new termstoapplyjust ifi by their essential accuracy and them great conv emence.
12 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
and the preceding vowel is oral, in the words aima [ema] ,comme [kom ] , amnistie [amnisti] , inutile [inyt il] , donna [dona] .In a very few words a nasal vowel is represented by a vowel- letter
followed by an m or n that is not checked ; and in a very few casesvowel- letters followed by checked m or n do not represent nasal sounds :see the Notes in sections 83 and 84.
24. [B] . This sound is the nasal equivalent of a soundintermediate between oral [e] and oral [a] .It is represented in spelling EXAMPLES
usually by aim,ain, cim, ein, im, or faim
in; sainteR eimsseinsinl ple
after the sounds [e] or [ i] , by en;
in certain form s of tenir and venir, byin;
in a few bookish words, by em, en
in, ym, or yn .
For the representation Of the phonetic combination [we] , see section38 .
25 . This sound is the nasal equivalent of oral [a] .It is represented in spelling EXAMPLE S SYMBOLS
usually by am,an
,em, or en; camp [kfi]
dans [dd]tempe [t azpdent [do]
in a few monosyllabic nouns, by aon . paon [p61]
26 . This sound is the nasal equivalent of a soundintermediate between oral [o] and oralIt is represented in spelling EXAMPLE Sby cm or on.
SEMICONSONANTS 13
2 7. This sound is theIt is represented in spellingby um, an, or eun.
SEMICONSONANTS
28. Semiconsonant s are sounds in which the vo ice andthe no ise of the friction resulting from the stoppage of
the breath are approximately equal in strength : see sec
tion 1.
The French language has three sem iconsonant s : [j ] , [q ] ,and [w] .
29 . [j ] . This sound corresponds t o [i] spoken very lightly.
It is equivalent t o the y in English “
you .
It is represented in spelling EXAMPLE S SYMBOLSwhen initial
usually by y yeuxin a few bookish words, by i or i ; ionique
iambewhen medialafter a consonant, by i ; bienafter a vowel, by i , y, or i ll; pai en
payerbataillon
when final in sound but not in spell~ batailleing before final e) , by i ll;when final in sound and in spelling
usually by i l;in the word linceul
,by t .
For the representation of the phonetic combinations [ij ], [ji] , and[waj ], see sections 30, 3 1, and 36 .
1 This word is sometimes otherwise pronounced : section 82 .
equivalent of oral [os] .
EXAMPLE S SYMBOLShumble [O
'
exbl]parfum [parfo
‘
e][63][30
‘
s ]
14 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
30. The phonetic combination is EXAMPLE S SYMBOLSrepresented In spellmg
usually by m, i i , or i ll;
in the words grési l and mil (“millet by it .For the representation Of the phonetic combination [q ij ] , see section33 .
31. The phonetic combination [j i] isrepresented in spelling
usually by illi ,’in the word abbaye, and in the wordpays and l t s derivatives, by y.
32 . [q ] . This sound corresponds to [y] spoken verylightly.
It is represented in spelling EXAMPLESby i t .
For the representation of the phonetic combination [q ij ] , see section33 .
33 . The phonetic com‘bination [q i j ] is
represented In spelling :by uy. lfq llafl
'
l
34. [W] . This sound corresponds t o [u] spoken verylightly.
It is similar t o the w in English “won, but the lips are
farther forward .
It is represented in spelling SYMBOLSby on .
For the representation Of the phonetic combinations lwa], [wa ], and
[WE] , see sections 35—38 .
1 These words are sometimes otherwise pronounced : see section 70.
CONSONANTS 15
35 . The phonetic combination [wa] is EXAMPLE S SYMBOLSrepresented in spelling :
usually by oi or oi;
in the word moelle and its derivatives,by oe;ibdl the word poe‘le and its derivatives, [pwaxl] 1
y oé;in a few words, by oua;in certain verb forms Of the first conjugation, by cud;
in some bookish words, after 9 or g,by ua .
For the representation Of the phonetic combination [waj ] , see section 36 .
36 . The phonetic combination [waj ] isrepresented in spelhng
usually by oy;
in a few words, by oua i ll.
37. The phonetic combination [wa] isrepresented in spelling :
usually by oi or oi ;
in the word poéle and its derivatives,by cc.
38. The phonetic combination [we] isrepresented in spelling :
usually by oin; soin [swé ]
in a few words, by ouin. baragouin [baragwe]
CONSONANTS
39 . C lassification of Consonants . C onsonants are soundsin which the no ise of friction from stoppage of the breathpredominates over t he sound of the vo ice
, or constitutes the1 These words are sometimes otherwise pronounced : see section 37 .
2 These words are somet Imes otherw1se pronounced : see section 35 .
16 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
entire sound in case the breath does not become voice : seesection 1. C onsonants in which vo ice is present are calledvoiced consonants; those in which the breath does no t becomevo ice are called voiceless consonants .
The French language has 18 consonants . They are classified in the fo llowing table according t o the character and theposition of the stoppage . The character of the stoppage isindicated by the terms at the left Of the table , the positionof the stoppage by the terms at the t op of the table .
For the meaning Of the terms explosive, fricative, nasal,tri lled, and lateral, see sections 41, 50, 57, 61, 62 .
In each of the pairs Of explosive and fricative consonantsthe first is vo iced , the second vo iceless . The nasal, trilled,and lateral consonants are all vo iced .
The articulation Of French consonants is clearer and tenserthan that Of English consonants .
40. Consonants Sim ilar in French and English . The
explosives, and the sounds [v] , [f] , [z] , [s] , [In] , and [n] , areapproximately equivalent t o the ordinary sounds of the
English letters corresponding t o the several symbo ls (thismeans, in the case of [g] , the g Of
“go ,
” and in the case of
[s] , the vo iceless s Of
18 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
46 . [g] . This sound is represented EXAMPLESusually by g or 99;
before a or 0 , in some verb form s,by
911;
before 6 or i , by ya ;in the words second
, anecdote,and
their derivatives, by c .
For the representation of the phoneticcombination [gz ], see section 47 .
47 . The phonetic combination [gz ]represented
by x. exiler [egz ile]
48. [k] . This sound is representedusually by c or cc;
before a or 0,often by qu;
before e or i
when ini tial,by qu; querelle
when m edial, by qu or cqu;
in a few words, as final, by q;in some bookish words
,by ch;
in some bookish words,by k;
in som e bookish words,before
sound [w] , by q;in certain words, when they occur in sang impur [sfiképyzr]liaison
,by g.
For the representation Of the phoneticcombination [ks] , see section 49 .
49 . The phonetic combination [ks] isrepresented
usually by x;
in som e words which begin with theprefix ex by we or as;
in some words,before e or i , by cc. acces
CONSONANTS 19
FRICATIVE CONSONANTS
50. In the utterance of the fricative consonants the
stoppage is partial and continuous .
51. [v] . This sound is represented EXAMPLE S SYMBOLSusually by v;
in the word neuf, when it occursliaison
,by f.
52 . [f] . Thi s sound is representedusually by f or if;
in some bookish words, by ph.
53 . [z] . This sound is representedusually by z;Often, as medial, by s;
in a few numerals,by as;
in certain words, when they occur inliaison, by s or 113.
For the representation Of [gz ], see sec
tion 47 .
54. [s ] . Thi s sound is representedusually by s or ss;
Often, before a or 0,by g: (that is, c facade
with cedi lla ” : see sectionOften, before e
,i,or y, by c or so;
Often, before the sound [j ] , by t; nationin the word soixante, by x. soixanteFor the representation of [k s] , see section 49 .
20 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
55 . This sound is apprOXi EXAMPLE S SYMBOLSmately equivalent t o the z in English“ azure ,
”but the lips are protruded .
C are must be taken no t t o confusethis sound with the ordinary sound ofEnglish j : [d3] .It is representedbefore a
,0,or u
,by j or ge;
before e,i,or y, by j or g.
56 . [S] . This sound is approxi
mately equivalent t o the sh in English“Show,
”but the lips are protruded .
It is representedusually by ch;in a few bookish words, by sch.
NASAL C ONSONANTS
57. In the utterance Of nasal consonants the breathpasses through both the mouth and the nose . In the mouththe . breath is first completely stopped and then suddenlyreleased, as in the explosive consonants .
58 . [m ] . Thi s sound is represented EXAMPLESby m or mm .
59 . [n] . This sound is more dist inctly dental than the English n .
It is represented :by n or nn.
[done]
60 . [p ] . This sound is formed by combining the art icu
lation Of [n] with that Of [j ] . The tip of the tongue rests
CONSONANTS 2 1
against the lower teeth , while the blade Of the tongue isarched against the hard palate.
C are must be taken no t t o confuse this sound with thephonetic combination [nj ] , o ccurring, for instance, in theFrench panier [panj e] and the English
“union .
”
This sound is represented EXAMPLESusually by gn; dignein the word Oignon and its derivatives, Oignonby ign.
TRILLED CONSONANTS
61. French has two r sounds, [r] and [R] . The sound [r]is called lingual r, and the sound [R] uvular r.
In the formation Of the sound [r] the tip Of the tongue istrilled by making it vibrate against the upper teeth .
In the formation of the sound [R] the tongue is drawnback
,and the uvula is made t o vibrate against it .
Some Frenchmen employ only the sound [r] , some onlythe sound [R] . We use in this book only the symbol [r] , butsuggest that the teacher , if he so prefers
,direct his c lass t o
regard the symbo l [r] as representing the uvular r.
The r sounds are represented EXAMPLESusually by r or rr;
in a few book ish words,by rh or rrh. rhume
catarrhe
LATERAL C ONSONANT
62 . This sound is articulated against the upper teeth ,the vo ice escaping at the sides of the tongue.
It differs notably from the English I. In the French [I]the tip of the tongue rests against the upper teeth
,and the
22 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
back Of the tongue is relatively low ; in the English Soundthe tip rests against the upper gums , and the back is raisedtoward the soft palate . In certain English words as
“call ” in which the l is final
,the tip Of the tongue drops
back during the utterance Of the I: this must be avo ided inthe utterance Of the French sound.
This sound is representedby l or ll.
63 . TABLE OF SOUNDS,USUAL SPELLINGS, AND
EXAMPLES
USUA L S PELLINGS EXAMPLE S
Vowels
Front
M ixed
aim ,ain
, eim ,ein faim ,
sainte, Reim s, sein,
1m,in
, en
am,an
,em ,
en camp,dans, temps, dent
om ,on dom , onz e
um,um
,eun
fini,ile
et, é t é , gai
m et , dés , bete,fait
,faite, peine
pattepas
,Ame
fort, aurainos
,tot
,aux
,beau
sou,gout
une,dfi
feu, jefiner, nceud
peuple,smur
24 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
LETTERS AND SIGNS
64. Alphabet. The letters of the French alphabet are thesame as those of the English alphabet . The letter to
,how
ever, occurs only in bookish or foreign words, and the letterw occurs only in foreign words : see sections 96 and 97.
The following table shows in the second and third columns theregular names of the FI°ench letters and the pronunciation of thosenames . In spelling, special identifying sounds are now used for mostof the consonant letters, instead Of the regular names . These soundsare given in the fourth column of the table.
26 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
It appears also , in certain words, EXAMPLESon the letter e. It is written in theword NOct t o indicate that the e isseparate in pronunciation from thepreceding 0 . It appears in certainwords on a final e preceded by gu ,
t o indicate that the preceding u
is sounded (u in this ending isgenerally silent : see sectionIt appears also , with varying
function, in certain proper names :see section 97The French name for the diaere
sis is tréma , [trema] .
67. Cedilla. The cedilla, Jap
pears under the letter 0 when thec designates the sound [s] beforea,0, or u .
The French name for the cedillais cédi lle, [sedixj ] .
LETTERS
68. Double Consonant- Letters . A double consonantletter is , in most cases, pronounced as if it were a singleconsonant- letter : that is , it represents a single sound.
Exceptions t o this general statement will be noted for theindividual consonant- letters .
In many scientific words Of Greek or Latin origin,how
ever, double consonant- letters are held in utterance twice or
nearly twice as long as smgle consonant- letters ; and informal speech a double consonant- letter that would underordinary conditions be pronounced as a single consonantletter may be held in utterance for twice or nearly twice thenormal period .
LETTERS : A 27
69. Final Consonant- Letters . Most consonant- letters,when final
, are silent . Final c, f, l, and q are however generally pronounced . Exceptions t o these general statementswi ll be noted for the individual consonant- letters .
The addition of s t o a noun or adjective, t o indi cate thatit is plural , does not alter the pronunciation of the word . Ina word which ends in the singular form with a silent consonant- letter, that letter remains silent before the plural s;and in a word which ends in the singular with a soundedconsonant- letter, that letter retains the same sound beforethe plural The word “ final,
”as used in sections 71—95,
applies t o consonant- letters immediately fo llowed by plurals, as well as t o consonant- letters which are actually final .
70. A. The let ter a is SOUNDS EXAMPLES SYMBOLSpronounced as fo llowsWhen independent
‘
(thatis, when not “ in combination,
”as specified be
low)
Without written ao
cent :
In general [a] balpattetard
Before s , when the [a] évasions is before a vowel pas
letter, or is final ; ahand in a few other espacewords : damnerIn the ending [a] or nation- ation, and in a few [11]other words , usagevaries
1 There are three words which constitute exceptions to these statements : baeuf [boef] , p
lural boeufs [be ] ; oeuf [oef], egg,” plural
wufs [a] ; and as [as] bone,’ plural as [O] .
28 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
SOUNDSBefore checked m
or n (that is , m or n
before a consonantletter other thanm or n
,or final :
see sections 83 and84 . Note that thechecked m or n is
itself Silent)With grave accent
With circumflex ao
centIn generalIn past abso luteendings of the firstconjugation :
In combinationai is pronounced as
fo llows :In general
When final in verbform s ; in the wordgai and it s derivatiy es ; and in the
words geai , sais,sai t
,vais
In the first syllable Of those formsOf t he verb fairewhich begIn fai sin the corresponding forms Of com
pounds Offaire; andin the words faisable and faiseur.
LETTERs z A—B 29
SOUNDS SYMBOLSBefore checked m
or n :
With a fo llowing llor final l:
at
ao before checked n
ou (for eau see below)When not the las tvowel sound Of awordIn general
In some words aucun
When the lastvowel sound
In general :
Before r; and in afew other words :
In general
In the word payement :
In the word abbaye; [pei] or [pej 1]and in the wordpays and it s derivat iv es
eau
71. B.
Initial or medialIn general
30 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
SOUNDS EXAMPLESBefore 3 or t [p] observer
Obtient
silent plombradoub
72 . C (without ce
dilla) .
Single (that is, not double, and not
“ in combination ” )
Initial or medial
Before a,o, u , or a
consonant- letter
In general
In the wordssecond, anecdote,and their derivat iv es :
In the words lacsas
pect, circonspect
(the last res
peet, distinct, ins
tinct,succinct (the
last c) and inthe verb form
Before 6 , i , or y
FinalIn general
LETTERS 1 B—C
After n
But final 0 is sometimes sounded inthe word done,when spokenwithemphasis .
In the words accroc, Silent accrocbroc, caoutchouc ,clerc, cri c, croc, es
croc, estomac, mare,tabac
Final c is sound cric craced, however , inthe combinationsde bri c et de brac
and cric crac
Double
Before a,o , u , or a accord
consonant—letter
Before e or i
In combination
ch (for sch see below)In general
In words of Greekderivation
Before a,o, u , or
a consonant—lett er
Before e, i , or y
In generalIn a few words :
32 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
so (for sch see below) SOUNDS EXAMPLE S SYMBOLSBefore a , o , u ,
or a scandaleconsonant- letter
Before e, i , or y [s]
sch: [S]
73 . C , [s] facadelecon
74. D.
Initial or medial
In general
Before final 3 in verbforms ; and in the
wordsfonds andpoids :FinalIn general
In the word sudIn liaison (see section105)
75 . E.
Independent
Without writtencent or diaeresis :Initial
In general
In words beginning efi essa
esso essu in thewords eh and ci;and in some bookish words :
34
In the initialc ombinationdess— z
In general :
I n t h e
words dessous anddessus
In the initialcomb Inat l on
ress— z
In general :
I n t h e
words res
sui , res
suger, res
susci ter
Before mm,
mn, or nn inadverbs in—emment anda few otherwords :
Before finald, ds , or 2 ; be
fore final r orrs when the ris silent (seesectionand in the
word clef
Before final s
In general :
In monosyllables
SOUNDS EXAMPLE S
ressentir
ressui
A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
SYMBOLS
LETTERS 2
Before checked SOUNDSm :
In general
Inafew bookish words :
Before checked
In general
After e, i , org :
In general
I n t h e
noun andad j e c t iv ee n d i n g s—i ent and—i ence
When de [e]n a sa l i z edbefore n inhalson
In afew bookish words :
In the verb silentending —ent :
Between g and silenta vowel- letter ;and in the
names Jean andJ eanne:
35
EXAMPLES SYMBOLS
temple [taxpl]Luxembourg [lyksfibu zr]
sempiternel [sépit ernel]
dent [dd]essentiel [esfisjel]
bien aimée [bjeneme]
examen
donnent [don]
mangeaJean
36 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
At the end of a SOUNDSsyllable
In general
In the fo llowing cases the e
isnormallypro
nounced as [a]
At the beginning Oi aphrase :
In an initialormedial syllable, whenpreceded bytwo consonant sounds
In an initialor medialsyllable, before li or ri
representingthe sounds
or [t i]
silent
EXAMPLES
Levez- laC eci est bonLe chevalest tombé
brebisune fenetreune petitefille
il vient delever
relierat eller
donnerIOns
SYMBOLS
[relje][atelje][donerjc
’
i]
LETTERs : E 37
SOUNDSIn an initial or me
dial syllable,when the
next syllableends in anunaccented e:In future or
past futureendings afterthe sound [j ]In te at the regardez- le [regardele]end of animp er a t i vephrase : 1
Fu rthermo re ,an e which isnormally silentmay be pro
nounced as [a]when for anyreason , grammat ical or stylistie, a word isuttered except ionally Slowly ;as for instance ,when the wordit selfis an ObjectOf discussion : 2
1 An e which is norm ally pronounced [9 ] tends to become [(E ] oreven [a] if for any reason it is uttered with special stress : Donnez- le, jevous dis ! [donelm sovudi ] .
2 In the form al reading Ofpoetry an ewhich would in prose be silent ispronounced [a] unless it immediately precedes or follows a vowel sound :
Sombres j ours ! l’empereur revenait lentement .[s5zbr9 3uxr l lfiperoezr ravens lfitemfij
At the end of a line the e is sometim es pronounced even when it follows a vowel sound : France adorée ! [frfi zsadoree ] .In popular poetry, however, such an e often remains silent : Il é tait
une bergere, [iletetynbersexre] .
38 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
When there isa success10n of
mono syllablesendingme, the
second, as a rule,is pronouncedas But ce
gue is almosta lways pro
nounced [ska] ;and le and ne
show a t en
dency t o dropthe e wheneverpreceded by amo n o syl l ab leending in e:Before y
With acute accentIn general :Before —j e
With grave accent
With circumflex ao
cent
With diaeresisIn the wordNoel
In the ending —gue°
:
In combination
eau : see section 70.
ct .
In general
Before checked mor n :
With a fo llowingIt or final l:
SOUNDS
on me le
donne[Omeldon]
Si je ne tele [sigenteldis pas
grasseyer
dipa]
LETTERS ! E
cu (for amsee below) ; SOUNDS EXAMPLES SYMBOLSIn general
Before s or x fol
lowed by a vowelletter ; before t; before a vowel- letter ;or as the last soundof a word :Before checked m
or n :
In forms of the verbavoir
In general
In forms of the verbavoir:
as (for mu see be
low)Before medial i ll orfinal i l
In the word moelleand it s derivatives :
In a few bookishwords , as initial :
In general
A S the last soundOf a word :
ue after 0 or
before medialfinal i t
39
40 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONET ICS
76 . F ,SOUNDS EXAMPLE S SYMBOLS
Initial or medial
FinalIn general
In the words cerf, nerf, silentclef; in the pluralsboeufs and ceufs; inthe combination chefd’oeuvre; and in the
numeral neuf when itmodifies grammat i
cally a fo llowing nounbeginning with a consonant sound :In the phrases neuf neuf heures [noev oezr]ans and neuf heures :
77. G .
SingleInitial or medialBefore a
,0,or u :
Before e,i,or y
B efore a consonantletter
In general
In thewords doigtand vi t andtheir derivatives :
FinalIn generalIn liaison
42 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
In combination SOUNDS EXAMPLES SYMBOLSch: see section 72 .
ph [f] philosophe [filoz of]sch: see section 72 .
79 . I.
Independent
Without written ac
cent , with or withoutdiaeresis
In general
Before a vowelsound :
In general
After l or r pre
ceded by a con
sonant- letter
Be fore checked m
or n :
With circumflex ao
centIn general
Before checked n
In combination
ai and at : see section70.
ci : see section 75 .
i ll medial
After vowel [j ] bataillonsound
After a sem icon [ij] cuillersonant sound :
LETTERs : H—1 43
After a, consonant SOUNDS EXAMPLES SYMBOLSsound
In general
In a few words ,in which the ll
represents a Latin ll
i l final
After vowel travailsound
With a preceding 0 :
After a consonantsound
In some words
In some words gentilsourcil
In the words gré [Ij ] grésilsi t and mi l (“millet
”
)
In general
After r; and in afew other words :Before checked m
or n :
In the word Oignon
and it s derivatives :
In general boite [bwaxt ]
After r [wa] 1 cro itre [krwuxtr]1 Some Frenchmen use the sound- comb ination [wal in cases in which
44 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
SOUNDS EXAMPLES[3] ie
Anj ou
81. K [k] kilometre
In the word genti l
homme:
In the words cul,soul, silent
fils , pouls
In the word linceul:
In initial i ll andin a few bookishwords
In combination
i ll medial and i t finalsee section 79 .
83 . M .
Single
B e f o r e a v ow elletter
Before a consonant silentletter other than n
LETTERS : J—N 45
Before n SOUNDS EXAMPLES SYMBOLSIn general
In the word silenttomne; and inword damner
it s derivatives :
Double
In general [fam][amne]
In initial imm [mm] imminent [immin‘
d]
NOTE .
“The vowel before a checked m (that is, m before a consonantletter other than m or n, or final) is nasal . Initial e is also nasal in
84. N .SOUNDS EXAMPLE S SYMBOLS
Single :
Before a vowel- letter
Before a consonantletter ; or final
Double
In general
In initial inn and ina few bookish words
In combination
gn : see section 77 .
NOTE . The vowel before a checked n (that is, n before a consonantletter other than n
,or final) is nasal, except in final —ent in verbs,
in the word monsieur,and when
idenasaliz ed in liaison : see section 104 .
Initial e is also nasal in the words enamourer, enivrer, enorguei llir, ennoblir, ennui , and their derivatives.
46 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
85 . 0 .
Independent
Without writtencent
In general
Before 3 fo llowedby a vowel- letter ;before the ending
- tion; and in a fewother words :
As the last soundof a word :
Before checked m
or n :
In general
When denasal
iz ed before n inliaison
In the word mon
With circumflex ac
cent
In general
In the words hOpital and hotel:
In combination :
ao, aou: see section 70 .
w, oé, wu : see section
oi , oi : see section 79 .
SOUNDS EXAMPLES
mon
mon ami
monsieur [mosjp]
LETTERS 1 O - P
Ot t
Before a consonantsound ; or as the
last Sound of aword
Before a vowelsound :
In general
After l or r pre
ceded by a con
sonant- letter
86 . P.
Independent
Initial or medial
In general
In the wordscompte, dompter,exempt, prompt (thesecond p) , sculp ter,sept, and their deriv at iv es ; in bapteme and relatedwords ; in the wordscorps and temps;and in the verbforms romps and
SOUNDS
[11]
[U]
[11]
EXAMPLES
oui
louange
clouer
oil
gout
moyen
SYMBOLS
47
48 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONET ICS
Final SOUNDS EXAMPLE S SYMBOLSIn general silent coup
In the words cap [p] cap
In combination
ph: see section
87. o.
IndependentIn general
In the numeral cinq,when it modifiesgrammatically a following noun beginning with a consonantsound :
In combinationcq: see section 72 .
88. R.
SingleIn general
In final —er in wordsOfmore than one syl
lable
In general
In the words amer,
cui ller, enfer, ether,
hiver :
In the words mon
s ieur, messi eurs, volon
ti ers :
50 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
In theverb form est;and in the wordslesquels , mesdames,mesdemoiselles
FinalIn general
In the words aloes,as, atlas, bi s , cassis ,cens , es, fits , hélas ,ibis, iris, j adis, laps ,lis (the noun) , mats ,mars, métis , moeurs,oasis , as (the sin
gular) , ours , pathos,plus (when emphatic , when meaning“ plus,
” and in thecombinations en
plus and plus-
que
parfai t) , relaps, rhinoceros , sens, ensus ,tous (when emphatic , when a pronoun,and when not im
mediately preceding a noun) , us, vis(the noun)Bu t final 3 is
S i l e n t i n t h e
c om b i n a t i o n sfleur- de- lis andsens commun;and sometimes inthe words mceursand us .
In liaison
fleur- de- lis
mes amis
[floerdeli]
LETTERS 2 S—T
In combination
se,sch: see section 72 .
Medial
In general
Before i , fo llowed by avowel :In general
In the endings —tie,—tien
,—tier,
—tiers ,—tieme; and in theending —tie after aconsonant
In general
I n t h e w o r d sbalbutier
,difi
'
éren
tier,ini tier, trans
substantier, ineptie
,inertie:
After 8 or it ; whenthe t is the last letterOf a verb stem ; andin the words galimatias and étioler :In the words asthme
and i sthme; and in t heverb forms bats
, mets ,vets :
SOUNDS
[t ]
[S]
EXAMPLES
theatretiaret on
nationbalbutiementdémocratie
51
SYMBOLS
[naSifil[balbysimfi]
[demokrasi]
52 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
Final SOUNDS EXAMPLE S SYMBOLS
In general silent
In the words brut,chut,
’
dot, fa t, hui t, lu t,mat , net; compact, con
tact,correct, direct , ex
act, infect, intact, tact,strict; sept , transep t; est
ouest, z est;
and in soi t when usedas an adverb :But final t may be sept livressilent in sept, andis always silent in huit livreshu i t , wh e n t h e s ewordsmodify grammat ically a fo llowing noun beginningwith a consonantsound .
91. U.
Independent
Without written ao
cent
Before a consonantletter or final :In general
Before checked mor n :
In general : 1
1 Many Frenchmen pronounce the word an as [S] : nu j our, [5511eThi s pronuncl at ion Is condemned by the purists .
LETTERS 2 T—U
When denasaliz ed before n
1n 11a1son : 1
Before a soundedvowel—letterIn generalAfter g or gIn general
In forms Of arguer; and in afew otherwordsIn some bookish words :
Before final silent eIn generalAfter 9 or gIn general
In the ending—gue
°
:
With circumflex ao
cent :In combination
au ,aou
,eau : see sec
ti on 70 .
eu,eu, ceu : see section
75 .
SOUNDS EXAMPLES[os] un ami
silent guidequandarguaisaiguille
SYMBOLS[oenam i]
53
1 Many Frenchmen pronounce denasaliz ed a n as [en] : un ami, [enam i] .This pronunciation is condemn ed by the purists .denasaliz ed un is Often pronounced as [yn ] : um am i , [ynami] .
In popular speech aWith
regard to this pronunciation Mart inon says (Comment on prononce ls
frangais , p .
“ Il est peu de fautes plus choquantes .”
54 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
cu , 012, 012; see section SOUNDS EXAMPLES SYMBOLS85 .
a c: see section 75 .
[1111] fuyardappuyer
92 . V
93 . X.
Initial xylophone [ksilofon]
Medial
In general axiome
In the prefixeshex sex before avowel sound
In the prefix ex be excellent [ekselti]fore cc , ci , or s :
In the words deux deuxieme [doz jem]ieme, sixieme, dixi éme,sixaine:
In the word soixante: [s] so ixante [swasdxt ]
Final
In general silent vo ix
In the words six and [s]
But the a: is Silent [silixv r]when these wordsmodify grammat i
c a l ly a fo l low i ngnoun beginningwitha consonant sound .
LETTERS 2 U—Z
In the words dice—hui t,dim- hui ti éme, dim- neuf,di sc- neuvi eme
In a few bookishwords
In liaison
94. Y.
Independent
In the word yBefore a vowel- letter
In general
Before i
Before a consonantletter
In general
Before checked m
or n :
In combination
ay: see section 70 .
oy: see section 85 .
uy: see section 91.
95 . Z .
Initial or medial
index
six homm es
[z] zeledl z ame
silent nez
avez
[Sdeks]
[siz om ]
55
56 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
FOREIGN WORDS
96. Many foreign words (aside from proper names, for whi ch see
section 97) are frequently used in French . Some of these words arepronounced as in the language from whi ch they are borrowed ; some are
pronounced as if they were French words ; most of them Show a compromise between the original pronunciation and a true French pronunciat ion. The pronunciation Of such words should in general besought in a dictionary : A few such words, now quite naturalized inFrench
,have been treated in the preceding sections . C ertain addi tional
principles and certain special peculiarities may be noted here.
Vowel- letters followed by final m or n
are in many cases not nasal, and thefinal m or n i s in such cases s .oundedThe letter e i s in such cases pronounced [e], and u is pronouncedFinal ay and ey are pronounced as [8 ]
Final b, final d, final p , final r in —er,final 8 , final t in - st
,
pand final 2 are
sounded In many words .
Sh is pronounced [S] .Um and un, not final, are pronounced
W and wh are ronounced in some
words as [v] , an In some as [w] .
Many words present special peculiarit ies .
58 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
W is pronounced [v] .X 18 variously treated : in some namesit is pronounced as [ks] , in some as[gz ] , 1n some as [s] , In some as [k], andin some, when final, it is silent .
Final 2 is variously pronounced : insom e names as [z ] , in some as [s] .Final te is usually pronounced as [ts] ,sometimes as
Many names present special peculiarit ies .
SYNTHESIS
SYLLABIC DIVISION
98 . In Speech . A Frenchword has in actual speech as
many syllables as it has vowelsounds .
In the syllabic division Of aFrench word as actually spoken :a single consonant or semiconsonant sound betweentwo vowels goes with the following vowel ;
a group of two sounds Of
which the first is a consonantand the second a sem icon
sonant goes with the fo llowing vowel ;a group Of two consonantsounds of which /the first isan explosive or a fricativeand the second is [1] or [r]goes with t he fo llowing vowel ;any other group of two con
sonant sounds 1s divided , thefirst go ing with the precedingvowel
,and t he second with
fo llowing vowel,
any group of three consonantsounds i s divided
,the first
sound go ing with t he preceding vowel , the other two soundswith the fo llowing vowel .
EXAMPLESgéant
amabilitécochonpasserpayertravailler
nationalouette
sablonapresmettrons
admisrhythm ique
examenacheterinstantmalgré
SYMBOLS
[a-ma- bi- li- t e]lkO- Sfil[pa- Se]lpa- 36 ][t ra—v a-
j e]
[Ha - 810 ][a- lwet ]
60 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
99. In Spelling and Writing. The rules for the divisionOf a word in spelling , or at the end Of a line In wrlt ing, are
as fo llowsEXAMPLES
The word has as many syllables as it has gé- antvowel- letters ; except thatthe combinations of vowel- letters listed Meu—se
in sections 70, 75 , 79 , 85 , and 91 maynot be separated ;i , u , and ou, when representing a semi bien- v e- nu
consonant sound,may not be separated re- luI- re
from a fo llowing vowel- letter ; oua- te
silent e between g or j and a vowel- let man-
gea
t er does not count, and silent u does not Jean- no
count ; lan-
gue
an- ti- que
a mute e after a vowel- letter may not be é-
pee
separated from that letter . par- t ieci- gué
Note that a mute e after a consonant re—le- v er
letter does count. por- t e
A single consonant- le tter other than 3: goes a-ma- bi- li- téwith the fo llowing vowel- letter.X goes with the preceding vowel- letter.The groups ch, ph, th, gn, and all groups of a- che- ter
two consonant- letters Of which the first is di- gneb,c,d, f, g, p ,
t, or v and the second is l or sa- ble
r go with the fo llowing vowel- letter. a- pres
All other groups of two consonant- letters ad-m is
are divided . ab- bes- se
vil- leaug
-men- ter
A group Of three consonant- letters con ar- chetaining one of the combinations ch, ph, th, ath- le- t e
or gn is so divided as not t o separate thech, ph, ih, or gn.
STRESS 61
A group Of three consonant- letters of
which the second is b, c, d, f, g, p , t , or v
and the third is l or r is divided betweenthe first of the three letters and the second .
All other groups of three consonant- lettersare divided between the second letter andthe third .
Prefixes are however usually set Off without regard to these rules.
STRESS
IN A SINGLE WORD
100 . When a word of two or more syllables, as amabi li té
or premiere, is pronounced separately,all syllables except
the last are spoken evenly and as far as,
possible withoutstress, and the last is stressed . Even so , the stressed syllable is weaker in French than in English .
The stressed syllable is called the strong syllable, the others arecal led weak syllables . It is possible however to distinguish two degreesof weak syllables, namely “ secondary ” and “weak” ; and the tendencyin French is toward a succession Of secondary, weak, and strong syllables . For instance, in amabi li te
’
the first and third syllables have asecondary stress, the second and fourth are weak, and the last isstrong . In the group voulez- vous , the vou is secondary, the lee is weak,and the vous is strong : compare what is said in the next section. The
American student should be warned against over- stressing the secondary syllables .
IN C ONNECTED SPEE CH
101. Word Groups . In connected speech words lose theirindividuality, and are pronounced in groups , as in the English phrase “
No t at all .” The length of the group is determined by the sense and by the amount of breath employed .
A group Of closely connected words becomes, for the purposes Of pronunciation , a single long word .
62 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONET ICS
In the pronunciation of such a group of words , all syllables except the last are spoken evenly and with little or no
stress (see the preceding section) , while the last syllable Of
all is stressed . Examples
Nous sommes j oyeux. [nusomgwajo ]
Il veut me donner cela . [ilv omdonesla]
Les deux voleurs etaient cru cifiés a ses cOtés .
[ledav oloezr et ekrysifje asekot e]
De temps en temps elle relevait la tete.
[det fiz fit c’
i elrelv elat ext ]
Le jeune homme doux et simple aux mains meurtries et gonflées .
[lesoenom duesé zpl om é moert riegfifle]
When the group ends with a word Of two pronounced syl
lables t he stress Often falls upon the first Of the two . Thiso ccurs especially in words ending in —
ou
C’é t ait la voix de la nation ! [set elavwadlanasj5]
102 . Logical and Emotional Stress . Logical and emotional stressare Obtained by stressing a syllable not regularly stressed, as in the
English phrase Sins Of om ission and of comm ission ”
Il faut se démettre ou se soum ettre .
[ilfosdemet r usesumet r]
D’une part il a gagné , de l’autre 11 a perdu .
[dynparilagap e delo trilaperdy]
Impossible ! [Sposibl]Miserable ! [m iz erabl]
In general,emotional stress is made in English by reinforcing the
stressed syllable, as in “ incredible ” or“ridi culous . In French, on
the other hand, the stress is Often displaced : “ incroyable,” “ridicule .
”
But when in French the stressed word is in a group Of words and begins with a vowel sound, the emotional stress is placed on the secondsyllable of the word ; otherwise it is on the first : “cc miserable ! ” “ c’estimpossible !
VOWEL Q UANTITY
VOWEL QUANTITY
103 . French vowels are in EXAMPLE S SYMBOLSgeneral short .But stressed vowels are
long in the cases enumeratedbelow (the phonetic sign indicating length is I
,placed after
the long vowel)Any stressed vowel is longwhen fo llowed by one of
t he sbundS [j ] , [V] , [Z ] ,or by t he sound [r] whenthat sound is the lastsound Of the word .
A stressed vowel writtenwith a circumflex accentis long when fo llowed bya consonant sound ; ex
cept in etes,and in the
endings Of the past absolute and past subjunctivetenses .
The oral vowels [a] , [a] ,[s ] , [O] , and [a] are long,when stressed
,in many
words in which they a re
fo llowed by a consonantsound .
A stressed nasal vowel is tantealways long when fol
lowed by a consonantsound .
63
64 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
LIAISON
104. When a word ending in a consonant- letter which isordinarily silent is fo llowed immediately by a closely relatedword beginning with a vowel- letter, with an h that is not
preventive, or with a y, the final consonant- letter Of the firstword is sometimes sounded, as in premier an,
vingt arbres, [v é tarbr] ; allez -
y, [alozi] . This special soundingOf a final consonant- letter is called liaison or linking.
’
In ordinary speech it occurs usually in the conditionslisted in section 107, seldom otherwise . In poetry and declamat ion it is used more extensively.
105 . The letters n, p , r, t , EXAMPLE S SYMBOLSand z have in liaison their normal values [p] , [I ] , [t] , and
D sounds as [t] . un grand [c‘
Egrfit om ]homme
F: sounds as [v] in neuf ans neuf heures [noevoexr]and neuf heures; elsewhere un vif int éré t [o
‘
ev ifé t ere]as [f] .
G sounds as [k] . [saképyxr]
S and a: sound as [z] .[dez am i]
106 . When n is linked , thepreceding vowel is partly or
who lly denasalized .
An e denasalized from [a] is en Italie [anitali]sounded [a] .
An e denasalized from [S] is bien aimée [bjsneme]sounded [e] .
66 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
108. It is t o be noted thatfinal m is never linked ; thatthe t Of et is never linked ; thatthe linking Of other words ending in —
et is rare ; and that linking does no t occur before hui tor hui tiéme (except in the compound words dip - hui t
,disc- hui
tieme) , or before onz e, onz ieme,oua te, oui .
ASSIMILATION
EXAMPLES109 . When in the course of rapid la- dessusspeech a consonant sound which is médecmnormally voiced comes directly be ig
l
iriogfif
l
ggmséfore a voiceless sound, the voiced m onsieurconsonant changes to the corresponding voiceless consonant .1Similarly, when a consonant le secondwhich is normally voiceless comes avec J93 11directly before a voiced consonant a
rsh
reg'
eque de
sound, the voiceless consonant achanges to the corresponding voicedconsonant .2When a consonant which is nor
mally voiceless comes in rapidspeech between two vowels, itchanges to the corresponding voicedconsonant : see section 105 .
1 Compare the pronunciation of b before 3 or t : see section 71.
2 Compare the pronunciation of anecdote: see sect lon 72 .
EXAMPLESsang et eauun vo let ouvertles huit amismais oui
[kutpie][lem 5t siv iliz e][mesjo ] or[mej e l or[13810 ]
llez g5][av egsfi][arSev egdopari ]
ELISION 67
ELISIONEXAMPLES
110 . The monosyllables la , cc , de, j e,le,me, ne, que, se, te, and certain com
pounds Of que, such as j usque, lorsque,and quelque, drop the final letter and arewritten with an apostrophe in it s placewhen they immediately precede a wordbeginning with a vowel- letter, an h thatis no t preventive, or y.
1
This elision , however , does no t takeplace when the monosyllable is connectedby a hyphen with a preceding verb .
Elision does no t take place before prev ent iv e h, nor before the words onz e, oui ,uhlan. It does not usually take placebefore oua te .
S i is elided before i t or i ls .
PITCH
111. Pitch is the high or low quality (tone) Of a musical sound .
In speech, pitch depends on the number of vibrations of the vocalchords within a given period Of time .
Since a short body necessarily v ibrzyes faster than a long one, the
voices of children generally have a/h) [
Aer pitch than those of adults,their vocal chords being shorter . B.
d; Speech sounds also differ amongthemselves as to pitch : [i] is Ng yf than [a] and [a] is higher than [O ] . 1In general , French has few : r low notes than English
,and therefore the
same voice speaking French and English will appear to have a higherpitch in French than in English . At the same tim e, emotion has amarked effect on the human voice, and the same sentence (or part ofit) will fluctuate in pitch according to the emotional element in itsee the following section.
1 Compare the muting of e at the end of a syllable : see section 75 .
2 See Passy, les S ons du francais, 7th cd ., 150 .
l’amec’estd’hier
j’aije n’ai pasqu’av ez - vous?
l’yeuse
est - cc un hommeai- je ét é ?donnez - le a Jean
le herole onze m ai
du uhlan
68 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
INTONATION
112 . Intonation, the musical element of a language, depends onthe proper use of voice, and can be learned adequately only from anative although students will derive great profit from the intelligentuse of phonographic records .It is important to remember that the pronunciation Of French ascompared with that Of English is even, harmonious and regular, witha clear and definite articulation of vowels and consonants (especiallythe vowels) and a more or less equal alternation of accented (syllabeorte) and unaccented (syllabe faible) syllables .In so far, however, as intonation is a rise or a fall Of voice in pitch
(Often quite distinct from the inherent pitch of vowels and consonants) ,the following principles may be noted as especially applicable toFrench1. In B ench the voice rises or falls in longer intervals than in
English . The range may be an entire octave .
2 . The last syllable of a breath- group has a higher or a lowerpitch than the others
Venez- vous Are you coming?C’es t tri ste That is sad .
3 . The rise or fall in pitch corresponds to the connotation of thephrase ; that is, to the emotion the speaker puts into it . “
Surprise ”is high, “disappointment ” low ; exclamations ” are high, negationsor
“refusals ” low, et c .
“Generally speaking, in French, a comma or
sem icolon indicates a rise, a note Of interrogation or exclamation indicates a more marked rise . A full stop indicates a fall, the end of a.paragraph a more marked fall .
” 1
Est- ce qu’il est i ci
enfants He has losthome, wife, children .
I l est venu seul He came alone (said in surprise .)I l est venu seul He came alone . (said with regret .)
4. Often a rise is preceded by a fall, and vice versaPour qui me - vous donc Whom do you takeme for?
Enfin que voulez- vous Well, what do you expect?1 Passy, les Sons du frangais, 7th ed .
, 139 .
INTONATION 69
Thus we may mark by a higher pitch that which is most import ant ina phrase
Elle est sortie en She went out Weeping.
A tout j amais Forever.
Exactly !Owing to this fact, the end of a sentence is often whispered in French
I l y en a There are many.
N’y pensons p lus . Let’s think no more of it .
5 . It should also be noted that not only single syllables but groupsof syllables, indeed entire phrases, may be pronounced on a higher or
a lower pitch , according to the meaning that is desired :r_
Tiens, te w ith." 1 I declare, there you are !
LAllons Come, let’s go .
BIBLIOGRAPHY
(This is a list of the books that have been of most help to theauthors . The use of these books is heartily recommended to thosewho wish to study the subject in greater detail .)B. DUMVILLE , Elements of French Pronunciation and Diction, Dutton,
New York, 1914.
P. MARTINON , Comment on prononce le franeais , trai té complet de pro
noncia tion pratique avec les noms propres et les mots étrangers, Larousse, Paris, 1913 .
G . G . NICHOLSON , A Practical Introduction to French Phonetics , Mac
millan, London, 1909 .
G. NOEL-ARMFIELD, General Phoneti cs, for M i ssi onaries and S tudents ofLanguage, Heffer
,Cambridge (England) , 19 15 .
K . NYROP , Manuel phonétique du franga i s parlé (translation by E . Philipot) , 3rd cd .
, Picard , Paris and Copenhagen, 19 14.
P . PASSY, les Sons da frangais, 7th cd .
,Didier
,Paris
,1913 .
IDEM, The S ounds of the French Language (trans lation by D . L . Savoryand D. Jones) , Clarendon Press, Oxford , 1907 .
K . Q UIEHL, Franz Osi sche A ussprache und Sprachfertighei t, T eubner,Leipsic and Berlin, 1912 .
ROUSSELOT and LA CLOTTE , de prononciation frangaise, Welter,Paris, 1902 .
EXERC ISES
(The numbers of the several Exercises correspond t o thenumbers of the sections on which they are based .)
1
a . With the palms of the hands pressed tightly againstthe ears, pronounce forcibly “
s,z, s, z , s, z , s, z . Note the
buzzing in the head which takes place when the vo icedsound is pronounced . Note that for the “
s” all the sound
comes from the friction of the air at the front Of the
mouth .
b. State the phonetic difference between the two wordsOf each of the fo llowing pairs Of words : coast
, ghost; pace,
base; down,town; case, gaz e; dog, ta lk .
c . With the aid of a hand mirror locate the variousorgans Of speech ; note their form ; and examine the movements or changes in position which certain ones may make .
a . Po int out in the fo llowing words cases of the represen
t at ion of the same sound by different letters or combinationsof letters : he, machine, eat, ate, eight, set, many, head, ra t
,
ask, fa ther, a ll, awl, cot, go, thought , though, through, enough,bough, use, loose, lose, knight, wri ting, psychology, attention
,
for , asked, nephew,rose
,dose, lies , i ce.
b. Po int out in the same words cases in which the
same letters or combinations Of letters represent differentsounds .
0 . Po int out the silent consonants in the same words .
71
72 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
8
(The phonetic symbo ls used in Exercises 8—54 have thesame value as those used in sections 8—54 : see the footnoteon p . 6 . In do ing Exercises 8—62 and the Review Exercisesadvanced students should in each case identify and spell theFrench words represented by the phonetic combinations .)
a . A ssume the correct voca l posi tion for the production ofthe sound using a hand mirror; and then produce the sound
several times : [i, I, 1, 1, 1, 1, i] .b. Pronounce the following phonetic combinations
, each ofwhich represents a real French word : [midi, Si, sis, pip , ni, Vi ,Vit , fini, ri , li] .
a . Repeat the sound [e] .
b. Pronounce : [e , de, ne, bebe, se, ge, lo, t e, et e, epe] .
Repeat the sound [e] .Pronounce: [e , e , e , e, e, e, e, e, e,[sl, bel, sek , rest , ferm , set , me, ls , pe, eme] .
[et e, sede, efe, mete, ese, gete, epe, mele, sete, prete] .91
9
a . Repeat the sound [a] .b. Pronounce : [a , la, ta, sa , ma, dra, papa, frapa, madam,
kapabl, lwa, fwa] .
FIRST REVIEW : FRONT VOWELS
a . [i, e, e, a ; li, le, ls , la ; mi , me,me, ma ; si, se, se, sa] .
b. [ide, imite , et e, eda , inik it e , kapasit e, abi, desiz if, defi,enm i, kapt if, av i , ede , cvek, sese , atake , amne , kafe, abe
,
aspe, akademi , aksept e, apet i, asiste] .
4 ' A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
18
a . Repeat the pair of sounds [i, y] wi th vigorous lip action,
mirror in hand.
b. Pronounce these pairs of words wi th vigorous lip action,
taking particular care to keep the tongue tensely in the same
posi tion for both vowels : [di, dy ; gi, gy ; li, ly ; mi, my ; ni, ny ;Si, sy; v i, vy] .
c Pronounce: (tr, kry, ply, ry, ryd, nyl, bryn, lyn, dyp,myxz , myxr, syxr, fytyxr, kyltyxr] .
19
a . Repeat the pair of sounds [e, o] .
b. Pronounce these pairs of words : [be, be; de, do;se, ea; ne, 1M] .
c. Pronounce: [f¢ , pa, VS, do, a, so, kro, kroxz , foxtr,
20
Repeat the pair of sounds [e, as] .Pronounce these pairs of words : [ef, oef; sel, soel; nef.
mexr, moexr ; lexr, lce xr ; pexr, poexr] .
Pronounce : [hoef, goel, moebl, v oef, poepl, koexr, soexr,
flce xr] .
2 1
[lo, me, ke , se , desu, lov e, sesi , brebi , feze, mesjo, repo ,venir , optenir] .
THIRD REVIEW : ORAL VOWELS
[v u, puxr, sere, sel, pa , presi , repo z e, v exr, aloxr, v aloezr,
oero, filoz bf, filoz ofik , rival , separe, sykr, ak t oexr, naiv t e,
orat oexr,v aloeroxz , moxr, model , mikroskop , malonet
,inata
kabl, imitatif, gard , galope, prydri, ryral, syperb , syrt u,
syrprixz , pase, po , gro] .
EXERCISES 75
23
a . S ta te which of the following words contain nasal
vowels : tromper , bien , conter , inimitié, homme, envoyer,iniquité, inviter, monotone, ennemI
, automne .
b. S ta te in which of the same words the In or n is sounded.
24
a . Repeat the pair of sounds [e, S] .
b. Pronounce: [me :n, me; v exn, v 5 ; sexn, SS; pexn, pd; plexn,
pl‘
e; t rexn, t ré ; gexn, gS; lexn,
c. [b5 , de, fS, VS, gS, m5, pa, t S, t éxt , SS, sSxt , Séxdr, fé ,fé xdr, Sé xpl] .
25
a . Repeat the pair of sounds [a , d] .
b. Pronounce these pairs of words : [pa , pd ; ba , bd ; t a , t d ;ka
,kd ; ga , gd ; a , d ; ma , 1nd] .
0 . Pronounce: [sd , rd , Vd , 1d, grd , dfd, t d, t dxt , t d zpl,ldxp, d zpl, dxgl] .
26
a . Repeat the pair of sounds [a,b. Pronounce these pairs of words : [bon, b5 ; don, dd ; son,
S5 ; t on, t 5] .
c. Pronounce: [b5, md, 15, p5, p15 , fr5, p51p , rd1d, .
5xkl,k51t , mdxt ] .
27
a . Repeat the pair of sounds [(B , O‘
S] .
b. Pronounce.
“
[O‘
e, bro
‘
e,kcie
, defo‘
e, komo'
e, okc‘
é, tribo
‘
é ,
Ob l] .
FOURTH REVIEW : NASAL VOWELS
a . Repeat the seri es [5, a , 5 , OS] .
b. Pronounce . [dest5 , m5 , m5t d , afa, dfé , m5t5 , tats,pdxdr, pe zdr , dproe.t , di5ed , parfoe, sild :s , k5td , t r5pe, eport oe,kelkoe, 15td , apsolymd, definit ivmd, oerozmd, yniv erselmd].
76 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
29
[i do ,fje zr, m, jexr, Iié , 1m,
mie, mu,njes, pie, pies,
sjel, Sjo, Sjé , Sjen, Sjekl, t jé , v j‘
é, eseje, bat aj5, mosjo,
foexj , kaje, k5bj5 , k5sexj , v j'
dxd, po xj ] .
30
[bi :j , bua zr, bus , fixj , fijet , fijoel, g ums , gl j oxm ,guatin ,
kn] , mus , pl j e , pijaxs, Sij5, t ijaxg, v anixj , sfit ijom ] .
[ha] 1, koejixr, Vjej l , pep ] .
32
[q it , q il, bqi, foi, lq i, brui , Sui, frui, plq i , kq izr, ekq el, t qe,salq a, sq axv , v ertqo, dopq i, nq axg] .
33
[brunem kquexr, brq fi,ammo , apq ue, egq ixj , tuno ,
esq ije, fq ij t‘
i , ekq ije] .
34
[wi, west, fwe, fwete, alwet, lwe , lwaexr, dwel, dwexr,mwst, nwe, nwe, rwe , rwe
,rW i
, swe, swete, vwe, avwe,
reswixr] .
35
[wa , wa zz , wa z if, wazo , bwaxt , bwa, dwa ,
°
dwan,fwaxr
,
fwas , kwa, kwaf, lwaxr, lwaxs, mwa, mwal, mwan , mwano ,swasfizt , vwasi] .
36
[mwaj5, fwaje , lwaje, lwajal, nwaje, swajo, vwaj axs,vwajfi, vwajel, dwaj
‘
é ] .
37
[bwo , krwo , t rwo , krwosfi , klwoxt r, pwa, pwaxl] .
EXERCISES 77
38
[fW5, pwé , pwéxt , SWE, mwé , kw‘
e,Iwé
,lWé t é , pégwé ,
pwé zdr] .
FIFTH REVIEw : SEMICONSONANTS
[pjsS , vwajel, v ulje, pui, kwa zr, mwajé , tytwaje, rq in,
kwart o , eseje , esq ije, ojo , gryjexr, SWE, q it , dopq i, sq ixv r, ljé ,pwaS5, fq ijaxr] .
42
[bije , bebe, 5berb , barb , boblo, bonoezr, bopexr, bulv axr,byro
, bo, boef, boz wé , be, bddi, b5t e, bro”
e, ble, braxv , bwaxr,
tab],debri , korbo , blomabl] .
43
(pip , pepé , pepsin , pa , mpr, popyle zr, popjexr, pul,
pyblik , po, poepl, peti , pé sne, pfise, p5xp , prepare , plypaxr,fixpl, kapris , eklipS , espri , apsolym fi , apstre] .
44
[di, dedé , dest é , daboxr, danabl, dofé , do tEi , dot , duble,dyp
,ido, pydoezr, dedd , d5d5 , d5 , v erdo
'
e,drapo ] .
45
[titanik, t eoxt r, t ety, tatu ,tote . bJS t O , t ot alite , tutafe,
tytel, tot onik , tyt oexr, et é , at fit a , tat5 , seto‘
e] .
46—47
[git axr, gete , gexr, gaxr, gato , got je , gotik , degut e , degyst e ,blagoxz , blagoezr, gé , gdt le, g5fie, vaxg , 15xg, groxg, egz ekyt e,egz ak t , egz azpl] .
48—49
[kite, kepi , keski , kaket , ko , kokliko , koko , kuku , kyltyxr,ko, koexr, kerel , ké z exn ,
kfikéi , kik5k , kelkd’
e, sek , ekrityzr,
ekwatoezr, pretekst ] .
A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
51
[v iv ifi, v ety, verty, vale, vaxz , v olkd , v ot r, v oxt r, v udre,vylgexr, nervo’, v oexV, v eluxr, v édikat iv , v fidredi, v iv 5, vre
Sfiblabl, lixv r, v jé ] .
52
[fifr, fek5 , fexbl, falsifje , fuzz , fosfoxr, fokol, fulaxr, fyz i, fo,foexj , fame] , fé , fdfa zr, f5t exn, defo
‘
e,frikase
,fianel, efioere,
efrene, swaf] .
53
[zigzag, zero , z el, biz axr, z odjak , z oxn, z yt , liz oxz , liz cexr,
rez é , foz fi, mez 5, lez o'
e,egz ile, egz amé ] .
54
[SIS , sesesj5, sesasj5, sasjet e, sosjet e, SOSiS, smo, susjoxz ,syspaxs, So, soexr, sosi , Sé serit e , Sfisusi
, S585, Sfé k , Skfidal,
Slaw ,speSjal, st aty, fas, espoxs, frfise, eskis] .
55
[Sim sez y, 59 , salu , 30 13 , 30m, susu , syxs, Sff: seen, sale,sé xdr, 35v je, 35gloexr, ago
‘
e, lesdxd , sass, bu5i] .
56
[SiS, Se , Sexz , Sarg, Sass, Sokola, Sose, Su, SySot e, peSoexr, kaS5,v iSi, sexS, Soxz ] .
58
[mimik, memé t o , me zm, mama, mo , mom ii
,mo , mulé ,
mynisipal, monje, moebl, monq e, m5 , make, m5t e, pom ,
fift erim ,mJe, Inwa] .
59
[ni, ne, nef, naif, non, nofraxs, nuvo , nymero , n¢Sat el, noef,nexf, nfixt , n5Sa15xs, yn, bon, benev ol, nasjonalit e] .
EXERCISES . 79
60
[dip it e, édipe, apes, mapanim ,mipon, apo , swapo, ete
p oexr, semi , 0115, dip ,rep , kapap , bulop ] .
61
[ri , rixr,redq ixr, rekt oexr, raxr, ro , rok , roxk , ru, ry, oero,
oroexr, ropo , ré , r5 , r5, pixr, mexr,a zr
,foxr
, puxr, pyxr, soexr,
bri,kree, dress , frako , g m, propo , t ro , v re, 5xkr, sexdr, kofr,
mexgr, propr, lit r, ixv r] .
62
Hi, ls , 18 , la, la , lok , 10 , In, ly, loexr, 15, 15 , 15, 15‘
s, il, elit, sl,bal
, pox] , kol, roxl, ful, my] , soel, brfixl, pli , ble, k le, flak, glo ,
slaxv ,tab]
, eklips , (”
Iflame,exgl] .
SIXTH REVIEW ; C ONSONANTS
[inikit e , elev asj5 , v est ibyl, fanat ik , eloxs, monoton , fobuxr,duluro, lygybr, lyksfibuxr, fugo, oeroxz , poezr, dev fi , dest é ,
épresj5 , k t‘
i t it e,5t eli5am5 , 5disp5sab1, t r5pe, S5 t 5 , lo
‘
e, epu
Vfit abl, (”
IprcTe, Vje zj , solexj , foexj , vwasi, dwan , swé , lq i, dopq i,nq axg, v ert qo, fijoel, baj i, wazo , dwajé , pwa , bez wé , kq ijexr,prez 5psj5, apsolymfi, bat exm , tyt oexr, t ot alit e, dramatist,akut yme
, grasjo, efoxr, bref, v olypt e , sasjet e, fiz jolosi, Swaz is5 , refyxg, 3y3mc
‘
i , myrmyre , ananim ,k5pani , ridikyl, t re,
rfixdr , libert e, animal , pret ekst , egz agere, reprodq ixr, v resfi
blfizs, komo‘
e,fryktqo, kalifje , Siryrgj é , Ssdoexv r, rokfoxr, ljo,
labo] .64—67
a . Reci te the French alphabet.
b. Spell thefollowing words , using the“identifying sounds
malcontent, aisément , orthographe, patisserie, glo ire , habitude , générosité , national , poursuivre , nécessité, const ruc
tion, chose , zouave, immense , tramway.
80 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
70
(Each Of the several Exercises from 70 to 95 is dividedinto two parts . In the first part the words are arrangedin the order of the ru les. In the second part they are arranged alphabetically.)
Wri te the following words in phonetic script, and pronounce
them : a,v a, lave , salle
,madame
,malade , Panama, base,
bras,camp
,lamps
,an
,sang
, sans , dansant, a, It , ans , pats ,dansamss (verb) , vrai , fait , paix, aims , aiss , aimais, abaisse,dansai (verb) , sais, faisais (form of fairs) , bain , sain , maints ,faite
,faon
,Laon , au , faut, aube, autre, Maurs , aura, aurait,
eau ,veau .
Adam , aidat ss (verb) , aide, aimai (verb) , allais, apaise,apre, auns , aurais, aux
,balai
,bavarde
,beaux
, cadeau ,
caisse , Canada, canard , cas, cause, cave, faible, fairs , faisait
(form of fairs) , fausse , faute , fauve, franc , grand , gras ,laisse
,ma
,maint
,masse
,pain
,palais
,parlai
,part
,pauvre
,
plaindre, plan , plants , platre, ramps , rang, rat, saut, saut e,ta
,tain
,tant
,taon, taupe, vain , vainc , v ase .
71—74
bass,abims
,arabe
,table
,arbre
,sabbatique
,absence
,Ob
tenir,aplomb
,cabane
,écols , curé , crime
,oracle , secondaire,
respect,cent
,Vice
,cypres
,bec
,choc
,franc
,instinct , broc ,
tabac,accaparer
,accomplir , accumulation , accent, occident,
cheval,charge
,déchirer
,chronologie , chao s; catechumens ,
chimis,chérubin
,tachygraphs
, archéologis , brachial , acquisitiou ,
scapin,scorpion
,bousculer , scrupule, scélérat, science,
schématique,regu ,
desert,madame
, tu vends , grand .
abbesss , abso lu ,accabler
,accepter , accommoder, acquiss
csr,archev éque , archiépiscopal , aspect, Bacchus , bébé, bi
cyclette,blamable
,bloc , brise , cadet, cécité , chimére, chose,
chrétien , chronomst rs,clerc
,cocher , colere , Co lomb , cric
crac , diligent, écarter, échine, eclipse, féculs , jonc , menaca,
82 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
enivrer , ennuyer , enveloppe , ere , esclave, espérance, essayer,essui , st , éteint , examen , femme, fete, feu ,
feuille, feutre ,grelot, idée, il arrive de Paris, il v a de Paris , ils se revo ient,impatience, jefiner, j
’eus
, la cheminée,la petite
,ls lieu
,
lentement , ls repos, les repas , lettre, mangea, meme, meuble,Meung, Meuse, moment , mouvement, Noel
,nous sumes
,
oedipe,oeil, oeillet , orgueilleux , pa
'
I'
en,pareil
,parlé—je , patri
cien , peut , plumes, poéle, premier , prenez—le, prudemment,quotient , redemander, reins , retenir, revenez Vite, rougeat rs ,S’asseyant , second , sein , sembler
,sempiternel, S
’en aller
,
seul,severe, soeur, souvenir, t ss, tout cs que je ne dis pas,
une petite, v eins , veux, vieille, vosu , voila os que c’sst ,
vo lontiers.
76—78
facile,faible
,femme, refuser, fifre, effort, chef, nef, juif,
cerf,clef, oeufs, neuf crayons, galant, gonfler, guerre , géné
ral,gigantesque, gymnastique, agile, ménage , globe , maigre,
do igtier , vingtaine , rang, étang , coing , long, sang et‘eau
,
agglomerat ion ,suggestion , dédaigner , Avignon , Signs
,im
pregnat ion ,habitant
,harmonie, heure, histo ire, horloge,
humilité , hyperbo le , la haine, 1a harps , trahison , cahot,
these , théorie , rythme , phonographe, phonétique, philosophe .
affiiger, agglutination , ahuri , apathie, boeufs , bourg , chefd’oeuvre , compagnon , désigné, diagnostique, do igt, ébahi ,exagérer
,fiéche, futur, gagner, garde , germs , gilet , gorge,
gris, guttural , gymnast s , habile , hareng, herbs , hier , hon
neur , humain , hygiene, ls havre , ls héros , l’hérOIne , méfisr,
nerf,neuf
,neuf livres , orthographe, pho tographs , phrase,
po ing,rage
,sang , so if, suggérer, théologie, veuf, Vinaigre,
vingtieme .
79
ici,iniquité
,livi de, hai r , diable, bien , piece, reliure, pai
'
en,
brioche , lapin , évincer, indien , impoli , timbre, coint éressé ,
Nimes,vous dormites, nous t inmes, fo is, moi
,fro id
,mois
,
‘
EXERCISES 83
fo in, besoin , boite, cloitre , grenoui lle, cueille,
fills, quills ,
papillon,billion
,ville
,mills
,conseil
,exil
,fil
, profil,
gentil , gentilshommes, chenil , mil (“milletabime
,bail
,baril
,billard
,bOiS
,chenille , civ il, comdica
tion , conseille, croit re, do igt , famille, feuille, fin ,fusil
,grésil
,
hérmque,“
iambe,idée
,il, imminent , impatient, infidele, la
biale,lOi
,million
,mo ins
,nous vimes
,Oignon
, outil , pareil,principal
,publia
,rigide
,riviere
,roi
, sien, simplement, so in ,tranquille
, Vil, village, vous Vint ss .
80—84
jaloux,jeudi
, jOie, judicieux, deja, déjsuner, buou ,képi
,
kiosque,moka, bifteck, labourer , lecture, liberté , locomotif,
lumiere,lycée
,élev e
,relief
,animal
,seul
,fil
,table
,gentil
homme,soul , illegal , illimitable, syllabe, Villa, fills
,billion
,
billard,travail
,fauteuil
,machin
,mécanicien
,menu
,miro ir
,
muer,animer
,camp
,septembre
, symbols , impur, faim ,
Reims,parfum
,comble, omniscient , omnipotence, gymnas
tique,automnal
,condamner
,homme
,comme
, sommet, immense
,immoral , nappe, neige, noce, nymphs , générosité,
ans,vent
,rien
,moyen , ils veulent , honnete, ennemi
,ils
pre‘
nnent,innover, C inna, Vigne , recognition, enamourer,
enorgueillir,ennui .
acajou ,ajourner
,Allah
,année
,automne
, be] , calcul ,calomnie
,canal
,carnaval
,coke
,cul
,damner
,eniv rer
,en
noblir,essaim
,examen
,famille
,félicité
,femme
,flambsau
,
gant,gemme
,humble
,ignition , illettré , illogique , ils flanent ,
ils Viennent,immobile
,injuste , inné , innombrable , j amais,
je, jo li , juin , kilometre , koran , lac , legume, linceul , lingerie,loisir , luxe , lynx ,
mail,malheur
,manger
,méler
,mimique
,
monsieur , muraille , myths , nage, nécessité, nid, nuance,nul
, omission,
omnipotent , omniscience , peuple , recueil ,rempart
,rossigno l
,simple
,so lennel , somme
, somnambule,sympathie
,t ombsau ,
tranqui lle,ville
'
.
84 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
85
coq , fort , votre, sotte, monopole, prose, roseau,notion
,
émotion,zone
,lo t
,trop
,piano
,son
,savon , chantons, oncle,
sombre,nom ,
mont, son enfant, cOne,Rhone
,ls notre
,ro
t isserie,h6pital
,aout
,il,moelle, poéle, oeuf, oeufs
,soeur
,
vosu, toi, crOix, beso in , bo ite, Chou ,
poudre,bouche
,course,
couard , douane, prouesse, inon'
i,degout
,loyal , voyez .
alouette,blond
,boi
'
s,brouette
,chose
,chouan
, clouer,colonel , couds
,courage, cyclone, degouts, douce, encore
,
fo is,foust
,foyer
,hOt el, jonc , ls Votre, mon ami , monsieur ,
nos,non, oui
- dire,pomme
,pont, pose, po t , potion , promo
tion , rai son , repos , robe, r61e, rompre, rose, roue, sot , soyez ,tombs
,tr6ne .
86—90
papillon, perpétrer, tapage, frapper, rapport, psychologie,compter , exempt, sculpteur, baptiser, temps, il rompt, camp ,trop
,galop
,cep ,
photographie,quatre
, qui- Vive
,coq , cinq ,
cinq livres,ls c inq j anvier
,grecque
,rapidité
,renaissance,
fureur,car
,fier
,marbre
,acheter
,boucher
,amer; enfer
,
hiver,messieurs
,rhétorique
,interrogation , irrégulier, hor
rible,courais
,courrais, saint
,servant
,testament
,penser
,
assembles,visage
,pesant
,designer, antisocial, contres'ens
,
transaction,transitif
,transir
,asbeste
,presbytere , lesquelles ,
mesdemo iselles,ses
,secrets
,vers
,as
,cassis
,fils
ibis,j adis
,lis (noun) , mars, moeurs , OS (singular) , pathos,
plus-
que—parfait
,rhinoceros, ensus, us , fleur- de- lis
,ses hom
mes,abso lu
,disciple
,esclave
,sco lastique, schisme, type, utile,
theme,athlete
,cité
,lettre
,formation
,diplomatie, prophe
t ie, facétieux, amitié, inimitié , héritier, Gautier, huit iéme,
modestie, ineptie, balbutier, initier, digestion , galimatias ,étio ler, hui t , correct, exact, intact, strict , est zest .
alOSS , antiseptique, appétit, aristocratie, balsamique,bsaucoup , bis, boulanger, cap ,
capricieux, catarrhe, cens,champ
,chose
,coeur
,contact, corps
,cuiller, descriptive, en
EXERCISES 85
plus,entier
,épitre, est été, éthsr, étioler, fat , hélas,
hier,huit
,huit livres
,ls huit décembre
,inertie
,infect
,in
sister,iris, irrémédiable, j
’acquérais , j
’acquerrais, je romps,
laps,les
,leS idées , livres, loup , mais , massacre, matiere,
mesdames,métis
,mo itié , monsieur, oasis, Obscure, opposé ,
ouest,ours, papier, pasteur , pathétique , phosphors , pitié,
poser , prerogat iv e, prétention , promener, p romptitude,psychique
,quelquefois
,quinze
,quoique, raconteur, rsdomp
t er,regle
,relaps
,royal , sabot
,scandale
,scene
,sens
,sens
commun , sept, sept plumes , ls sept juillet,septieme
,société
,
so rtie,substantiel , suggestion
,tact
,tante
,terre
,terreur
,
té t e, touS, transalpin , transept , transit, transsubstantier,vers
,v is (noun) , vo lontiers, vraisemblance .
unique,pureté
,bu , écu ,
chacun,défunt
,parfum
, un homme,nuage
,minuit
,fuite
,gui tars , qualité , bague, épique, arguez ,
nous arguons,aigu ille
,cont igu
'
i t é,linguist s , aout, maudire,
poteau ,joyeux ,
hauteur,soeur
, ouvrage, ou ,guérir, essuyant,
revue,harangue , ambigué .
ambigui té , bateau ,coeur
,contigue
,dénué
,emprunter, en
nuyer, feu ,gout
,guerre
,humble
,ils arguerent , lingual,
mauvais,nu
,peur
,phonétique
,qui tter
,recu
,remuer, rue,
souteni r, taquiner, tulips , un article, utile, vosu,vous arguez .
92—95
valet, Vivacité , friVOle, levre, xylographie, expansif,exqui s
,fixer
,maxime
,prétexte
,examen
,exemple
,exister
,
exuberance,hexagone
,sexagénaire
, excentrique, excitation,
exsuder,dixieme
,prix
, crucifix, veux , choux, chanceux, dix,ls Six juin
,dix- huit ieme
,larynx, onyx, dix ans, noyer, tuyau ,
moyen,asseyions , cypres
,byzantin
, style, sympathie, syntaxe, zigzag, zouave, azur , assez , écoutez .
86 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
allez,bazar
,croyez , deux, dix- huit
,dix- neuf
,dynamite
,
employiez,exact
,exaltation
,excéder
,exciser
, exhibition,
expirer,exsangue, extension , fauve , flux, furieux, hexametre,
inexorable,lynx
,lyrique
,paix
, préfix, rayonner , revs , six,
Six amis,Six , crayons, sixieme, so ixante
,syndicat
,t ext s
,
thym,venin
,vexer
,vrai
,xylophage, y, yeux, zéphyr, z one .
98—99
a . Divide these words into syllables as in speech, using pho
netic script : fini , bouquet, grosseur, iniquité, faconner, machine
,gagner
,mangeons
,habiller
,bataillon
,enfantine
,
figuier, Juli ette, girouette, depui s , secouer,épuisé
,appoin
t ement s,société
,noblesse
,sabre, emplette
,hydrophobie
,
attraction, gonfler, islam ,
Richelieu,agriculture
,agres
sif, microscope, murmurs,absolu ,
quelquefo is , excellence,
arbrisseau,meurtrier
, dext rement , é lectrique , paysage, travaillons
,bague
,sntrée, acheter , redevenir, exemple
,philo
sophie,enseigner
,mépris
,diphthongue, monarchique, con
traction, onctueux .
actif,amuser
,appuyé
, apreté, athlétique, atlantique , bataille
,boucherie, cacher, cahier , client, coloniser, condition,
conduire,constitution , contrés , difii cile, discipline, docile,
doucement,écrire
,église
,épargner
,épique
,é thsr
,exact
,
fidélit é,
filtration , fléau ,grasseyer
,guichet, hébreu , hygiene,
incliner,israélite
,juger
,manquer
,marbrerie
,municipalité
,
nettoyer, noble, Obligé, Offrir,ouvrage , pourpré, régner,
séduisant,songer, soulier, tourterelles, Village .
b. Divide the same words into syllables as in spelling and
wri ting.
100—101
S tress properly the following words and groups : chat , rat,chien ; table, chaise, livre ; bonnet, chapeau ,
casquette ;animer
,subjuguer , diriger ; absurdité , ineffacable, art ificiel ;
uni formité, incapacité, inégalité ; impossibilité, insupport a
EXERCISES 87
blement , const itut ionellement dédain , individualisation , vrai ,invraisemblablement , intelligence, user, indicible, expansion ;des livres
,des plumes, des crayons ; qu’il dit, qui ls dit, il
ls dit ; c’est a moi, remplacez - les , allez Vite ; un signale
ment,nu signs allemand ; il les apprit, il les a pris ; Jean m
’adonné ca, il est trop habile, prét ez -moi des plumes ; voussavez qu’il est la, c
’é tait ls petit tambour
,l’enfant était
couché ; ls capitaine s’arréta, il me se tint pas satisfait, c
’é tait
fait des ménagements.
103
a. Tell whether the stressed vowel in each of these words islong or short, and why: été , inimitié, sec
,élément
,beau
,
égalité, conseil , fills
,grave
,chose
,chauffage
,mort , derriere,
c ire, bé te , meme, abime, Sur
,tasse
, plains , negre , sauls,
z one,feutre, feindre, humble, “
chambre,sombre
,blonds ,
importance, pont .aimable, alors , ame, bientOt , chanté
, chaume, classe,
croyance,élév e
,épaule
,fete
,fini , gant, grands , j
’emprunt e,
jugs , maniere, meute, moi, monde, morose, neutre, oncle,
pere , quitter, rble, seuil , simple, tendre, veille, v eins , yeux ,
zouave .
b. Pronounce the words, bringing out clearly the difi'
erence
between the long and short vowels .
104—108
Read these phrases, making the proper liaisons : B ienaimable
,trop aimé , dernier avis , nuit et jour , chez eux, pied
a- terre,du boeuf 5 1a mode, un long hiver, de bons amis , deux
enfants , il y en a,en avant , rien a fairs , mon enfant
,un
homme, vous avez , ils ont , les églises , de grands edifices , cesélév es , un grand homme, de petits O iseaux , d es languesetrangeres , des bains agréables, les bras étendus , des amisheureux
,faut- il
,écrivent—ils , parlons- eu
, allez-
y , tres étonné ,plus heureux, mo ins at t ache, dans un livre
, sans amis , en
88 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
Italie,devant elle, sous un ciel bleu
,selon elle
, de temps entemps
,mot amo t
, pas a pas, tout a coup, de plus en plus ,v is- a- Vis, tout a l
’heure, un nom étranger,lui et elle
,un
Objet ev ident , ceS huit livres,dix- huit
, ses onze enfants,en
eau,en haut
,les héros
,les heroi’nes
,leS auteurs
,les hau
t eurs, mes haines,des habits
,seS yeux
, aux hommes, lesharicots, un i , nu nid, des harpes , je les hais .
109
Point out in these words the cases of assimi lations which are
regular or might occur in rapid speech: abso lument,absteni r,
Obtenir , médecin , tout de suite , une tasse de thé,ils ns
savent pas, femme de Chambre,la- dessous
,en face de lui
,
coup de pied , a cOt é de sa chaise,1s second , une masse de
baigneurs, anecdote, Obscur, beaucoup de choses .
90 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
sit— 137, lr, lr
le mextr. ply, plym ,1a plym .
36 . ply, plym ,18» plym .
ls mextr. b5 . metn5 , 35 , w e la plym?35. la plym 8 sur
lo mextr. me m5 n ami !
55 . syr! syr 1a ta zbl.
ls mextr. me wi l m5tn5,repete : 1a plym e
tazbl.
35 . la plym e syr 1a ta zbl.
mari . pard5,msjd. 5 son.
ls mextr. e bjé ! la 1s5 e fini . O rvwaxr me z
1a kluxs. O rvwaxr mesjo.
2 . a: n adrwa kalkylatwu I I
(E: poxv re savwajaxr Iregards av ek 5Vi 1a butik d (B
bu153e .II 1s pt i pé s tale syr yn taxbl I eksite S5 11 apet i, Ime z il n av e p(1 z C
‘
s su d5 sa po5.“5fé il 5xt r e dmfixd : I I
“k5bjé se pt i ps?
”
II duzz pur
5 5xz su,rep5 1 bul55e .II
“d ! duxz pur 5xz Su ; I t re
bje.”3 are d5 ik 5xz peti pé pur di su, I dis pur n¢ su, I
noef pur ui eu, Iq it pur se su , Iset pur Si su, I sis pur S8
su , I 85 1k pur katre su, Ikat re pur t rwa su, It rwa pur d¢su, I
'd¢ pur su, I e (B pur rjé .” e bjé , msi¢ , Io‘
s sosl
m syfi ; | av ek votre permisj5 , 39 m53re solq i si .II fmersi,
msj¢ , Is O rvwaxr !”
I|
3 . la ptit fixj e 1 k5dyktoexr I I
ynpetit fixj e t asi zz sce l Id5 1 kwE d 53 vag5 de Sm?) dfexr.II ls k5dykt oexr po zs pur pr5xdrs ls bije ; II1a pt it
fixj prez 5xt ( is bije de dm i plas .IIkel (1x3 av e vu? Ilui di 1k5dyktcexr.II
PHONETIC READINGS
3 e Sé xk 5 , mosj¢ .II- vu n av e pa ply d sexk
— n5, mosjo; I I 5 Smé d fexr 5 e Sé xk 5 , I a la mez 5 3 5n s set .“
- u I e vu vwajase z esi S5 31?”n5, mosjo, I set dam laba , O milje dy v ag5, 8 ma
e kel 0 x5 votre t5 1t a t 81? Isl a v é tnoevel 11 a k v é tnoev 5 ? Iwi
,mesh .”
kel 0 x3 av e t 81 l ans dernjexr?“sl av e v é tnosv
e kel av e t 81 l ans av 5 ?“v é tnoev 5 ; IIel a tuguxr v etnoev 5 . I
4. l urs e ls do Sasoexr
de !e.sam ej5 bozwé d ar35 , Ia1exr'
t ruv e C'
s marS5 dfuryxr, Ie lui di zr : I I
“d5 1a m5tan vwaz in, Iil j a (is n urs
enorm d5 nu z av 5 truve 1a pist .II nu som sert é d lo tq e .IISi vu vule nu done S5 fr5 , Inu v u z aportr5 bjeto sa po .
”
lIlo marS5 loar dona ls S5 fr5 , I e ls do Sasosxr part ixr
'
pur
1a m5tap .II a pexn j et e t il z arive Iko 1urs s av5sa v er
p, 0 pt i t ro, I 5 pus5 de gronm5 z efrej5 .IIlorsko ls Sascexr 1 apersyxr, I il fyr sez i d t errmxr Ie Ser
Sexr lo mwajé d eSape O t erribl animal .”1d : d it grepa syr
(is n arbr, Is 1o zt ro S kuSa par texr, I rote S5 sufle fi 1mozr.II1ms v 5 lo flere do tu 1s kote ; I I me vwaj5 k il no bugspa Ie
'
k il no respire pa , I il lo kry moxr, I e S slwapa S5
lqi fer do mal, Ikar 1s z a s n em pd . 1s kaduxv r.“k5 l urs y dispary, Ilo Sasmxr ki et s syr l arbre des5di , I
S aproSa d S5 k5pap5 e lq i dm5da, I pur S make do lui : II“k e s ko l urs t a di t a l orexj?
”
II
91
92
t‘
S
A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
il m a di,
”
I rep5di l o it r, “k il ‘no to pd v 5xdro -1a
po (1 l urs av 5 d 1 avwar tq e .
”
I
5 .
‘
GEmarge I
o'
s we] av axr fe vnixr C’
s met sé Ipur vwaxr sa fam t rs
malad .II lo met sé I ki kousse S5 n om ,dom5 zd k5n ar5x3
dabo zr sez onorexr.
“swat
,
”
Idi 1 av axr, I so v u donre do S5 fr5 , Iko v u
tyje ma fam u k v u la gerisje .
”
Ilo met sé aksept , I me malgre se swe‘, I la fam mam:
kelko t 5 z apre , Iil v j‘
é rekloms S5 n ars5 .II“kel ars5 ?
”
Idi 1av axr.II“av e vu geri ma fam? I
“n5
, IIso 11 l e pd geri . I Ialoxr v u l av e t q s ?
”
IItue lll O I kel orce xr ! v u save bje ko n5 . Ie bjé , pq isko v u n l av e ui geri I ui tq e, Iko
dm5ds vu? ”
6 . 1e ry e ls kafe I I
1‘
a'
spe d la t ry d5~ls vil fr5sexz I a kelkoSoxz do parti
kylje .II ls z abit5 pas boku d t 5 dooxr I e ls ry S5 r5dy
Osl agreabl ko poSibLII‘
1»
d5 1s gr5d v il, I ls ry S5 lar5 e pl5t e d arbr ; IIse promnad S apel bulv a :r.II ls n5bro bulv a zr Iki travers pari 5t u S5 zs I k5triby a fexr do Set v il Ila ply bel kapital dym5xd ; I I ls z espus z uv éxr I ki S nom plas, IS5 r5dy ge parde z arbr e de f5ts zn.IIla parti d la ry rez erv e O pjet 5 I e kuvert d asfalt u d
grav je , I il j a de b5 su lez arbr I u 15 po so rpo z e .II 5 naroz frekam5 le ry 5 n et e , Ipur 5peSe la pq exr d S
elv e .IIdo u5bro kafe Idebord5 syr le t rotwaxr I: ev it so, ki puts
94 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
8 . 1a gramma rl
sexn promjexr.“36 , mi maSY. Ipui blfixS I I
(0 lv e dy rido , 35 r5x3 d la v essl I dov 5 t (is byfe ki St ruv a n S, O promje p15 . I )
35 .
— l 5nq i d 1a v esel Ik5t 5 l a r53e IS e k i to lader53s .II (C
‘
s saladje lui sSap de me e S kaxs.II)maSy (5 tr5 ) . paf!II35 . sakroblolllo saladje dore lIImaSy. t y t rav axj bjé , Itwa lII35 . a llS n e ko l v et erinexr! I I vu m av e fe pour.”maSy.
— k e S ko v a dir msjo kabusa, It 5 mextr, I5vwaj5 set fabrik do kast apet ?”35 (ramas5 le morso) . — i 11 la vera pa
morso O f5 dy 3ardé . I I 3 e la yn petit foxso
.
abrikot je I. IS e mom Ie gaz one .“bl5xS (5t r5 par la drwat , I promi s p15 I I ) . — 35 !I (aper
Sov 5 maSy.) a llb53a zr m sjomaSy.ImaSy (salq5 ) . madmwa z el. I Ibl5xS(a ty n a pa vy l saladje dore?II35 (kaS5 ls morso d5 S5 tablie II) . n5 , madmmi z sLIIbl5 :S. 3o 1SerSIpur y met de from.”35 .
— i dwat st rest s d5 1byfe d la sal a m53e .Ibl5 :S. — 3 v s vwaxr IS e t eton5 la k5t it e d v essl
k i dispare
35 .
— 5 n ka zs purt5 e I (bl5xS Soxr par la gO :S, Ipremie plfi - ll)
This selection is an illustration of fam iliar conversational style.
PHONETIC READINGS 95
88 111 do II
36 , I maSy, pq i kabusa ll
maSy. a bjé , I ty a d l apl5, twa ! I35 . dam , I si 81 Save k S5 saladje e kase .Isa lq i frs
(1 la pexn, I a set domwaz el. ImaSy.
— a Sa l| 3o v je pur la v aS . I I35 . 0 1] S e t inyt il.IImaSy. purkwa?II35 . sl 8 mort I I il pare k 81 av e t avale (is pt i morso
d karat .Imal 5 t ere .IImaSy.
— a !Ivwala llt y n kroxz pa z ase . I I35 .
— s e vre . . .Ime i fe Si SO dpq i oe mwa !
maSy.
— a Sa l] S e t O3urdq i l gr5 3uxr !It 5 met dwa ts t d5 tu se z eta . I I35 . purkwa?“maSy. s 8 d5 doz cm Ik 5 v a elir 1 prez 1d5 dy komis
agrikol d arpa35 .lI35 . krwajs vu k mosjo kabusa swa m oms ?“maSy.
—3 n 5 dut pa .” 3 e de3a by trez v er (1 Vé l
8. S5 11 5t 5sj5 .II35 . v re?IIs bje, sa n pare pa .IImaSy. 3o kabal pur t 5 mextr.“S e 3yst , I 3 e la pra
t ik (1 la mez 5 .II35 .
—i1 a (”
B k5kyr5 Ikj e t as male, I msjo Safine, Icen 5s1e n avwe . I I dopq i ( is mwa Ii n fe k koze av ek
ls peiz 5 . I ImaSy.
— i fe mjo k Sa . lI dim5xS dernje , I il a et e apari , I e il 5 n e rv ony Iav ek yn Sek5ten do pt i bal5 rux3
ki S 5lexv tu S0 31 I I e i ls z a dist ribue gratis I 0 z 5f5 (1
la klas agrikol.”35 .
— a !IS e tre foxrlImaSy.
— wi , | me 3 e pare 1 kn ”3 s rep5dy 1 brq k
ls ba15 Iatire 1a grexl .IIe 5 1s z a tus krov e .II
96.
A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
35 . kel diplomat ko S per maSyllImaSy.
— nu n v ul5 pa d Safins I I a ba Safinelll (“
is n5trig5 . I I ki fe Vnit d et5xp IS5 v et erinexrlll35 . a llvwalalllma y.
—S k i nu to , s e msjo kabusa loe n om Sobr
5 po di ir k S e t o's sav 5 , l so1q ila lIl35 .
— k5 t a Sa . l i rest de z cm z 5 t jsxr d5 S5 ka
bine, I av ek C‘
s liv a la m5 .ll cmfiks .Ila text imo
bil . lkom S i n k5prone pa .IlmaSy. i rsfleSi .Il35 .
— i kroxz I (apersov 5 kabusa . ll) lo wasi I(m5t r5 1s morso dy saladje“) 3 v s fexr kom lui I 3 v s
kroxz e.
9 . lo Sezu e l roz o I
lo Sezu I5 3 3nir ldit O rozo I Iv u z av e bje sy3e I d akyz e 1a natyxr ;ll
(i t rwatole Ipur vu Ie t o‘
s poz 5 fardo ;lllo mwSxdro v 5 Iki d av 5tyzr Ife ride la fas do l O ,”v u z obli i3 I a bese 1a text ; I
sep5d5 ko m5 fr5, l l 0 kokaxz pare :j , lln5 k5t5 d arete l 1s rej5 dy . solexj , llbraxv 1 efoxr do la t 5pext . I
tu v u z e t akil5 , IItu mo s5xblo z efixr.II5koxr I Si v u nesje z a l abri dy fcs jax3 ld5 39 kuxv ro lo vwaz inax3 , lvu n orje pa t5 t a sufrixr ;ll3o v u def5dre do 1 orax3 zllme v u nose Ilo ply suv 5 l
syr ls z ymixd bazr I de rwajo zm dy v 5 II1a natyxr I5vext vu l mo s5 zblo bjS n 53yst I I“votre k5pasj5
”
lllui rep5di 1arbyst , ll
98 HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
v iktoxr ygo .
l 1. l albatros Il
suv 5 I pur S amyz e ls z omo d ekipax3preno de z albatros, l vasto z wazo de mexr,ki sq ixv o, Ied515 k5pan5 do v wajax3 , llo nav ixro glis5 I syr 1s gufro z amexr.
a pexno I 1s z 5 t il depo z e syr 1s p15xS,Iko se rwa do 1 az yxr, l maladrwa I e 5to,llexso pitoxz om5 Iloer gr5xdo z elo bl5xSkomo de z avir5 l trene r a kote d o. ll
so vwaja3oexr ele I kom il e goxSe v osxll Ilui , nagexr SI bo , k il 8 komik e 18 1]1Ce n agaso S5 bek l av ek C
‘
s brylo gosxl, ll oxtro mim 5 bwat5 I l Sfirmo ki vole ! I
lo poext e S5blaxbl O pré xso de nyexlki 5xto 1a t 5pext Ie so ri do 1arSe ;Ilegz ile syr lo Sol IO miljo de yex, lse z exlo do 3e5 l 5pexSo do marSe .Il
bodlexr.
88 t wazo do flaxm,I
se t astro dy 3uxr, lseto floexr do 1axm , ls apelo 1amuxr. I
FRENCH SELECT IONS FOR
ORAL PRA CT ICE
1. A FABLE IN VERSE , WITH INTERLINEARPHONETIC SCRIPT
Une grenouille vit un boeufyngronuxjo v ité boef
Q ui lui sembla de belle taille .
k ilq is5b1a dobelta xj
Elle qui n’ét ait pas grosse en tout comm e un oeuf
,
elo kinetepagro xs 5tu komO'
em
Envieuse, S’étend, s t S
’enfle
,et se travaille
5v jo xz o ss t5 es5xfl eso trav axj
Pour égaler l’animal en grosseur ;puregale lanimal 5grosaaxr
Disant : Regardez bien, ma soeur,regardebje masoexr
Est - cs assez? dites-mo i ; n’y suis- js po int encore?
ditmwa nisq i3pwe'
t5koxr
Nenni M’y vo ici donc? Po int du tout M’
y vo ila?naBi m ivwasid5xk pwédy tu mivwala
Vous n’en approchez po int . La chétive pécoreIaSet ixvpekoxr
S’enfla Si bien qu’elle creva .
S5fla Sibjé kelkrov a
Le monde est plein de gens qui ne sont pas plus sageslom5xdepledo35 k inos5paplysax3
Tout bourgeo is veut batir comme les grands seigneurs,tubur3wa v obat ixr komlegr5sep oexr
Tout petit prince a deS ambassadeurs ;tupot ipréxs adez 5basadoexr
Tout marquis veut avo ir des pages.
tumark i v o tavwardepax3
LA FONTAINE ,la Grenoui lle qui veut sefaire
aussi grosse que te boeuf.
99
00 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
2 . NARRATIVE PROSE
Mme Loisel connut la v ie horrible des nécessiteux. Elleprit son parti , d
’ailleurs, tout d
’un coup
,héro iquement . Il
fallait payer cette dette effroyable . Elle payerait . On ren
voya la bonne ; on changea de logement ; on loua sous les
toits une mansarde .
Elle connut les gros travaux du ménage, les Odieuses besognes de la cuisine . Elle lava la vaisselle
,usant ses ongles
roses sur les poteries grasses et ls fond des casseroles . Ellesavonna ls linge sale, les Chemises et les torchons
,qu’elle
faisait Sécher sur une cords ; elle descendit a la rue, Chaquematin
,leS ordures, et monta l
’eau , S
’arré tant a Chaque étage
pour soutfler. Et,v étus comme une femme du peuple
,elle
alla chez ls fruitier, chez l’épicier, chez le boucher, le panier
au bras,marchandant
,injuries , defendant sou a sou son
miserable argent .II fallait Chaque mo is payer deS billets
,en renouveler
d’aut res
,Obtenir du temps .
Le fmari travaillait,le SOir, a mettre au net les comptes
d’un commercant , et la nuit, souvent, il fai sait de la copis
a cinq sous la page .
Et cs t t s v ie dura dix ans .
Au bout de dix ans,ils avaient tout restitué
,tout , avec ls
taux de l’usure, s t l’accumulat ion deS int érét s superpOSéS .
Madame Lo isel semblait vieille,maintenant . Elle était
devenue la femme forte, s t dure,st rude
,deS m
’
énagespauvres. Mal peignée, avec les jupes de travers s t leS mainsrouges
,elle parlait haut, lavait a grands eau les planchers .
Mais parfois, lorsque son mari était au bureau, elle S’as
seyait aupres de la fenetre, s t elle songeait a cette - So iréed’autrefois
,5. es bal Ou elle avait é t é Si belle et Si fetes .
Q ue serait- il arrivé Si elle n’av ait po int perdu cs t t s pa
rure? Q ui sait? qui sait? Comme la v ie est singuliers,
102‘
AoBANDEéDd'
KwF F RENCH PH ONETICS
POIRIER.
’‘
Aussi no yous'
c onsult é- je pas ; je Vous msts au
courant, vo ila tout .GASTON . Ah ! vous us me consultez pas?POIRIER. C ela Vous étonne?GASTON . Un peu ; mais je vous l
’ai dit, je suis en belle
humeur .POIRIER. Ma premiere reforms
,mon cher garcon
GASTON . Vous voulez dire mon cher Gaston, je pense?La langue vous a fourché .POIRIER. Cher Gaston , cher garcon ! c’est tout un l De
beau- pere a gendre, la familiarité est permise .
GASTON . Et de votre part , monsieur Po irier, elle meflat t e s t m
’honore. Vous disiez donc que votre premiere
reform s?
POIRIER. C’est
,monsieur , que vous me fassiez ls plaisir de
ne plus me gouailler . Je suis las de vous servir de plastron.
GASTON . La,la
,monsieur Po irier , ne vous fachez pas !
PO IRIER. Je sais tres bien que vous me t enez pour untres petit personnage et pour un tres petit esprit maisGASTON . Ouprenez - vous cela?POIRIER. Mais vous saurez qu’il y a plus de cervelle dans
ma pantoufle que sous votre chapeau .
GASTON . Ah ! fi ! vo ila qui est trivial vous parlezcomme nu homme du commun .
POIRIER. Je a s suis pas nu marquis, moi !
GASTON . Ne ls dites pas Si haut, on finirait par ls croire.
AUGIER, lo Gendre deM . Poirier, III, 2 .
4. CLASSIC VERSE
DON RODRIGUE . Sous moi donc cette troupe S’av anceEt port s sur ls front une mé le assurance .
Nous part imes cinq cents ;mais , par un prompt renfort ,Nous nous vimes tro is mills en arrivant au po rt ,
SELECTIONS FOR ORA L PRACTICE 103
Tant,anous Voir marcher avec un t el visage
,
Les plus épouvantés reprenaient de courage !J’eu cache les deux tiers, aussitOt qu
’arriVéS ,
Dans ls fond des vaisseaux qui lors furent trouvés ;Le rest s
,dont le nombre augmentait a t out s heure
,
Brulant d’impat ience, autour de moi demeure ,Se couche contre terre, et sans fairs aucun brui t,Passe une bonns part d’une Si belle nuit .Par mon commandement , la garde en fait de meme
,
Et, se tenant caches , aide 5 mon st rat egeme ;
Et je feins hardiment d’av oir recu de vous
L’Ordre qu’on me Vo it suivre et que je donne a tous .
C ORNE ILLE , le Cid, IV, 3 .
5 . LYRIC VERSE
C’est ls moment crépusculaire .
J’admire,assis sous umportail
,
C e rests de jour dont S’éclaireLa derniere heure du travail .
Dans les terres de nuit baignéesJs contemple, ému ,
les haillonsD’un vieillard qui jette a poignées
La mo isson future aux Sillons .
Sa haute Silhouette no ireDomine les profonds labours.
On sent a quel point il do it croireA la fuite utile deS jours .
IImarche dans la plains immense,Va , vient, lance 1a grains au lo in ,Rouvre sa main
,et recommence,
Et je médite , Obscur témoin .
104 HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
Pendant que, déployant ses vo iles,L’ombre
,o l‘i se mele une rumeur,
Semble é largir jusqu’aux étoiles
Le gsst e auguste du semeur.
VICTOR HUGO , “Saison des semailles z
from Chansons des rues et des
106 A HANDBOOK OF FRENCH PHONETICS
Relation Of French Sounds toFrench Spelling : 2
Rounded Front Vowels : 9
Semiconsonant s : 13
[i] : 13 ; [ni , W11 14Signs
,Letters and : 24
Single Word, Stress in a : 61Sounds z l
of French : 2Production Of SpeechSounds z l
Relation of French Soundsand French Spelling : 2Table Of Sounds
,Usual Spell
ings and Examples : 22Speech :
Stress in Connected Speech61
Syllabic Div ision in Speech59
Speech- Sounds, Production of : 1Spelling :
Relation Of French Soundsto French Spelling : 2
Syllabic Division in Spelling60
Table Of Sounds , Usual Spellings and Examples : 2 2
Stress : 61In a Single Word : 61In Connected Speech : 61Logical and Emotional : 62
Syllabic Division : 59In Speech : 59In Spelling and Writing : 60
Synthesis : 59Table Of Sounds, Usual Spellingsand Examples : 22Trilled Consonants : 2 1Vowels : 4
Back : 8[a, o] : 8 ; [O , u] : 9
Front : 6[i] : 6 ; [e, e, a] : 7
Mixed : 9[y, 9 , es] : 10 ; [o] : 11
Nasal : 11[e, 5 , 12 ; [Ge] : 13
Oral : 4Rounded Front : 9Vowel Q uantity : 63
Word :Foreign Words : 56Stress in a Single Word : 61Word Groups : 61
Writing , Syllabic Division in : 60
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