Publisher's Synopsis
From the INTRODUCTION.
1. The ordinary mode of communicating oar thoughts is that of words.
2. Words are vocal sounds expressing a distinct meaning.
3. Vocal sounds are sounds of the human voice produced by certain organs of speech. The organs of speech are the tongue, the throat, the palate, the teeth, the lips, and the nose.
4. Written words are formed of letters.
5. Letters are certain signs invented to represent certain vocal sounds.
6. Letters are either vowels or consonants.
7. A vowel is a letter representing an open sound. There are five vowels; namely, a, e, i, o, u. All the other letters of the alphabet are consonants.
8. A consonant is a letter representing a sound formed by direct contact of the organs of speech; as, m, d, p.
9. Language is the expression of thought by means of words.
10. Language may be either spoken or written.
11. Spoken language is the expression of thought by means of the voice.
12. Written language is the expression of thought by means of written or printed characters.
13. Grammar is the science of the elementary forms of language. These elementary forms are words, phrases, and idioms.
