DR. AHN'S FIRST FRENCH COURSE; THOROUGHLY REVISED, CORRECTED, AND ENLARGED, WITH SHORT AND BY EACH EXERCISE; AN INTRODUCTION TO HEAD FRENCH MASTER AT THE MERCERS' AND THE STATIONERS' SCHOOLS, LONDON: PREFACE. THE simpler a book, the easier it is for the pupil to learn, and the master to teach from it, the intricacies with which the beginning of an unknown science is always beset. A language, especially a modern language, is foremost among those sciences the teaching of which requires the greatest clearness and simplicity in the enunciation of their rules. Pupils learn a modern language in order to speak it; and it is obvious that a simple rule, well understood, will be easier to be remembered, and consequently to be applied, than a complicated and abstruse one. It has therefore been my aim, in this new Edition of Ahn's French Method, to simplify to the utmost the rules essentially necessary to be learnt, so as to enable the pupil (as far at least as this First Course goes)-I would not say to speak, but I trust to write, correctly the Exercises contained therein, and to bring to his mind, without trouble or delay, a clear perception followed by an ample explanation of any given difficulty. These rules, or rather remarks on rules, have been couched in terms essentially adapted to make the beginner readily understand what is meant by them, and what he should do to conform to them. The Pronunciation being a point essential in the learning of a spoken language, I have endeavoured, within the dimensions of this volume, to give an idea of the sounds (represented as best may be by English letters) peculiar to the French language, leaving it to the teacher to amplify it as necessity may require. I have also added a Summary-it may perhaps be termed an Elementary Grammar-of the various rules as applied to the different parts of speech contained in the book, and a copious Reader which may be useful alike for reading aloud and for translation. I leave it to the masters and pupils who may use this book to decide whether I have attained the end in view. Should they, after an earnest study thereof, find that their labour has not been entirely in vain, I shall be amply rewarded. LONDON, 1875. S. B. I AHN'S FIRST FRENCH COURSE. THE ALPHABET. There are in French twenty-five letters: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, X, Y, Z. PRONUNCIATION. VOWELS. The different shades of pronunciation, peculiar to each of the five vowels, can really be acquired only by hearing them severally pronounced and accentuated by an experienced teacher. I trust, however, the following Table may prove of some help towards acquiring this difficult part of the language. A, has two pronunciations: the one, short and open, as in the English words, cat, cattle. Ex. Cataracte, papa, matamore; the other, longer and broader, and especially peculiar to the accented a (â), or to a followed by the liquid ", in the same syllable. It is then pronounced, as nearly as possible, as in the English words far, star, large, lark. Ex. Carré, mare, retard, âme, château, pâle, lache. E, has three different sounds. It is mute, and is pronounced like the English e at the end of the words gate, cave. Ex. Petite, marguerite. É, with an acute accent, is very short, and open, and is pronounced like the a of gate, fate. Ex. Été, répété, vénéré. È, with a grave accent, is broader, and is pronounced like the a in fare, care. Ex. Evèque, décèle, mère. É, with a circumflex accent, has the same pronunciation as the preceding. Ex. Chêne, frêle, prêtre. |