PART I LEÇONS DE CONVERSATION

LEÇON PREPARATOIRE 1

I. Voice Placing. — Voice placing makes the greatest difference between French and English; French is spoken from the front of the mouth. Notice the great difference between the English and French words: we, oui; see, si; coo, cou; day, dé.

II. Purity of Vowel Sounds. — In correct English, vowels are often obscured and sometimes even changed, but in French every vowel must remain pure. 1 Notice the difference between the English and French pronunciation of the word "Canada."

III. Syllables. — French is a language of syllables not of words. For instance, French people do not say "your friend," in two words, "votre ami," but in three syllables, vo-tra-mi. A French word has as many syllables as it has vowel sounds: mè-re, u-ne, ri-deau (Ô). Consonants and combinations of consonants are joined to the following vowels: ma-da-me, Phi-li-ppe, rè-gle, i-na-ni-mé.

IV. Rhythm. — The most important factor in French rhythm is the mute syllable. A syllable ending in an unaccented e is said to be mute: ce, le, me, ble. A mute syllable must be muted (that is, its consonants only must be pronounced) when it follows a vowel sound: samedi, médecine, table, C'est le tapis -sèZ tapi; (see page 137).

V. Tonic Accent. — In French the tonic accent is placed upon the last sounded syllable: voi-ci, ta-bleau, chai-se; (see page 137, footnote 2).

VI. Long and Short Syllables. — Every syllable preceding a muted syllable is long. Compare: rose, zéro; coupe, cou; laide, laid.

i A careful study of each vowel and consonant should be taken up before preparing the lesson in which that sound is introduced. (See chart of French sounds and diagrams, p. 127.)

L2] PREMIÈRE LEÇON 1 âii

oui yes

si yes (an affirmative answer to a négative sentence)

le, m.; la,/. the

Est-ce le tapis? Is it the carpet?

C'est le tapis. ' It is the carpet.

ne . . . pas ' not

Ce n'est pas le tapis. It is not the carpet.

N'est-ce pas? Is it not?

1. Est-ce le tapis? 3. Est-ce le rideau (p. 136, 15)? 5. Est-ce le parquet? 7. Est-ce la table? 9. Est-ce la fenêtre? 11. Est-ce la chaise? 18. C'est le tapis, n'est-ce pas? 15. C'est la fenêtre, n'est-ce pas? 17. N'est-ce pas le rideau (p. 138, 30)? 19. N'est-ce pas le tapis? 21. Est-ce le tapis ou le rideau?

Questionnaire (p. 130).