16 APRIL 1881, Page 23

The Orthoepist. By Alfred Ayres. (D. Appleton and Co., Now

York.)—Mr. Ayres kindly teaches the Britishers how to pronounce their language. He gives between three and four thousand words, elabo- rately marked with notes, which are explained by an equally elaborate " key." The despair of the intelligent foreigner when confronted with this manual would beat description. And, indeed, Mr. Ayres sometimes seems too subtle. Is it true that the " x " is sounded dif- ferently in " exempt," "excruciate," and " example F" And some- times he seems to us wrong. In England, at least, we say "mercan- tile," not "mercantile ;" and we are prejudiced enough to think that England possesses the norm a loguendi in the matter of English. Still, there is something to be learnt from The Orthoepist. We only wish it were easier to learn.