If we can say, "This is a violation of such and such a rule," or "This is a
strange irregularity," or "This belongs to the class of words which
substitutes _ea_ for the long sound of _e,_ or for the short sound of _e_."
We have an association of the unknown with the known that is the most
powerful possible aid to the memory. The system may fail in and of itself,
but it more than serves its purpose thus indirectly in aiding the memory.
We have not spoken of the association of word forms with sounds,
the grouping of the letters of words into syllables, and the aid that a
careful pronunciation gives the memory by way of association; for while
this is the most powerful aid of all, it does not need explanation.
The Mastery of Regular Words.
We have spoken of the mastery of irregular words, and in the last paragraph
but one we have referred to the aid which general principles give the
memory by way of association in acquiring the exceptions to the rules.
We will now consider the great class of words formed according to fixed
principles.
Of course these laws and rules are little more than a string of
analogies which we observe in our study of the language.
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