--- | --- | ---
The difference between three and four is difficult for anyone to assess but at least this is clear. The pattern of a four-part form suggests four equal parts or 'words' or perhaps 'groups'. There is not, however, any reason to suppose that the total number of words must always be the same as the number of parts. This is not the only example of a four-part unit in English. A four-part foot or group of four syllables occurs in French often with 'ui' or 'oi' at the end:
_eu_ | _oeu_
--- | ---
_ieu_ | _oiue_
Here is a four-part foot in Italian:
_I-e-o_ | _Vo-si-ta_
_I-e-o-n_ | _Vo-s-i-ta-ni_
But four-part feet in English must be analysed on their own terms, that is as a group. In this situation, the word'sets' would suggest four.
These simple examples are of course not the only such cases. A few can be found in **Figure 8.8**. The first comes from the medieval period:
Alla viel e ein brenchen voor ein' hors.
'Alla viel e' ein brenchen voor' ein hors.
'Alla viel e' ein' brenchen voor ein' hors.
'Alla viel e' ein brenchen voor' ein' hors.
**Fig. 8.8** Simple four-part feet in English.
The second one comes from the same period:
Hunsden et le Feugras.
The first of these is a four-part foot in French, but note the unusual spelling with an 'r' for a final syllable. In the second one the fourth part is repeated:
Hunsden et le Feugras et le Feugras.
This second word may indicate the appearance of _e_ (see **Figure 8.9** ).
**Fig. 8.9** Four-part feet in English.
In an English text of 1607
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