guardian care over it which they do over the opinions which it is used to express; and, for this purpose, they should be familiar with works which treat of its analogies and idioms, that they may understand what are the laws of normal and of abnormal growth, and by their own example and influence encourage only that which is strictly legitimate. Our language, as the depository of the wisdom and experience of past generations, we have received by inheritance, to be transmitted to the ages to come certainly enlarged, and, if possible, improved. "A man should venerate his native language as the first of his benefactors; as the awakener and stirrer of his spiritual thoughts, the form, and mould, and rule of his spiritual being; as the great bond and medium of intercourse with his fellows; as the mirror in which he sees his own nature, and without which he can not commune even with himself; as the image which the wisdom of God has chosen to reveal itself to him." It was in some such spirit and under some such impressions that the present work was undertaken at the first, and carried on to its completion. Philology has of late, especially in Germany, been successfully cultivated in what have been called its two great branches: the Philosophy of language, or the formation of words; and the Method of language, or the formation of sentences. English philology has made great advances from the indirect contributions received from such men as Rask and Bosworth, Grimm and Bopp, Becker and Kühner; as well as from the direct efforts of such as Webster, and Latham, and Guest, and Kemble, and Garnet. Some of the practical results of their investigations I have embodied in this work. Other materials were collected from the wide. field of English literature while I was engaged in giv ing instruction to classes in college. The older grammarians, such as Wallis, Greenwood, and Lowth, I have consulted, as well as some of the modern, such as Murray, Crombie, and Arnold. I am also under obligation to Whately, Gray, and Mill, in logic; and to Harrison, and especially to Sir John Stoddart, in etymology and syntax. To Dr. Latham, late professor of the English language and literature in the London University, something more than a general acknowledg ment is due. I have read his works with great advantage, and used them freely. I have also to state that I am much indebted to Professor J.W. Gibbs, of Yale College, who has been well known as a successful laborer in comparative philology, especially in its application to the English language. The sections contributed by him are 38, 39, 50, 53, 74, 75, 76, 83, 84, 225, 308, 309, 317, 319, 324, 328, and from 333 to 365 inclusive. My thanks are also due to those literary friends who originally advised me to undertake this work, who have encouraged me in its progress, or who have improved it by their suggestions. The work is divided into eight parts, in which the English language is presented under eight different aspects. Each part is intended to be distinct in itself, and yet all of them, in their mutual correlation, to constitute one logical whole. A glance at the Table of Contents will show that the work is intended to present a full Grammar of the language. In the Syntactical part the laws of construction are given in the rules and notes, illustrated by examples. In the Exercises, an example of correct or of false Syntax is furnished for the application of each rule or note, that the learner may repeat to the teacher the rule or note which it suggests. It has been thought better, for the most part, to present as examples forms of expression which are correct, rather than those which are exceptionable. By becoming familiar with incorrect forms of speech, one is in danger of falling into the use of them, even though he may wish to follow the rule which condemns them. Language is largely a matter of imitation. Hence we infer the importance of a familiarity with good models. The labor and the difficulty of preparing a work upon the language like this, in which each part shall be exhibited in its specific distinctness, and the whole in its generic complexity, in such a manner as at once to satisfy the ripe scholar and to attract the learner, can not be readily appreciated. The exactness of certain sciences should not throughout be demanded. Many facts and principles pertaining to the language are indeed settled, but in respect to others, only an approximation to exactness can be expected. Authorities are often divided; those upon whom we rely may have fallen into error, and apparent facts often lead different scholars to opposite conclusions. The work, such as it is, is offered to the public, in the hope that it may prove a valuable help to those who desire a thorough acquaintance with the origin and history, the structure and laws, the elements and forms of the English language. Amherst, August, 1850. W. C. F. THE CLASSIFICATION OF LANGUAGES. 25. Remarks on Classification... 54 | 34. Sanscrit Family 26. Schlegel's Classification.... 54 35. Iranian Family. 27. Classification adopted in this Work.. 36. Latin Family... 55 37. Italian Language 28. Chinese Stock of Languages. 56 38. French Language. 29. Shemitic Stock of Languages 56 39. Spanish Language 30. Peculiarities of the Shemitic Languages... 31. Classification of the Indo-European Stock..... 32. Synthetic and Analytic Languages. 40. Portuguese Language 59 60 60 60 61 62 62 33. Characteristics of the IndoEuropean Languages..... 58 B 45. Romaic Language, or modern Greek THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. 63. Origin of the Ethnographical Elements.... 76 76 68. Language before the coming of the Normans... 84 STAGES AND PERIODS OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE. 77. Specimens of Anglo-Saxon.. 93 | 80. Specimens of Old English.. 96 78. Lord's Prayer in Anglo-Sax- 81. Specimens of Middle English 97 on, with a Grammatical 82. Specimens of Modern English..... Analysis..... 93 79 Specimens of Semi-Saxon... 95 83. Recapitulation.. 101 107 CHAPTER V. DIALECTS AND PROVINCIALISMS. 84. Dialects and Provincialisms 109 89. Dialect of East Anglia, or 85. Existing Diversities of Lan guage in England....... 109 90. Dialect of the Southern Coun 86. Sources of existing Diversi ties..... 87. Lowland Scotch 88. Dialect of the Northern Coun ties.... ties... the Eastern Counties.... 112 113 115 116 119 |