of the Pacific Ocean. Whatever may be the future destiny of China and Japan, many portions of these empires will, in all probability, fall under the dominion of an Anglo-Saxon race; and if so, the English language will prevail far more extensively than at present in all the quarters of the globe. True, this is mere matter for speculation; but judging from present circumstances, and the wonderfully active spirit of those who speak English, it is not altogether unreasonable to conclude that if it should advance at the rate we have witnessed for the last fifty years, it will eventually become the dominant language of the world. It may be thought by some that the extraordinary merit here claimed for our language is the natural effect of a pardonable national vanity. But these views are supported by those of a learned foreign linguist, who cannot have been influenced by such feelings, and who, moreover, may be cited as the highest authority on this subject. Jacob Grimm, in his work 'On the Origin of Language,' has the following passage :— English possesses a veritable power of expression, such as perhaps never stood at the command of any other language of men. Its highly spiritual genius, and wonderfully happy development and condition, have resulted from a surprisingly intimate union of the two noblest languages in modern Europe-the Teutonic and the Romanz. It is well known in what relation these two stand to one another in the English tongue; the former supplying in far larger proportion the material groundwork, the latter the spiritual conceptions. In truth, the English language, which by no mere accident has produced and upborne the greatest and most predominant poet of modern times, as distinguished from the ancient classical poetry (I can, of course, only mean Shakspere), may with all right be called a world-language; and, like the English people, appears destined hereafter to prevail with a sway more extensive even than its present over all the portions of the globe. For in wealth, good sense, and closeness of structure, no other of the languages at this day spoken deserves to be compared to it,-not even our German, which is torn, even as we are torn, and must first rid itself of many defects before it can enter boldly into the lists as a competitor with the English.' EXAMINATION QUESTIONS ON PART VIII. 1. What opinion is now generally held by scholars concerning the origin and affinities of European languages? 2. In what countries of Europe did the Celts originally settle? 3. What parts of Europe were occupied by a Teutonic migration? 4. What European languages belong to the Slavonic family? 5. What traces of their language did the Romans leave in Britain? 6. Quote some modern English words of Celtic origin. 7. In what parts of Europe are the remains of the Celtic language still found? 8. In what century was Anglo-Saxon substituted for Celtic in this country? 9. State some particulars in which Anglo-Saxon differs from English. 10. What effect had the Danish invasions on the Saxon language of England? 1. In what century was the Norman-French language introduced into this country? 2. Mention the two dialects then used in France. 13. By what general characteristies were these distinguished from each other? 14. Which of these two was brought into England at the Conquest? 15. By what classes of society were the two languages, NormanFrench and Anglo-Saxon, spoken after the Conquest ? 16. What written specimens of Anglo-Saxon still remain ? 17. For what purposes was Latin used in England for 200 years after the Conquest? 18. And in what cases was Norman-French adopted? 19. What name is given to the Saxon language used in England from 1066 to 1250 ? 20. What specimens of this language may be quoted? 21. During what period did the Early English' last? 22. What specimens have we of this condition of the language? 23. What is meant by Middle English'? 24. Give some examples of 'Middle English.' 25. From what date commences what is called 'Modern English'? 1. From what sources is the English language derived ? 2. Which of its parts still preponderates?" 3. How may this be proved? 4. In what cases are Saxon words still used? 5. State some in which Norman-French is adopted. 6. Quote some English words derived from Greek and Latin. 7. What terms are derived from Italian ? 8. Give some cases of English words derived from Arabic, Dutch, and Spanish. 1. What effect has the prevalence of monosyllables on the English language? 2. What rule should be adopted with regard to the use of monosyllables? 3. How may it be proved that English is a flexible language? 4. To what cause may this flexibility be attributed? 5. What is meant by a power of combination in a language? 6. Show that English possesses this power extensively. 7. What is meant by an inflected language? 8. Is Modern English' an inflected language? 9. Which is the best criterion of the copiousness of a language? 10. What may be said of English with respect to delicacy and variety of expression? 11. What is the best rule to follow as regards the adoption of new words? 12. What is the general opinion concerning the harmony of the English language? 13. What points should be here considered? 14. What compensations does English possess for these disadvantages? 15. What is meant by an Idiom'? 16. What lesson may be learnt from a careful study of idioms? 17. What may be said of the extension of the English language? 18. In whose reign was English first introduced into North. America ? 19. At what period did Canada become an English colony? 20. By what means was English introduced at the Cape of Good Hope? 21. In what other parts of the globe is English found? 22. Upon what grounds may we rationally conclude that our language will be still further extended? LONDON: PRINTED BY ENGLISH GRAMMAR PRACTICE; or, Exercises on the Etymology, Syntax, and Prosody of the English Language. Adapted to every form of Tuition. Revised Edition. Fcp. 8vo. price 4s. 6d. 'A volume of exercises which seem to have been selected with a ripe judg ment.' SPECTATOR. "This treatise contains not merely the ordinary grammatical rudiments, but exercises in punctuation, prosody, and versification. It will be found very useful, especially to learners who are somewhat advanced.' WEEKLY DISPATCH. 'We could not name an elementary book on this subject so fitted to do its work as the present one. The rules, which are clearly and minutely stated, are followed immediately by exercises, and they embrace many points which are generally left to be picked up by happy chance. On so simple a subject as the use of the indefinite article, Mr. GRAHAM has thrown additional light. The exercises comprise etymology, syntax, and prosody; in the latter branch the author claims the merit of novelty for the elaborate exercises in versification.' GLOBE. 'Not only are the rules here expressed in very simple and intelligible language, but each is immediately followed by an exercise, in which the principle on which the rule rests is illustrated and enforced by repeated examples. This is, we think, the only method of making a clear impression upon a mind of average capacity; and even where unusually good abilities make its adoption not absolutely necessary, it may be employed with considerable advantage in stimulating the pupil's zeal by enabling him to feel at every successful application of the principle involved a very encouraging sense of progress......The most novel feature in Mr. GRAHAM's book is a treatise on prosody, which, though a very necessary part of English grammar, we do not remember to have seen in any previous work of this kind.' PARTHENON. 'Mr. GRAHAM's volume of grammarpractice aims at being more practical than grammars usually are. The rules are concise; the exercises full and numerous; there are sections on correct spelling, and others on the logical analysis of sentences. This book should be specially acceptable to the masters of private academies, where, too often, the grammar lessons are as useless as they are antiquated.' PAPERS for the SCHOOLMASTER. 'Mr. GRAHAM's purpose in this practical little volume is to impress upon the young learner's mind the definitions and rules of grammar, by setting him a series of progressive exercises, arranged under and exemplifying each rule successively. As such practice may be begun with the accidence of English Grammar, the study, although commonly regarded as dry and repulsive, may obviously on this plan be made both amusing and useful to the beginner from his first steps.' EDUCATIONAL TIMES. The principle adopted in this little work is a sound one. Most English grammars consist exclusively of abstract rules intended to be committed to memory. But it may be reasonably doubted whether rules are of much value to a young student, as in many cases they are not clearly understood. To be of real utility, a grammatical rule should be immediately followed by an exercise, in which the principle is practically applied and illustrated. On this plan Mr. GRAHAM has aimed at exciting an interest in the youthful mind by the simplicity and clearness of his rules, and by the exercises which serve alike to illustrate them and to test the extent of the scholar's comprehension of them. We warmly commend his thoroughly practical work to the attention of teachers and of parents generally." MIDLAND COUNTIES HERALD. STUDIES from the ENGLISH POETS: a Reading-Book intended principally for the Higher Classes in Schools, but adapted also for Home Teaching. Revised Edition. Fcp. 8vo. 58. This work differs from most of the kind in the method of selection, the pieces being taken from only a few of the best of the English classics, namely, CowPER, COLLINS, GOLDSMITH, GRAY, MILTON, POPE, and SHAKSPEARE. The strikingly beautiful passages are printed in italics; explanatory notes and illustrations are given; and Questions are appended for examination and exercise in English composition. London: LONGMANS and CO. Paternoster Row. |