Reflections on the Nature and Property of Languages in General, and on the Advantages, Defects, and Manner of Improving the English Tongue in Particul

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1731 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAP. XXII. Of the English Tongue. Its Advantages; Its Defefts; and what Improvements it is capable of. (HAT our Author has all'along made-an Example to the Rules and Principles he lays down, is only the French, fwgue; which, how applicable foever to his Purpofe, cannot afford, all the Satisfaction to an Eiigijl) Reader, that may be expeded. He poflibly may defire a nearer Application of thefe Rules; and, among the great Number of Languages, that are extant in the World, may be ambitious to know in what point of Light his own ftands; what Progrefs it has already made; what Defedts lie ftill upon it, and what further Degrees of Improvement it is fufceptible of. Now, fince Words are nothing elfe but the Signs of our Thoughts, the firft great Requifite in any Language rnuft be, to have a fufficient Number of thefe Signs, whereby to exprefs our Minds. Let us then fee how it ftands with our EiigliJI) Tongue, in relation to what we call its Riches, or Copioufnefs. I. The old Britif), or what we now call Welfh, (tho' no barren Language in it felf) had a confiderable Acceflion made to it, when this I/land became a Province to Rome, The Latin Tongue, Tongue, however was never in its full Purity here: For, as few or no Attempts towards a Conqueft were made until the Time of Claudius, fo, in Procefs of Time, the Roman Legions, which were fettled here, were allrecall'd to help their Country againft the Guths, and other barbarous Invaders. The Laws of the State, and the Ceremonies of Religion however being in Latin, (efpecially where their Arms prevail'd) occalioned a great Intermixture, tho' fome of the Natives were fo brave, as to preferve both their Liberties and Language entire. After the Departure of the Roman Forces, the ftritons, left to...