Chapter I: Front Matter

Transcriber's note: A few typographical errors have been corrected: they are listed at the end of the text.

[=a] signifies "a with macron"; [)e] "e with breve"; and so forth.

* * * * *

A HAND-BOOK

OF

THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE,

FOR THE USE OF

STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITIES AND HIGHER CLASSES OF SCHOOLS.

BY

R. G. LATHAM, M.D., F.R.S.,

LATE PROFESSOR OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE, UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON.

NEW-YORK: D. APPLETON & COMPANY, 443 & 445 BROADWAY. M.DCCC.LXIV.

* * * * *

CONTENTS.

* * * * *

PART I.

GENERAL ETHNOLOGICAL RELATIONS OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.

CHAPTER I.

GERMANIC ORIGIN OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.--DATE.

SECTION PAGE

1. English language not British 1
2. Real origin German 1
3. Accredited immigrations and settlements 2
4, 5. Criticism 4, 5

CHAPTER II.

GERMANIC ORIGIN OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.--THE GERMANIC AREA OF THE
PARTICULAR GERMANS WHO INTRODUCED IT.--EXTRACT FROM BEDA.

6, 7. Jutes, Angles, and Saxons 6
8, 9. Extract from Beda 6, 7
10-13. Criticism 8-11
14, 15. Angles 11, 12
16. Saxons of Beda 12, 13
17. Anglo-Saxon area 13
18, 19. The Frisians 13, 14
20. Anglo-Saxon area 14

CHAPTER III.

OF THE DIALECTS OF THE SAXON AREA, AND OF THE SO-CALLED OLD SAXON.

21-29. Old Saxon and Anglo-Saxon 16, 17

CHAPTER IV.

AFFINITIES OF THE ENGLISH WITH THE LANGUAGES OF GERMANY AND SCANDINAVIA.

30, 31. Gothic languages 18
32-34. Divisions of the Gothic stock 18
35. Moeso-Gothic 19
36. Old High German 19
37. Low German 19
38. Frisian and Dutch 19
39. Platt-Deutsch 20
40, 41. Comparison 21-23

CHAPTER V.

ANALYSIS OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.--GERMANIC ELEMENTS.--THE ANGLES.

42. Analysis 24
43-54. Angles--their relations 24-28
55, 56. The Frisians 29, 30

CHAPTER VI.

THE CELTIC STOCK OF LANGUAGES AND THEIR RELATIONS TO THE ENGLISH.

57. Branches of the Celtic stock 31
58-60. Structure of Celtic tongues 31-33
61-63. The Picts 33-35

CHAPTER VII.

THE ANGLO-NORMAN, AND THE LANGUAGE OF THE CLASSICAL STOCK.

64. The classical languages 36
65-67. Latin branch 36-40
68, 69. Norman French 40, 41

PART II.

HISTORY AND ANALYSIS OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.

CHAPTER I.

HISTORICAL AND LOGICAL ELEMENTS OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.

70. Celtic elements 45
71. Latin of first period 46
72. Anglo-Saxon 47
73. Danish or Norse 47
74. Roman of second period 49
75. Anglo-Norman element 49
76. Indirect Scandinavian elements 50
77. Latin of third period 51
78. Latin of fourth period 51
79. Greek 52
80-82. Tables 53-55
83-90. Miscellaneous elements 55-60
91-94. Hybridism and new words 60-62
95. Historical and logical analysis 63

CHAPTER II.

THE RELATION OF THE ENGLISH TO THE ANGLO-SAXON, AND THE STAGES OF THE
ENGLISH LANGUAGE.

96. Ancient and modern tongues 64
97. Details 65-68
98. Stages of the English language 68
99. Semi-Saxon 69
100-103. _Old_ English, &c. 70-72
104. Present tendencies 73

PART III.

SOUNDS, LETTERS, PRONUNCIATION, SPELLING.

CHAPTER I.

GENERAL NATURE AND CERTAIN PROPERTIES OF ARTICULATE SOUNDS.

105. Spelling and speaking 77
106. Sounds and syllables 79
107. Vowels 79
108. Divisions 80
109. Sharp and flat sounds 80
110. Continuous and explosive 80
111. General statements 81
112. The sound of h 81

CHAPTER II.

SYSTEM OF ARTICULATE SOUNDS.

113. Certain foreign sounds 82
114. System of mutes 82
115. Lenes and aspirates 83
116. Fourfold character of mutes 84
117. Y and w 84
118, 119. Diphthongs 84
120. Compound sounds 85
121. Ng 85
122, 123. Broad, slender; long, short;
dependent, independent vowels 85, 86
124-126. System of sounds 86, 87

CHAPTER III.

OF CERTAIN COMBINATIONS OF ARTICULATE SOUNDS.

127. Sharp and flat mutes 88
128. Unstable combinations 89
129. Effect of y 89
130, 131. Double consonants rare 89
132. True aspirates rare 90

CHAPTER IV.

EUPHONY AND THE PERMUTATION OF LETTERS.

133. Euphony 92
134. Permutation 93

CHAPTER V.

ON THE FORMATION OF SYLLABLES.

135. Syllabification 95-97

CHAPTER VI.

ON QUANTITY.

136. Long and short sounds 98
137. Quantity of vowels--of syllables 98
138. Classical and English measurements 99

CHAPTER VII.

ON ACCENT.

139. Place of accents 101
140. Distinctive accents 101
141. Emphasis 102

CHAPTER VIII.

ORTHOGRAPHY.

142. Orthoepy 103
143-146. Principle of an alphabet 103-105
147. Violations of it 105
148. Rules 107
149-151. Details of English 107-109
152. Insufficiency 109
153. Inconsistency 109
154. Erroneousness 110
155. Redundancy 110
156. Unsteadiness 110
157. Other defects 111
158. Historical propriety 113
159. Conventional spelling 113

CHAPTER IX.

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE ENGLISH ALPHABET.

160-166. Phoenician, Greek, Roman stages 116-124
166-172. Anglo-Saxon alphabet 124-126
173. Anglo-Norman alphabet 126
174. Extract from _Ormulum_ 127
175. Order of alphabet 128

PART IV.

ETYMOLOGY.

CHAPTER I.

ON THE PROVINCE OF ETYMOLOGY.

176-179. Meaning of term 131-133

CHAPTER II.

ON GENDER.

180. _Boy_ and _girl_ 134
181. _Man-servant_ and _maid-servant_ 134
182, 183. Forms like _genitrix_ 135
184. Forms like _domina_ 136
185-189. Genders in English 136, 137
190-192. _The sun in _his_ glory; the moon
in _her_ wane_ 138
193. Miscellaneous forms 139-142

CHAPTER III.

THE NUMBERS.

194-197. Numbers in English 143, 144
198. Rule 145
199. Remarks 145
200. Addition of -es 146
_Pence_, _alms_, &c. 147
_Mathematics_ 147
201. _Children_ 149
202. Form in -en 150
203. _Men_, _feet_, &c. 150
204. _Brethren_, &c. 150
205. _Houses_ 152
206. _Wives_, &c. 152

CHAPTER IV.

ON THE CASES.

207-211. Nature of cases 154-156
212. Accusatives 156
213. Datives 157
214. Genitives 157
215. Instrumental 158
_All the better_ 158, 159
216. Determination of cases 159
217. Analysis of cases 160
218. Form in -s 160

CHAPTER V.

THE PERSONAL PRONOUNS.

219, 220. _I_, _we_, _us_, &c. 162
221. _You_ 162
222. _Me_ 163
223-225. Cautions 163, 164

CHAPTER VI.

ON THE TRUE REFLECTIVE PRONOUN IN THE GOTHIC LANGUAGES, AND ON ITS
ABSENCE IN ENGLISH.

226. How far found in English 165

CHAPTER VII.

THE DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS, ETC.

227. _He_, _she_, _it_ 166
228. _She_ 166
229. _Her_, _him_, _his_, _its_, &c. 167
230. _Theirs_ 167
231. Table 168
232. _These_ 169
233. _Those_ 171

CHAPTER VIII.

THE RELATIVE, INTERROGATIVE, AND CERTAIN OTHER PRONOUNS.

234. _Who_, _what_, &c. 173
235. _Same_, &c. 173
236. _Other_, _whether_ 177

CHAPTER IX.

ON CERTAIN FORMS IN -ER.

237-239. Idea expressed by -er 179-181

CHAPTER X.

THE COMPARATIVE DEGREE.

240. Form in -s 182
241. _Elder_, &c. 183
242. _Rather_ 183
243, 244. Excess of expression 183
245-247. _Better_ 183-185
248. _Worse_ 185
249. _More_ 185
250. _Less_ 185
251-253. _Near_, &c. 186
254. Origin of superlative 186

CHAPTER XI.

THE SUPERLATIVE DEGREE.

255, 256. _Former_ 188
257. _Nearest_ 188
258. _Next_ 188
259, 260. _Upmost_, &c. 189, 190

CHAPTER XII.

THE CARDINAL NUMBERS.

261. How far undeclined 191

CHAPTER XIII.

THE ORDINAL NUMBERS.

262-264. _Seven_, _nine_, _ten_ 192
265, 266. _Thirteen_, _thirty_ 193

CHAPTER XIV.

THE ARTICLES.

267. _A_, _an_, _the_ 194

CHAPTER XV.

DIMINUTIVES, AUGMENTATIVES, AND PATRONYMICS.

268-270. Diminutives 197-199
271. Augmentatives 200
272. Patronymics 200, 201

CHAPTER XVI.

GENTILE FORMS.

273. _Wales_ 202

CHAPTER XVII.

ON THE CONNEXION BETWEEN THE NOUN AND VERB, AND ON THE INFLECTION OF THE
INFINITIVE MOOD.

274-281. The verb, how far a noun 203-206

CHAPTER XVIII.

ON DERIVED VERBS.

282. Divisions of verbs 207
282. Derivation 208, 209

CHAPTER XIX.

ON THE PERSONS.

283. Persons in English 210
284, 285. Historical view 211
286. Form in -t 212
287. _Thou spakest_, &c. 212
288. _We loves_ 213

CHAPTER XX.

ON THE NUMBERS OF VERBS.

289. Numbers in English 214
290. _Ran_, _run_, &c. 215

CHAPTER XXI.

ON MOODS.

291-292. Moods in English 216

CHAPTER XXII.

ON TENSES IN GENERAL.

293. _Strike_, _struck_ 217
294-296. [Greek: Etupton], &c. 217, 218
297. Reduplication 219
298. _Weak_ or _strong_ 220

CHAPTER XXIII.

THE STRONG TENSES.

299. _Sing_, _sang_, _sung_ 221
300-303. Tables 222-225

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE WEAK TENSES.

304. _Stabbed_, &c. 226
305-307. Divisions 227, 228
309. _Bought_, _sought_ 228
309. Forms in -te and -ode 229
310-312. _Bred_, _beat_, &c. 230
313. _Leave_, _left_ 231
314. _Made_, _had_ 231
314. _Would_, _should_, _could_ 231
315. _Aught_ 231
316. _Durst_, _must_, &c. 232
317. _This will do_ 233
318. _Mind_ 234
319. _Yode_ 234
320. _Did_ 234

CHAPTER XXV.

ON CONJUGATION.

321, 322. Weak and strong conjugations natural
235-237

CHAPTER XXVI.

DEFECTIVENESS AND IRREGULARITY.

323-325. Irregularity 238
326. Vital and obsolete processes 240
327. Processes of necessity, &c. 241
328. Ordinary processes 241
329. Positive 242
330. Normal 242
331. _Could_ 243
332. _Quoth_ 244
333. Real irregular verbs few 244

CHAPTER XXVII.

THE IMPERSONAL VERBS.

334, 335. _Me-seems_, _me-listeth_ 246

CHAPTER XXVIII.

THE VERB SUBSTANTIVE.

336. Not irregular 247
337. _Was_ 247
338-341. _Be_ 248, 249
342. _An_ 249
343. _Worth_ 250

CHAPTER XXIX.

THE PRESENT PARTICIPLE.

344. Forms in -ing 251
345. Forms in -ung 252

CHAPTER XXX.

THE PAST PARTICIPLE.

346. Forms in -en 254
347, 348. _Drunken_ 254
349. _Forlorn_ 255
350. Forms in -ed 255
351. The prefix Y 256

CHAPTER XXXI.

COMPOSITION.

352-357. Nature of compounds 258-261
358-361. Accent 261-266
362. Obscure compounds 266
363-365. Exceptions 266, 267, 268
366. _Peacock_, _peahen_ 269
367. _Nightingale_ 269
368. Improper compounds 270
369. Decomposites 270
370. Combinations 270, 271

CHAPTER XXXII.

ON DERIVATION AND INFLECTION.

371-373. Their nature 272-275

CHAPTER XXXIII.

ADVERBS.

374, 375. Their division 276
376-379. Adverbs of deflection 277
380. _Darkling_ 278

CHAPTER XXXIV.

ON CERTAIN ADVERBS OF PLACE.

381-384. _Hither_, _thither_, &c 279
385. _Hence_, &c. 280
386. _Yonder_ 280
387. _Anon_ 281

CHAPTER XXXV.

ON WHEN, THEN, AND THAN.

388, 389. Their origin 282

CHAPTER XXXVI.

PREPOSITIONS AND CONJUNCTIONS.

390. Prepositions 283
391. Conjunctions 283
392. _Yes_, _No_ 283
393. Particles 283

CHAPTER XXXVII.

ON THE GRAMMATICAL POSITION OF THE WORDS _mine_ AND _thine_.

394-407. Equivalent to _meus_ and _tuus_, rather than possessive
cases 284-290

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

ON THE CONSTITUTION OF THE WEAK PRÆTERITE.

408. Grimm's view 291
409, 410. Remarks of Dr. Trithen 291-293

PART V.

SYNTAX.

CHAPTER I.

ON SYNTAX IN GENERAL.

411, 412. Syntax 294
413. Personification 294
414. Ellipsis 295
415. Pleonasm 295
416. Zeugma 295
417. _Pros to semainomenon_ 296
418. Apposition 296
419. Collectiveness 297
420. Reduction 297
421. Determination of part of speech 298
422-424. Convertibility 298, 299
425. _The Blacks of Africa_ 299
426. _None of your ifs_ 300
427. Convertible words numerous in English 300

CHAPTER II.

SYNTAX OF SUBSTANTIVES.

428. _Rundell and Bridge's_ 301
429. _Right and left_ 301

CHAPTER III.

SYNTAX OF ADJECTIVES.

430. Pleonasm 302
431. Collocation 302
432. Government 302
433. _More wise_, _wiser_ 303
434. _The _better_ of the two_ 304
435. Syntax of adjectives simple 304

CHAPTER IV.

SYNTAX OF PRONOUNS.

436. Pleonasm 305
437. _Father's_, not _father his_ 305
438. Pleonasm and ellipses allied 306

CHAPTER V.

THE TRUE PERSONAL PRONOUNS.

439. _Pronomen reverentiæ_ 307
440. _Dativus ethicus_ 307
441. Reflected pronoun 307
442. Reflected neuters 308
443. Equivocal reflective 308

CHAPTER VI.

ON THE SYNTAX OF THE DEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS, AND THE PRONOUNS OF THE
THIRD PERSON.

444, 445. _His_ and _its_ 310, 311

CHAPTER VII.

ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE WORD _self_.

446, 447. _Myself_, _himself_, &c. 312, 313

CHAPTER VIII.

ON THE POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS.

448-451. _My_ and _mine_ 314-316

CHAPTER IX.

THE RELATIVE PRONOUNS.

452-456. Their concord 317, 318
457. Ellipsis 318
458. Equivocal antecedent 319

CHAPTER X.

ON THE INTERROGATIVE PRONOUN.

459, 460. Direct and oblique questions 320

CHAPTER XI.

THE RECIPROCAL PRONOUNS.

461, 462. Their construction 322, 323

CHAPTER XII.

THE INDETERMINATE PRONOUNS.

463-466. Use of _it_ 324, 325
467, 468. Use of _them_ 325

CHAPTER XX.

ON THE TENSES.

486. Present 342
486, 487. Preterite 342

CHAPTER XXI.

SYNTAX OF THE PERSONS OF VERBS.

488, 489. Their concord 344

CHAPTER XXII.

ON THE VOICES OF VERBS.

490. _Hight_ 345

CHAPTER XXIII.

ON THE AUXILIARY VERBS.

491. Their classification 346-348
492. _I have ridden_ 348
493. _I am to speak_ 351
494. _I am to blame_ 351
495. _I am beaten_ 351

CHAPTER XXIV.

OF ADVERBS.

496, 497. Their syntax simple 353
498. Termination -ly 354
499. _To walk and ride_ 354
500. _From whence_, &c. 354, 355

CHAPTER XXV.

ON PREPOSITIONS.

501. _Climb up a tree_ 356
502. _Part of the body_ 356

CHAPTER XXVI.

ON CONJUNCTIONS.

503, 504. Their nature 357-359
505. Their government 359
506-511. The subjunctive mood 359-364
512. Use of _that_ 364
513. Succession of tenses 364
514. Disjunctives 365

CHAPTER XXVII.

THE SYNTAX OF THE NEGATIVE.

515. Its place 366
516. Its distribution 366
517. Two negatives 367
518. Questions of appeal 367

CHAPTER XXVIII.

ON THE CASE ABSOLUTE.

519. Its participial character 369

PART VI.

PROSODY.

520. Derivation of the word 371
521, 522. Importance of accent 371
523-526. Measures 372, 373
527. Metrical notation 374
528-535. Rhyme 374-377
536. Blank verse 377
537, 538. Last syllable indifferent 378
539, 540. Names of common English metres 379-384

PART VII.

DIALECTS OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.

541. Saxons and Angles 385
542-544. Dialects not coincident 385, 386
545, 546. Traces of the Danes 386, 387
547 Mercian origin of the written English 387

NOTES 393

* * * * *

AN INTRODUCTION

TO THE STUDY OF

THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.

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