INTRODUCTION

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

What is Language?-First Connection between Thought and Word-The-

ries of the Ancients-Erroneous Theories-The Materialists-The

Spiritualists-Language a Gift of the Creator

CHAPTER II.

Unity of Language.-Various Theories-Biblical Theory-Supported by

Science-Languages point to a common Fountain-head

CHAPTER III.

Opinions of Prichard, Picket, and Bopp-Of Keyser and Retzius-Of Bun-

sen, Humboldt, &c.-Words common to all Idioms-No positive result

as yet obtained

CHAPTER IV.

History of Comparative Philology.-The Egyptians and Greeks-The Ro-

mans-The Jews and Eastern Nations-Change produced by Christi-

anity

CHAPTER V.

Want of Material-No Writing-Curious Substitutes-Voyages of Disco-

very-Colonies and their Policy-Commerce-Missionaries and their

Collections-First Scientific Study of Languages-New System of Writ-

ing in Foreign Idioms

CHAPTER VI.

First Attempts in Comparative Philology.-Greek in England-Erasmus-

Hebrew, &c., for Bible Researches-Modern Languages for Reforma-

tion-Forgery of Psalmanazar-Present Position of Comparative

Philology

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CHAPTER VII.

Literature of Comparative Philology.-Greek Authors-Cæsar and Cicero

-The Alexandrians and Byzantines-J. C. Scaliger-Collections of

Lord's Prayers-Poça, Du Cange, and Hervas-Bacon and Locke

CHAPTER VIII.

Leibnitz.-German Philosophers-Universal Language-J. Harris and

Horne Tooke-Adelung-Mithridates-S. de Sacy, Gamba, Pott, &c.-

Klaproth, Balbi, Pallas and Schischkow

CHAPTER IX.

Present state of Comparative Philology.-Eichhorn-Frederick von Schle-

gel-Bopp-Duponceau-William von Humboldt-Jacob Grimm-Rask

-Arndt-Prichard-Latham, &c.

CHAPTER X.

Practical Results of Comparative Philology.-Study of Foreign Languages

-Grammar, &c.-Use of the Vernacular-Orators and Authors-Chat-

terton-Anglo-Saxon in English-Translation of Foreign Works-Re-

vival of Ancient Authors-Modern style

CHAPTER XI.

Comparative Philology and History.-Lost races-Ethnology-Relation of

races-Provincial Dialects-Literature and Early History

CHAPTER XII.

Anglo-Saxon and English History.-For the Reformation-For Constitu-

tional History

CHAPTER XIII.

Comparativv Philology and Recent Discoveries.-The Etruscans, &c.—An-

cient Inscriptions-Bunsen and Egypt-Niebuhr and Rome

CHAPTER XIV.

Languages and National Character.-Latin and Rome-Suetonius and

Pliny-Language and the National Intellect

CHAPTER XV.

The Indo-European Languages.-Ex Oriente Lux-All Great Creeds from

the East-All Great Impulses from the East-All Great Languages

from the East

CHAPTER XVI.

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The Sanscrit as Oldest of Indo-European Languages.-Early Studies of
Sanscrit-Its Advantages for Comparative Philology-Its extensive Lit-
erature-Its present Representative in Europe-Its clear Organism, &c. 96

CONTENTS.

CHAPTERX XVII.

The Ruling Languages of the World.-The Sanscrit-The Iranian-The

Greek-The Latin-The Celtic-The Gothic and Germanic-The Slavic

-Other European idioms

CHAPTER XVIII.

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101

Purposes of Comparative Philology.-General Rules-Laws of Language 109

CHAPTER XIX.

Physical Influences Operating on Language.-Climate and geographical

position-Decline of idioms when removed to unfavorable regions-

Remarkable instances

112

CHAPTER XX.

Conquest Operating on Language.-Languages are not destroyed-The

idiom of the conquered race prevails .

CHAPTER XXI.

The Norman Conquest of England.-French and Saxon part of English-

French in England before the Conquest-Favored by King and Court-

Marie de France-French prevailing in England

CHAPTER. XXII.

The Anglo-Saxon and the People-The Saxons in the majority-Igno-

rance of Normans-Germanic elements of Norman French-The Nor-

mans cut off from Normandy-Danish aid

CHAPTER XXIII.

The Anglo-Saxon and the Church.-The Bible-The Ministry and the Sax-

ons

132

CHAPTER XXIV.

Restoration of the Anglo-Saxon.-In Poetry--Gower-Mixture of the two

Idioms-Charter of Confirmation-Statute of Edward III.

The English resulting from the Amalgamation.-Use of French now-

English taught first in schools in 1355-Caxton and Printing

The Occupation of a Nation Operating on Language.-Mental peculiarities

of nations-The Ethic element in language-In words, in sounds, in

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structure

CHAPTER XXVII.

Fashion Operating on Language.-The Latin-Lexicographers-Danish

in English-Italian in French-Les Précieuses

CHAPTER XXVIII.

Literature Operating on Language.-Poets-Dante-Luther-Predominant

Dialects

CHAPTER XXIX.

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156

English Literature and the English Language.-Anglo-Saxon version of

the Bible-Gospel of St. Cuthbert and Rushworth's Gloss-King Al-

fred-Layamon, the Ormulum-Robert of Gloucester-Robert Man-

nyng-Richard Rolle

160

CHAPTER XXX.

The Rhymour-Minot and Davie-Robert Langland-Barbour-Andrew

of Wyntown-Trevisa-Gower-Chaucer-English Orthography

167

CHAPTER XXXI.

Occleve and Lydgate-James I.-Charles of Orleans-Caxton and Con-

temporaries-Sir Thomas More

CHAPTER XXXII.

Henry VIII.-Elizabeth-Surrey and Wyatt-English Satirists-John

Skelton-Spenser-Ancient Languages in England-Sir Thomas

Browne

CHAPTER XXXIII.

The English Reformers-Sir John Cheke-Roger Ascham-Thomas Wil-

son and early English Grammars-The Latinists of the age of James

Hooker-Milton

CHAPTER XXXIV.

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182

The Restoration-French in England-Addison and the Essayists-John-

son's Dictionary-Horne Tooke-Recent changes in English

American English.-Not influenced by Literature-Older and Purer Forms

preserved-Dutch, French, and Indian Elements

CHAPTER XXXVI.

Philosophic Results of Comparative Philology.-Researches in Language-

Mode of Study-Etymology-Laws of Euphony-Linguistique-Highest

purposes of Language

CHAPTER XXXVII.

Methods of Comparative Philology.—V › Language original and unmixed

-Historical School-Lexical School-Fatal Errors-Critical School

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