Part 1 (1/2)

Lectures on Language

by William S Balch

PREFACE

There is no subject so deeply interesting and ie, or one which presents a more direct and powerful claim upon all classes in the community; for there is no other so closely interwoven with all the affairs of huious It forms a basis on which depends a vast portion of the happiness of mankind, and deserves the first attention of every philanthropist

Great difficulty has been experienced in the co been considered a dry, uninteresting, and tedious study, by nearly all the teachers and scholars in the land But it is to be presumed that the fault in this case, if there is any, is to be sought for in the , rather than in the science itself; for it would be unreasonable to suppose that a subject which occupies the earliest attention of the parent, which is acquired at great expense of ht, and is e hours, can possibly be dull or unihtly explained

Children have been required to learn verbal forns of ideas, instead of the things represented by them

The consequence has been that the whole subject has beco to all who do not possess a retentive verbal e, the sublime principles on which it depends for its existence and use, have not been sufficiently regarded to render it delightful and profitable

The huned to open the way for an exposition of language on truly philosophical principles, which, when correctly explained, are abundantly simple and extensively useful With what success this point has been labored the reader will deterinality The principles here advanced have been advocated, believed, and successfully practised

Williaht star in the firmament of American literature, reduced these principles to a systeht with triumphant success by Daniel H Barnes, foruished teachers who ever officiated in that high and responsible capacity in our country Both of these gentlemen, so eminently calculated to elevate the standard of education, were summoned from the career of the most active usefulness, frohten and beautify by the aid of their transcendant intellects, to unseen realities in the world of spirits; where les with soul, disenthraled froht and love of the Great Parent Intellect

The author does not pretend to give a system of exposition in this work suited to the capacities of sned for advanced scholars, and is introductory to a systerammar which he has in preparation, which it is hu easy and correct the study of our vernacular language But this book, it is thought, her classes in our schools, and will be found an efficient aid to teachers in inculcating the sublime principles of which it treats

These Lectures, as now presented to the public, it is believed, will be found to contain some important information by which all may profit The reader will bear in mind that they ritten for, and delivered before a popular audience, and published with very little tiy for the mistakes which may occur, and for whatever may have the appearance of severity, irony, or pleasantry, in the coht be said But verbal criticis to a common audience; and hence the consideration of that matter was made more brief than was at first intended It will however be resuiven will enable the student to form a tolerable correct opinion of the use ofbeen passed over with little knowledge of theiror importance

The author is aware that the principles he has advocated are new and opposed to established systems and the coed on all hands to exist, is a sufficient justification of this huood intentions All he asks is a patient and candid examination, a frank and honest approval of what is true, and as honest a rejection of what is false But he hopes the reader will avoid a rash and precipitate conclusion, either for or against, lest he is compelled to do as the author himself once did, approve what he had previously condemned

With these remarks he enters the arena, and bares himself to receive the sentence of the public voice

LECTURES ON LANGUAGE

LECTURE I

GENERAL VIEW OF LANGUAGE

Study of Language long considered difficult--Its i--Not understood by Teachers--Attachment to old systems--Ies--Principles laid down--Orthography--Etyy-- Syntax--Prosody

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

It is proposed to co, a course of Lectures on the Grae I a this subject, occasioned not so much by any fault in itself, as by the thousand and one methods adopted to teach it, theto ”simplify” it, and the vast contrariety of opinion entertained by those who profess to be its masters By many it has been considered a needless affair, an unnecessary appendage to a coether beyond the reach of co, full of doubts and perplexities, where the wisest have differed, and the firinates, I apprehend, in the wrong view that is taken of the subject The e, if viewed from an unfavorable position I would be slow to believe that the means on which depends the whole business of the community, the study of the sciences, all ies of the world, social intercourse, oral or written, and, in a great e of God, and the hopes of ihtly explained, uninteresting in the acquisition In fact, on the principles I am about to advocate, I have seen the deepest interest rey-headed sire, from the mere novice to the statesman and philosopher, and all alike seemed to be edified and improved by the attention bestowed upon the subject

I confess, however, that with the rareeable The mind involuntarily reverts to the days of childhood, ere compelled, at the risk of our bodily safety, to commit to memory a set of arbitrary rules, which we could neither understand nor apply in the correct use of language