New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-03-03
The English Language.
By REV. DIR. SCOTT, OF NswAnx

by REV. DR. scorr, OF NswAnx.
Last evening a lecture was delivered by
Rev DIR. scorr OF Newark, at the Reformed Dutch
Church in Ninthst, Broadway, upon the Enslish
Language, of which 1t was learned history aad anal
ysis. He discussed Its origin history, extent and
study in instructive and satisfactory manner and
was sttentiyely listened TO by intelligent audience
We give but sketch Of his remarks.
Speech IL the most wonderful OF the Arts God AMI
man are the associated authors Of IT, There are 5000
languages existing In the world all of which originated
from the first tongue spoken. This result has been
produced by various causes The Northern Languages
are hard, the Southern soft Language Is articulats
written and by gesture. Speech Is the medium IL
Thought an instrument which shapes thought. Pow
ers by means Of his chse lc his thoughts upon the
marble Speech Is Ike thar chsel.
The lecturer said that he should confne himself 10
the English snguage-snd the time allotted to lee
ture would allow but meager discussion Of the subject
He called the attention OF the audience to four propo
sitions pertaining to this Language
Its Territorial Limits.
Its Lineral Elements,
The Practical Value Of these Elements
The proper method Of Studying the Language
The English language Is spoken by great proper
ton Of the enlightened part Of the world. In Great
England and France, Gibraltar and vicinity at ii.
beris at Cape Of Good Hope, Ia Hndostan to great
extent In Australia which is the richest island Of tho
world and over the greater part Of the North Amer
can Continent it L. the language In use These arc
the keys of the world. These nations and localities
are of much importance TO the world In several re.
.peets. This language introduced into the Island
Of Greet Britain In the year 40 by rude tribes
the Angles and Saxons-from Hanover in Germany,
and their combination produced the Ango-9axon IL
was confined 10 them for over thousand years. In
GOO II sailed miles the American continent Of
which IL IL the language II Is destined 10 be the
tongue that will sway the sceptre OF the world. Tho
eneal elements Of the English language the Anglo
saxon, Celtic, Gothic Roman and Classic The Anglo
Saxon the base Of the language and consisted Of but
1000 or 800 words but IL has absorbed the other ele
ments until il IL swelled into q language OF 5000
words including its scientific terms. The Ango
vocabulary limited but valuable II comprised
simple expressive words-for instance those relst
ing to home, those defining the parts Of man,
those exexpressing the passions. The Anglo
Saxon "a by FAR the most economical and Wig.
orous element Of the language. John Bunyan dealt
mostly In It In writing Pilgrim. Progress Daniel Web.
ster appeared 10 undsrstsnd tie Of this element
and the speeches Of Thomas Beston dve the same
l In1lcSuOn lHe con4uest Oh bFedt bflh1 Dy Willlam
the Conqueror introduced the Norman element He es
tablshed the feada system and thus the nobility are
Of French extraction. The native language triunpbet
over the French, and In 1877 Law Sassed that the
Engish should be the established tongue. The Ian
/ gusge Of the common people was Angio-ssxon, the
nobility used the French the priests spoke Latin and
/ the natives the Celtic. After the Conquest ~ WI
liam, the classic element-eomposed 81 Lstia and
Greek-begsn to be introduced; bat this element has
been Incorporated principally since the Reformation
and La added the theological and seien'ihe words
Zach linesl element has Ire practical value and sppro
uriste scope of thought The Ango-5sxon element n
productive Of economy To thought. The speaker said
he eorIa H.ten an hour q discourse In which the
.pzlossxon slenaent most used, and feel refresh
ed :, s close; wheress istenDg for half TIA, time 70
,peeeh IN which this element u used In slight pro
| portion would excessively weary the hesrer. The
Enghsh language should be stsdied By IL hnesi ele-
I nnents Afer remsrkiDg 6. some length upon the
proper manner of the study Of the language In which
he recommended q close investisAfi Of the Anglo
ssxon element the lecturer closed by expressing the
opinion that the Esglsh language wss destined 10 be
the language Of the globe He hoped there wa TO b,
a new era, In which ts study vii bs pursued WI
an increased diligence