New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1866-03-08
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
BAD ENGLISH.


England, every woId-fancer was up III arms, ana a
great battle of phrases began OF which We have not
vet come TO the end In the present enlarged edi-
lion Of which a large number Of copies have been
already printed, Dean Afford defends himself
against host of opponents, and maintains MS
ground on various points of verbal criticism WIN
not q little energy and very agreeable vein OF or!
humor. He is such an accomplished master OF ihe
subiect that no can afford 10 treat IT IN playful
manner without losing his dignity, and the kindly
controversial tone in which he INDUCES adds much
IN the spiciness of the discussion The volume is
mainly devoted to an exposure of the common NO
lations of pure English idiom when preVaii more
OF less in good society, and are often found III the
productions of esteemed popular writers. For the
most part, we think Dean Afford is correct IN his
strictures ON certain popular forms of faulty OK
preston, and where his remarks may be called III
question: they do not fail TO be suggestive of sound
principles and often Of valuable information. The
errors which he points out are OF frequent occur
renee among ourselves. We initiate our English
teachers and models, even in their mistakes Inc
comments Of such an acute and accomplished
scholar as Dean Afford will lie Of good service to
the cause of pure English in this country. We
IRE therefore glad to find the present volume among
the publications of a New-Yorb house, and heartily
recommend it to our stud .nts Of Lowth, Lindey
Murray, and Good Brown, in spite OF its bitter and
prejudiced attacks on our national character. The
author goes ont of his way 10 indulge III severe
condemnation of the cruel and nnprncipled war
in support of the American Government without
being aware how justly his epithets may be applied
10 the leaders Of the rebellion. But we have no
disposition to quarrel with his phology on account
of his politics. He NAV b. sound grammarian
although lie is no statesman. Nor will We turn the
tables upon him. by collecting the traits of English
character which might exhibit il in a no less odous
light than that in which he attempts TO paint the
Americans On subject OF purely scholarly in.
terest, such mutual accusations seem to us TO be
sadly out of place.
We prefer TO follow the author in his keen anu
often amusing dissection OF some Of the proniinen.
mistakes in English construction and pronuncia-
ton, His remarks on the false uso of the asPiratc
have almost exclusive application TO the habits OF
English speakers. This vulcarism seldom, If ever,
heard in this country except from the mouths OF
English residents or travellers, is not confined 10
sons of low breeding and inferior education
although it is not unfrequently heard in the better
circles of society. The story has been often re-
peated of the barber who remarked 10 a customer il
his hands, that he thought the cholera was in the
hair. "Then you ought to be very careful whai |
brushes you rsc" was the reply. "Oh, sir" says |
the barber, laughing, d" didn't mean the ar of the
cd, but the bar of the hatm0splere." The author |
himself while waiting in railway refreshmcnt
room heard one of two commercial gentlemen, from
neighboring table, telling his friend that his ed
used TO take ready to burst A whimsicalincident
is related by the Dean which happened at the house
Of some of his own friends. They had asked to
dinner certain acquaintance who were not perfect
in their aspirates. On making their appearance
rather late the family were thrown into consterna
ton by the apology of the lady who said that she
was very sony they after their time, but they
had some ale by the way. The worthy paterismil- |
las and his spouse did not recover from their |
establishment until il occurred TO them that their
tardy visitors had been detained by storm and
not by tpple. This vulgarism does not escape |
the shapest satire of the author He even protests
against ospital erb, and HmbLe as all Of them very
offensive, but the last Of them by far the worst |
especially when used by an officiating clergyman.
CURIOUS reason is given by one Of his correspond |
ents for not accepting hisScensure of dropping the
aspirate in the word hospital, who says " no one in
Ireland, so far as / am aware, ever thinks Of
separating the h in that word" This, the Dean |
observes reminds him Of an American friend who |
after spending two or three days with his family,
ventured upon the candid criticism that they oil
"spoke witha strong English accent" Another droll
illustration quoted by the author will bear repeating
Z" A student at one Of our military academies had
copied drawing ola scene in Venice and IN copying
the title he had spelt the name of the city VeHnice
The drawing master put his pen through the super
fuous letter. observing, Don't you know, Sir, there
is but one lien in VcniceF On which the youth
burst out laughing Being asked what he was
laughing about, he replied he thinking hoo nm
commonly scarce eggs must he there The master,
in wrath reported him to the colonel in command
Scotchman. He on hearing the disrcspectful re-
ply, without in the least perceiving the point OF the
joke, observed, An q varrs natural observation
too"
Nearly as bad fault dropping the aspiraie, i'll
not one, is the sounding words ending with
or as if they ended with ar. "A correspan.
dent" says the Dean, accustomed apparently ~ |
attend the Houses Of Parliament, sends me strong
remons,rance against this practice. He says, Woe
floor with aithes :" the laughter is open and mer-
CHESS: but honorable members may talk Of the
"aurr Of the land, or scowa he idear with per-