The daily gazette., 1876-05-03
For the Gazette.
Remarks O1t tie StudV of Lam
JBuyeS.


The study of languages, of all sub.
jects, deserves attention. II is one Of the
most interesting and agreeable that
can occupy the time of men of letters,
or engage the attention of those who
are desirous of appearing in society as
persons of liberal education. Its ac-
quisition commences with the cradle:
It's practical application terminates
only in death. On it's perfection de-
pends that of all human knowledge
Through it alone, social enjoyment
can be had, and mental requirements
be made. 1t need not therefore, excite
surprise, that the most eminent writers
and philosophers, have suggested
means for the acquisition OF languages
intellectual superiority results from
the harmonious development of all
mental powers. Sciences and arts
should concur with literature and Ian
guagcs in producing acultivated mind.
Method Is to instruction, what ma
chlnery is in manufacture. Languages
cannot be be acquired without gram
mar or method, as some professional
teachers pretend.
We do not find that human labor is
superseded, it is only better directed.
Men work as hard as ever, only thew
produce ten times more, and the task
is better Performed. Why then, not
apply TO mind, as we have long done
to matter, improved powers, improved
combinations and improved processes.
Let rational methou be adopted, and
we have no doubt that, by keeping
constantly in view, the real object OF
literary studies, and rejecting from
them whatever is useless, foreign Ian
guages, ancient and modern, may be
learned, not only concurrently with,
and subsequently to, scientific and H.
dustrial pursuits, but in such man
ner also, as to insure both their
complete possession and the incidental
benefits which arise from their study.
The Importance of the subject will
be our motive as well as our excuse
for entering into details, and for SUBJ
mltting the following remarks to the
attention of the reader:
1t is in the faculties of man, and in
their mode of action in the acc uisition
of knowledge, that we must ask for
the general principles on which the
science of method is based. The ap-
plication of these principles to any one
department OF instruction, constitutes
particular method, and varies accord
ing to the nature of the study and the
ends proposed. Contning our atten-
tion to the particular object of this
essay. we will here briefly examine
what are the characteristic features of
the method by which languages may
be best acquired.
| Classification is the fundamental law
of a rational method; we should ascer-
tain what things are to be learned, and
in what order they are to be learned,
before we think of the mode of learn%
ing them. The mind cannot effec-
lively attend the several distinct things
at the same time The study of lam
guage must therefore, be subdivided
into the branches which constitute the
leading objects proposed from it,
namely: The arts of understanding
oral expression, of reading, speaking
and writing. 1t is essential to distin-
guish these ultimate objects from the
exercises which, although requisite
for attaining them, are for the greater
part, of little utility after the period of
study. From want of sufficient dis
tinctlon on this point, the ends and the
means have often been confounded to.
gether, and the former sacrificed to the
latter. j. THlBAUT,
Teacher of modern languages, 100
| West Cd Street.