Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1882-03-03

Written for the SENTINEL
Origin and Growth Of Our Language.

While gathering choice sheaves from
the harvest fields of ancient literature,
we are too apt to neglect the study of
our own noble tongue The English
language, however, will furnish many
interesting subjects for research. Not
the least of these is the history of its
development from the rude speech Of
the Britons to the copious and express
sive language Of to-day. The oldest in
habitants of Great Britain wore the
Cclts (Kelts). At an early period these
people migrated from Asia and passed
on westward through southern Europe
into Spain and Gaul Prompted by
their rowing disposition, they at length
entered Great Britain. They were u
wandering race, who despised the re-
staints of civilized life, and preferred to
dwell in the forests and marshes, dressed
in the skins of wild animals, and care
less Of every thing but their cattle and
weapons. Their religion was of the
sterncst type, human sacrifices occa-
slonally forming u part of their cere-
monies, Only few words can be
traced back to these ancients, and they
are mainly the names of rivers, lakes
aud mountains. The modern represen-
tatives Of the Celtic are the Irish and
Welsh dialects. The next masters of
Great Britain were the Romans. In
b. G., So, Julius Caesar, impelled by
curiosity and lust of dominion, invaded
the island, defeated the Britons under
Cassivelaunus, and placed the country
in subsection to Rome. This naturally
caused quito a change in the manner Of
life of the natives. Roman habits were
adopted, towns sprang up, temples were
built, and little by little the people be-
came reconciled to their conquerors.
Latin was used by tho officials, civil and
military, and also by the Christian mis-
sionaries sent there from Italy. Thus II
number Of Latin words were added to
the language. These, however, have
almost all disappeared, and those that
remain have been varied in form; as
Gloucester for GleUde CASTRO, the fort Of
Gleva.
Owing TO the disorders at home, and
internal troubles, the Romans were com
PEELED TO evacuate the island about the
year 440, A. ID. At their departure
the Britons, rendered unable TO protect
themselves by their long period of SER
vtude, were attacked by tho PctS and
Scots who swarmed down upon them
from Caledonia. In this emergency,
Vortigerm, the principal native chief,
solicited aid from the Saxons. His re-
quest was granted, and in 449, A. D.,
Hengist and Horsa with their warriors
landed on the British shore. TO defeat
the piratical Caledonans was to the
Saxons an easy task, trained az they
were 10 the military art Having nc
complished this, aud being well pleased
with the country, they played the part
Of Ariovistus, and basely turned upon
their allies. The contest which ensued
was long and bloody. The Britons,
though fighting for liberty and home,
were no match for their fierce opponents
Many battles were fought, and hundreds
Of the natives fell victims to the Saxon
short sword. Finally, unable longer TO
contend in open field, they fed to the
mountain Businesses Natures protection
for the oppressed--and there found relief.
The country was placed under Saxon
government, and its name changed from
Britain to Angleland (England). Anglo.
Saxon then became tho popular language
and formed the basis Of the English.
In vigor and Significance it is unex-
celled II is now, as it was in the old
en- time, the language of proverbs, Of the
counting-house. and Of the home; il
fact, the speech of everyday life To
500 the superiority Of the Saxon over
Latin one has but to compare the two
How much more expressive is co~drdt,
than pusilianiD.Ous end than tern,ina
tion. The best authors use many more
words OF Saxon origin than derivatives
from other languages. For instance, il
one passage Of Fosters ESSAY on De
cision of Character, we find only nine
teen Latin words out Of sixty nine. Al
examination Of paragraph in Macau
lays celebrated conversation between
Milton aud Cowley showed one hundroc
and eight Saxon words to fifteen Latin
But to return 10 the history. Ate
the Saxon conquest there was caln
lasting until the year 1877 A. d., wheI
the Scandinavians began their incursions
A dcsultory warfare followed, ending i
the establishment Of scandinavian mon
archy. For twenty-six years they rule
the country, bat finally permitted tn
Saxon, Edward the Conquerer TO asccn