New-York tribune., 1905-11-17
THE HISTORY OF DIALECT.
With Special Reference to THE
English Dialect Grammar
ron, rTbe tendon Academy.

From The London Academy.
We have. first of all to congratulate Professor
Wright on the completion of the English D1a-
lect Dictionary, without the assistance OF which
the present work would have been impossible.
Since the foundation OF the EngLsn Dlaleel 20. 9
ciety in 1873 the work OF doing justice to the
history of our dialects has gone steadily for
ward through all its successive stages. First OF
all came the photography Of the books concerned
with the dialects and the publication of numer-
Gus dialect elossaries, both and old, by the
English Dialect Society from 1873 to 1896, IN
eighty volumes Next, the collection of addi-
tional words and Illustrative quotations by DR..
Smythe Palmer during the years 1886 to 1889:
Thirdly, the handing over OF all the material
collected up to that date to Dr. wright, VINO
soon discovered that the collections were still
insufficient, and likely to remain SO unless mucn
augmented. The next step was for him to enlist
the assistance of voluntary helpers the number
of which gradually increased till it exceeded six
hundred. In the whole history of the undertake
ing nothing was more satisfactory than this. A
movement begun in complete and implicit trust
in the power of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland to help itself. ultimately
met with response which exceeded all antici-
patton, and has proved, to the complete con-
among unselfish and almost fnexhaustipie
supply of unanimous patriotism which is capable
of steady devotion to any project that is De
signed for the common good. A nation tnat Is
capable Of producing such a thing as Dialect
Dictionary. in addition to a New Historical Die
tionary can hardly be twtted with being in a
stage of decadence but ought rather to be re-
garded by discerning minds as "an eagle muinq
her mighty youth, and lsindling her undazzled
eyes at the full midday beam.
The time of preparation of the material was,
in fact extended till 1896 and later so that the
first volume of the English Gd Dialect Dictionary
century after the work practically began.
Since that date II has advanced with great and
con1mendable rapidity, the sixth and last vol
i1n1e appearing in October of the present year.
This last volume contained, sort of Ap-
pendix, a Dialect Grammar, which is now re-
printed in q separate, smaller, and more hanoy
form under the title given above. 1t can pc
obtained independently Of the larger work.
TO a certain extent the scope of the Work
necessarily includes the NTH volume or Or.
Alexander John Ellis's work on Early Engiish
pronunciation. which appeared in 1889, and was
concerned with the subject of Existing ola
IectaI as compared with West Saxon pronuncia-
tioo'' But Professor Wright has by no means
been contented to annex the work of has preu-
ecessor or even to exhibit it in the same form.
He has gone all over the ground again VIII Win
the assistance of his numerous and deVoteo
helpers. adding largely TO all previous re
searches and constantly consulting the Word
forms already given in the Dictionary AIe
result is practically independent work. ar
ranged better plan ,.4,
an extremely difficult text containing many
doubtful words has been known IN rare N
ing n concordance Of the words employed IN
the text before presuming to print the SAME.
In like manner Professor Wright tells US t LIE.
athe material for this grammar was 50 great
that IL was found eSpedieDt TO compile ana prlue NJ
the Index Hrst, and then to write the gralln49ai 4
chiefly from the material contained IN the u II
dex." we find accordingly that the lnae&
occupies about four-sevenths of the BOOK laa aSe
is TO say nearly four hundred out OF the @ ooe
pages in the volume, Notwithstanding the I"c'
that il is printed in double columns
If Is needless to gild refined gold; and 1t woule
be almost ridiculous speak in terms OF pIai ~,
of this monumental work. 1t can hsFei s,o
s,iuerseded for the simple reason thal the VIC
lects are disappearing.
The writing OF this grammar was begun suie no asys ara
soon had it been delayed another LNsile LNeI.si 10
/ beiieye n would by then be quite lmpoSsiois
get together sufficient pure dialect nateIs IF the
he any one to give even O mere OUTING o. - ,bs
nhonoiogy of our dialects as they existed AZ 'i1
close OF the nneteenth century.