Year: 1859

81 From an article in the Alta California enti-
tied Variations of the English Language, by John
S. Hittell, y we copy the following


The STANDARD OF CORRECT ENGLIsH-In the
midst of so many variations, it is necessary that
there should be some standard by which to determ-
Inc what is correct and what is Incorrect and that
standard recognized by intelligent persons gen.
orally is to be found in the usage of our best con-
tempOraneous English-speaking society, which is
to be found in England. London has larger body
of refined society, and larger number of learned
men, than any other Anglo-Saxon city, and its au-
thority is acknowledged by nearly all English
speaking people, and has been confirmed by centu-
rles OF unquestloned sway over all who spoke the
language This eOntempOraneOus usage is to be
clearly distinguished from former usage; and
Webster showed himself to be ignorant of the force
of the rule when he declared he did in his first
editions, that bridegroom" and Feather" were
improper methods of spelling the words "bride-
gOom" and "lether" because these last were in
ancient times the generally recognized and etymo-
logically correct forms. The edition of Webster
now In use tells US that deaf should rhyme with
'leaf,'' because it did so rhyme in the time of
Chaucer; but really there is no logical foundation
for the because at all. If the standard of the
OrthOepy and Orthography of English is to be found
+ in the usage of England in the days of Chaucer,





rectly No chronological argument can avail against
usage when the latter clearly establishes the
ing OF a word. Astronomy and Astrology, Chem
lstry and Alchemy, Mutton and Sheep, would have
the same signifcatOns if etymolOgy were the STAN
dard of the meaning of words but usage is the
standard. and has authortively and finally decided
that those words shall have different signifcations
Again, the standard is in the usage of society;
one man can be permitted to determine what words
shall be and what shall not be admitted into the
language. Usually, men of high literary position
will coin no words save such may be actually
needed; and society will, as a general rule adopt
such coinage. Blackstone used r-cide 3" to
mean father who had killed his chilu but society
has not recognized his authority, and remains
bad English.


DR.. Webster, whose dictionaries have been more
extensively circulated in the United States than
those of all other authors disregarded the usage of
London in regard to many words, and preferred, in
some cases, the forms most prevalent in the United
States, and in other cases followed his own whims
1t is evident that if the authority of London is to
be abandoned, there can be no uniformity In the
language for, instead of having one standard, we
shall have multitude. Indeed, II Americans
should wish to establish American standard of
the language, they would be exceedingly puzzled
to find one. Boston, which justly claims to be the
centre of the largest and best literary society in
country follows the English usage and does the





best society of New York and Washington. By
following the usage of the less intelligent might
find peculiar provincial usage in every of our
large cities each different from all the others, and
all of about equal authority, or non-authority.
London has an immense literary predominence over
all the other Anglo-Saxon cities, and must long
preserve it, and it is folly to think of any rebellion
against it. Minor changes must take place in the
! language, and we may have our share in making
them, but these must be adopted by our English
| brethren before they can be entitled to unques
toned place in the language. We are of course
entitled to our local terms to express objects and
ideas which are not familiar elsewhere. Every
country and every trade must have words not need
ed beyond them. But when we come to ideas
equally familiar to all who speak the language,
should adhere to the best standard. The spirit Of
independence is admirable quality in its place,
but it should not show itself in attempts to cor
rupt our mother tongue.