(J2 GLOSSOLOGY. 



minor dialects. These are also called Teutonic ; from the Teutones, 

 who migrated south from the Danish islands, and claimed descent 

 from Tuiscon or Thuisco, an ancient god or hero. The term Teu- 

 tonic, is also sometimes applied to a supposed ancient language, from 

 which those of this family are said to have been derived. The Runic 

 alphabet, containing 16 characters, some vestiges of which are sup- 

 posed to have been found in America, as proofs of its discovery by 

 the Northmen, appears to have been used by the Scandinavians, and 

 Germans, from A. D. 1200, or earlier, to about 1449. 



The English language, clearly belongs to the Gothic family ; both 

 from its grammatical construction, and the origin of a large majority 

 of its words. As England was originally inhabited by the Celts 

 or Gaels ; then passed for a time under the Roman yoke ; was 

 next overrun by the Saxons from Germany ; subjugated afterwards 

 by the Danes, whose language was like the Saxon ; and finally con- 

 quered by the Normans, from the northern part of France : our 

 language, therefore consists chiefly of Teutonic or German words 

 from the Saxons ; mingled with a few Celtic words from the abori- 

 gines; with still more of Latin from the Romans; and of French 

 from the Normans ; to which have been added occasional words 

 from the Greek, Hebrew, Arabic, German, French, Spanish and 

 Italian ; introduced by travellers, artists, or philosophers. Thus, 

 our terms of war, are chiefly from the French; and of music, from 

 the Italian ; many of which still retain their foreign form. Our 

 language, as we have already mentioned, was first permitted to be 

 used instead of the Latin, in courts of justice, under Edward III., 

 in the year 1362. 



The English language is irregular, and heterogeneous; but simple 

 in its construction ; and strong, flexible, copious, and expressive 

 in its diction ; worthy of a free and intelligent race. It contains 

 about 60,000 words ; including technical terms, but excluding proper 

 names. Of these, there are probably 30,000 nouns; 10,000 

 adnouns ; 12,000 verbs; and 5,000 adverbs; not to mention the 

 minor parts of speech. The English alphabet, is like most others, 

 imperfect; containing some superfluous letters; while there are 

 some sounds, particularly of the vowels, for which it presents no 

 separate character. It may be of interest to observe, for example, 

 that in the last syllables of the words cedar, wafer, nadir, honor, 

 sulphur, and zephyr, the vowels a, e, i, o, u, and y are all sounded 

 alike. The preceding chapter on General Grammar, though explain- 

 ing the principles of language in general, has a special reference to 

 English Grammar ; which, as the subject ought to be familiar, will, 

 we trust, excuse any farther notice of our own language in this 

 place. 



The Saxon language, though now obsolete, is interesting, as the 

 basis of the modern English. As Saxon words are often quoted 

 in our Etymological Dictionaries ; we have thought it advisable to 

 introduce the Saxon alphabet, with its peculiar characters, in this 

 place. It is evidently borrowed in part from the Roman alphabet; 

 and was used, we believe, by King Alfred, in his translation of the 

 Psalms into the Saxon tongue. 



