406 M. A. de CandoUe oii the Advantage 



&c., they would satisfy a public dispersed over tlie whole 

 world, and particularly the numerous Germans who understand 

 English. Yet we are but at the beginning of the numerical 

 preponderance of the English-speaking populations. 



The nature of a language does not, at first sight, appear to 

 have very great influence on its diffusion. French was pre- 

 ferred for two centm'ies ; and yet Italian was quite as clear, 

 more elegant, more harmonious, had more affinity with Latin, 

 and, for a length of time, had possessed a remarkable literature. 

 The number, the activity of the French, and the geogi-aphical 

 position of their country were the causes of their preponderance. 

 Yet the qualities of a language, especially those preferred by 

 the moderns, are not without their influence. At the present 

 time briefness, clearness, grammatical simplicity are admired. 

 Nations, at least those of our Indo-European race, began by 

 speaking in an obscure complicated manner; in advancing they 

 have simplified and made their language more precise. Sanscrit 

 and Basque, two very ancient languages, are exceedingly 

 complicated. Greek and Latin are so in less degree. The 

 languages derived from Latin are clothed in clearer and simpler 

 forms. I do not know how philosophers explain the pheno- 

 menon of the complication of language at an ancient period ; 

 but it is unquestionable. It is more easy to understand the 

 subsequent simplifications. When a more easy and convenient 

 method of acting or speaking has been arrived at, it is natu- 

 rally preferred. Besides, civilization encourages individual 

 activity ; and this necessitates short words and short sentences. 

 The progress of the sciences, the frequent contact of persons 

 speaking diflerent languages, and who find a difficulty in 

 understanding each other, lead to a more and more imperious 

 need for clearness. You must have received a classical edu- 

 cation to avoid the perception of absurdity in the construction 

 of an ode of Horace. Translate it literally to an uneducated 

 workman, keeping each word in its place, and it will have to 

 him the effect of a building the entrance-door of which is on 

 the third story. It is no longer a possible language, even in 

 poetry. 



Modern languages have not all, to the same degree, the 

 advantages now demanded, of clearness, simplicity, and 

 briefness. 



The French language has shorter words and less complicated 

 verbs than the Italian : this, in all probability, has contributed 

 to its success. The German has not undergone the modern 

 evolution by which each sentence or portion of a sentence 

 begins with the principal word. Words are also cut in tAvo 

 and the fragments dispersed. It has three genders, v/liereas 



