NATURE OF ROOTS AND WORDS. 523 



an extent as to constitute any departure from it an anomaly, or even 

 irregularity.* 



Variations of form in the same word, within the limits of one and 

 the same language, have of course been greatly reduced in number by 

 the stereotyped character of written speech, and its difiPusion in this 

 form by the printing press. Still such duplicate forms are by no 

 means rare. We write inquiry or enquiry ; a few years ago we called 

 a telegraphic message a telegra^A or telegram ; and English lexico- 

 gi'aphers differ widely as to the spelling of a large number of words. 

 Vulgar spelling is, of course, infinitely more fluctuating. If we turn 

 to an older language, such as Latin, for examples, we have scores of 

 such duplicate forms as adfero and ciffero, adlatwni and allatum, &c., 

 (fee. Nicknames constitute another variation of form of the same 

 word. The English language is particularly rich in nicknames that 

 differ widely from the original, e.g., Dick or Dickon for Richard ; 

 Harry, Hal, Hank, for Henry ; Robin and Bob for Robert ; Jennie, 

 Jeannie, Jane, for Johanna, (fee, <fec. The German furnishes Hinz 

 for Heinrich and Kunz for Conrad, and in the southern dialects Seppi 

 for Joseph, Nazerl for Ignatius, and a host of others. To these may 

 be added varieties of surnames, e.g., Rohinson, Robertson, Rohison, 

 Robeson and Robson ; Boyce and Boys, (fee. In point of pronunciation 

 and accentuation, usage is equally fluctuating. So we still hesitate 

 between either and either, and within a short time great variations 

 occur. Similarly accent varies in a short time, and in individual 

 usage. Bdlconyf seemed barbarous a few decades ago ; and with 

 regard to another word, I may say (almost) with Ingoldsby : 



" 'Re-main-der some style it ; while others revile it 

 As bad, and say re-mainder — 'tisn't worth while, it 

 Would seem, to dispute, when we know the result immat- 

 erial — I accent, myself, the penultimate." 



The variations of pronunciation, both of vowels and consonants, in 

 different dialects of the same language, are too familiar to require 

 illustration. The South German and the Saxon are notoriously 

 incapable of distinguishing p from b, or t from d ; the Alsatian makes 

 his b, when between two vowels, into a v, and says aver for aber ; as 

 the Spaniard makes his d into dh, or even I (Madrid pronounced 

 Madridh, or Madril, whence Madrileno, "a citizen of Madrid") ; and 

 the Cockney scatters his A's about most recklessly. 



* Cf. Geiger, Urspr. d. Spr. p. 78, et seqq. 



t Max Miiller, Lectures, Ac, First Series, p. 36. 



