JULY— SEPT. 1857.] The Study of Lm?ig Languages, 210 
4th. A thorough knowledge of the whole grammar, so as to be 
able to give a formal rule for any thing when questioned. 
5th. And such a familiar knowledge of the idiom of the lan- 
guage as will enable one to write formal papers in a good 
style. 
The points that are of little or no consequence are, 
1st. Correct pronunciation. 
2nd. An extensive knowledge of the common expressions used 
in the ordinary busijiess of life. 
8rd. A perfect readiness at recognizing the w^ord by the sound 
when rapidly spoken. 
4th. The same inlforming sentences to express our own thoughts. 
Now, if we consider these things we shall perceive that the study 
of the dead languages and that of the living languages of semi-ci- 
vilized and barbarous nations are almost diametrically opposed in 
respect of the objects to be attained. The points that are essen- 
tial in the one are either non-essential, or of no importance whatever 
in the other and vice versa. A man may talk a language most 
fluently, correctly and usefully, for all the ordinary business of life, 
without knowing the character, without being able to quote a sin- 
gle rule of grammar, without the knowledge of half or three-fourths 
of the vocabulary of a language, and without any facility in com- 
prehending the involved sentences of formal writings of learned 
men ; while, without an accurate pronunciation, an ample acquaint- 
ance with the common colloquial expressions of uneducated people, 
and a most free and ready use of them, so that strangers can readi- 
ly catch his words and comprehend his meaning, and without an 
ear thoroughly exercised in the sounds of the language, so as at 
once to recognise what is spoken by a Native, he has entirely miss- 
ed his object, though he may know every word in the language and 
every rule of grammar, and be able to write an elegant essay with- 
out a mistake. Books of history, kc. do not furnish ^is with the 
expressions of ordinary conversation. Every country has its own 
peculiar forms and they must be learnt individually ; no rules can 
be given by which a student, who knows the words and grammar, 
can invent them himself. In semi-civilised countries, where not 
I 
