2SS The Study of Living Languages, [no. 4, new series. 
These may be a little longer than the first, as the student will 
be able to obtain a clear impression of a greater number of words 
together, but probably they should not exceed five. After this, 
the sets of sentences may consist of fewer upon each word, and 
perhaps only one upon each of the last two batches, and they may 
be lengthened gradually, the last being of any length. 
The essential points of these sentences are therefore, 
First, that they should be bona fide expressions commonly used 
in the language, and consequently tl\at they should be originally 
written in the language by a Native. 2nd, That they should be 
simple, ordinary, colloquial expressions, and tlierefore that they 
should not be written by learned men who w'ould probably spoil 
them. 3rd, That they should be extremely short, the first set not 
exceeding three words, and the others very gradually lengthened. 
4th, That there should be a large number of them in the first set 
of words, so as to make as much use as possible of those words 
before proceeding to new ones. 5th, That there should be as great 
a variety of expressions in the sentences as possible. 
In printing the sentences there should be, first, the Native words 
separately and in the proper character : 2nd, Under each of them 
the same word in the English character : 3rd, The most exact 
English meaning of each individual word ; and 4th, The full pow- 
er of the sentence freely given in English. 
The use of the Native character is, to enable a Native to teach 
from the book, who does not know English. 
As one great point in preparing these materials is, to provide 
for a person having to learn the language, with the help of Natives 
who do not understand English, or who are not thoroughly quali- 
fied teachers, it is desirable if possible that these sentences should 
have numerous notes subjoined, giving all the information that 
can be suggested by each sentence and that can in any way help 
to give the student an intelligent knowledge of the language. 
These notes should, if possible, be written by an intelligent Eng- 
lishman, who will know from his own experience what misaj^pre- 
hensions beginners are liable to form on account of their English 
