250 The Study of Livhig Languages, [xo. 4, new series^ 
are fully acquired. Yet it will be of some use to look occasionally 
into a short grammar containing t'ue inflexions of words. 
5tb, " Begin to talk, though with stammering lips, as soon as 
possible, the very first day. Never speak English to a Native if 
vou can help it. Why say salt, when you know the word, Ujjpu ? 
Do not be afraid of making mistakes." ^ 
This rule contains the very essence of the ordinary system, or 
rather of the old notions. It is diametrically opposed to the 
universally acknowledged and universally applicable principle. 
" Whatever is habitual is easy." It is always easier to do a thing 
the second time than the first. My principle is," Be afraid of one 
0 
thing, making mistakes. Every time that a mistake is made, 
^ne step more is taken towards a confirmed habit of makicg that 
mistake. Why do men in talking English as their own language 
go on putting Ks in the wrong places and leaving them out 
all their lives, in spite of their getting into a difi'erent class of 
society, where they continually hear the correct pronunciation in 
this respect, without ever being corrected : Because by habit 
their perceptions have been so blunted that they never per- 
ceive that they make a mistake. Do we not keep this prin- 
ciple of avoiding mistakes in view in almost all other cases 
excepting this : Do we set a child to make a rude imitation of 
some letter and then leave him to repeat it without a standard ? 
or, do we insist upon his incessantly looking at a standard, and 
never making one written letter without trying to imitate that 
standard which is placed before his eyes : 
My principle therefore is, never, attempt to guess at any thing, 
whether it is a sound, or word, or an expression. Take the most 
efi'ective steps you can to prevent your ever " making a mistake." 
Is there not enough work to do to learn the real language, that 
you must take measures to oblige yourself to add to it the un- 
learning of your own mistakes r Every time you pronounce a 
word wrong you have that to unlearn. On no account therefore 
attempt to speak in the proper sense of that word till you are 
established in 
1st. A sound pronunciation. 
