jxjly — sept. 1857.] The Study of Living Languages, 219 



4 tli. 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 business of life. 

 Srd. A perfect readiness at recognizing the word by the sound 



when rapidly spoken. 

 4th. The same in forming 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, &c. do not furnish us 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 



