july — sept. 1857.] The Study of Living Languages. 229 



with this foundation, it is not in any way an assistance in acquir- 

 ing it, and it is a great hindrance. A child uses his language freely 

 and correctly without knowing a letter. The character has no con* 

 nection with the prommciation of a language, which must be learnt by 

 the ear alone, and the sounds so acquired are just as well repre- 

 sented by the student's own letters as by any others. Neither is a 

 knowledge of almost the whole language necessary to it, the words 

 in common use about ordinary matters form only a very small pro- 

 portion of the words of a language, and three-fourths of the words 

 which occur in the books ordinarily read are of no use whatever 

 to the beginner ; they are on the contrary the greatest hindrance 

 to him by preventing his thoroughly learning those that he ought 

 to have a familiar use of. Let us recapitulate the things necessary 

 to form a sound foundation. 



1st. A small vocabulary thoroughly known and become as fa- 

 miliar as the words of one's mother tongue. 



2nd. An accurate pronunciation of these and the organs of speech 

 thoroughly exercised in them, so that they can be spoken with per- 

 fect freedom. 



3rd. So much grammar as is necessary to put these words to- 

 gether in short simple forms of expression. 



4th. An ear so thoroughly exercised in the sounds of the com- 

 monest words as spoken by a Native that they can be instantly re- 

 cognized when heard. 



5th. The knowledge of a considerable stock of the commonest 

 expressions of the language, so that the words known can be made 

 into bona, fide sentences. 



When such a foundation has been laid, the student has only to 

 proceed to add more words, more grammar and more expressions 

 by degrees, only taking care to learn nothing but what is imme- 

 diately wanted and to learn thoroughly whatever is learnt at all. 

 "When considerable progress has thus been made, he may proceed 

 to learn the character if he requires it and to read books, &c. 



Let us now consider more particularly the second main point, 

 viz., to save time. 



