:>3S The Study of Living Languages, [no. 4, new series, 



These may be a little longer than the first, as the student will 

 he ahle 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 that they should be originally 

 written in the language by a Native. 2nd, That they should be 

 simple, ordinary, colloquial expressions, and therefore that they 

 should not be written by learned men who would 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 misappre- 

 hensions beginners are liable to form on account of their English 



