Permiffion they obtain'd, foon turn'd into Custom, and made it current Latin. I am inform'd that the* ENGLISH refuse no Words that fit their Purpose; but * I hope it will not be thought a vain Digreffion, if I Step a-little afide to recommend to the Gentlemen of our Nation, the forming of fuch an Affembly, [as the French ACADEMY.] I know indeed that the English Genius is not fo airy and difcourfive, as that of fome of our Neighbours; but that we generally love to have Reafon fet-out in plain undeceiving Expreffions; as much as they to have it deliver'd with Colour and Beauty. And befides this, I underftand well enough that they have one great Affiftance to the Growth of Oratory, which to us is wanting; that is, that their Nobility live commonly close together in their Citys; and ours for the most part scatter'd in their CountryHoufes whereas it is from the frequent Converfations in Citys, that the Humour, and Wit, and Variety and Elegance of Language, are chiefly to be fetch't. But yet notwithstanding thefe Difcouragements I fhall not stick to say that fuch a PROJECT is now feasonable to be fet on-foot; and may make a great Reformation in the Manner of our Speaking and Writing. First, the Thing it-felf is no way contemptible. For, the Purity of Speech, and Greatness of Empire, have in all Countrys ftill met together. The Greeks Spoke beft when they were in their Glory of Conqueft. The Romans made thofe Times the Standard of their Wit, when they fubdu'd, and gave Laws to the World: And from thence by degrees they declin'd to Corruption; as their Valour, their Prudence, and the Honour of their Arms did decay and at laft did even meet the Northern Nations half-way in Barbarism, a little before they were over-run by their Armys. But befides, if we obferve well the English Language, we fhall find, that it seems at this time more than others, to require fome fuch Aid, to bring it to its laft Perfection. The Truth is, it has been hitherto a little too carelessly handled; and, I think, has had lefs Labour spent about its polifhing, than it deferves. Till the Time of King Henry the Eighth, there was fcarce any Man regarded it but Chaucer; and nothing was written in it which one wou'd be willing to read twice, but fome of his Poetry. But then it began to but borrow freely from any of their Neighbours. Such a Practice is very allowable. In this Cafe, mere Use makes a Language common to all Men. Words are but Sounds that we arbitrarily use to exprefs our Thoughts: and these Sounds are in themselves of no Value. All People have the fame Right to use them. What matter is it then, whether a Word belongs originally to our Language, or comes from a foreign Country? It wou'd be very childish to take any Exception at fuch a Trifle as the Manner of moving our Lips, and fhaking the Air. Befides, we have no Pretence for infifting upon this falfe Point of Honour. Our P to raise it-felf a-little, and to found tolerably well. From that Age down to the beginning of our late Civil Wars, it was still fashioning and beautifying it-felf. In the Wars themselves it receiv'd many fantastical Terms, which were introduc'd by our Religious Sects; and many outlandish Phrafes, which feveral Writers and Tranflators, in that great Hurry brought in and made free as they pleas'd; and withal it was inlarg'd by many found and neceffary Forms, and Idioms which it before wanted. And now when Men's Minds are fomewhat fettled, their Paffions allay'd, and the Peace of our Country gives us the Oppor tunity of fuch Diverfions; if fome fober and judicious Men wou'd take the whole Mafs of our Language into their Hands, as they find it, and wou'd fet a Mark on the ill Words ; correct thofe which are to be retain'd; admit and eftablish the good; and make fome Emendations in the Accent, and Grammar: I dare pronounce that our Speech wou'd quickly arrive at as much Plenty, as it is capable ta receive; and at the greatest Smoothness, which its Deriva tion from the rough German will allow it. History of the Royal Society, p. 41, 420 Our Language is only a Mixture of Greek, Latin, and Teutonick, with fome confus'd Remains of the Gaulish. Now feeing the main Stock of it is borrow'd from other Tongues; why fhou'd we, through a groundlefs Shame, deny ourselves the Liberty of borrowing what Words we ftill want to enrich our Language? We ought to take from all Quarters, whatever we need to render it more clear, more exact, more harmonious, and more concife for all Circumlocution weaken's a Difcourfe. 'Tis true the Choice of fuch Words as ought to be authoriz'd, fhou'd be left to Perfons of a juft Taste and approv❜d Difcernment. Latin Words feem to be fitteft for this Purpose: For, they found agreeably; and depend on other Words, that are already French. People's Ears are accuftom'd to them: there's but one Step wanting to make them current; and that is, their having an agreeable Terinination given them. When the introducing of new Words is left to Chance, or to ignorant People, or the Fancys of Women; they admit feveral Terms that are neither fo clear, nor fo finooth as were to be wish't. I own that if without a prudent deliberate Choice, we fhou'd haftily adopt a great Number of foreign Words, we Thou'd make our Language a confus'd unpolish't unpolish't Medly of other Tongues of a quite different kind: As ill-digefted Food adds to the Mafs of Blood, an unfutable Mixture of Parts that rather corrupt, than recruit it. But we must remember, that we have but just thrown-off that unciviliz'd Manner which was as antient as our Nation. Sed in longum tamen ævum Manferunt, hodieque manent veftigia ruris. Serus enim Græcis admovit acumina chartis. Some will perhaps object that the ACADEMY has not Power to make a new Term current; and that the Publick may oppofe it. I remember the Inftance of TIBERIUS, that formidable Mafter of the Roman's Lives; who made himfelf ridiculous by affecting to introduce the Word Monopolium. However, I believe that the Publick wou'd readily fhew a Deference to fuch a difcreet Authority as the Academy wou'd ufe. Why might not we effect what the English do every day: When ye find the Want of a Word, chufe one that found's fweetly, and is not in the least ambiguous; one that is agreeable to our Language, and will help to abridge Difcourfe: Every-one will perceive the Convenience of fuch a Word. Let four or five Perfons use it modeftly in familiar Conversation; others will reP 2 peat HOR. Ep. L. II. HOR. de Ar. Poet. *.47-- Ibid. peat it, through a love of Novelty: and then it becomes fafhionable. Thus a Path that one opens in a Field, foon becomes a beaten Way, when the old Path is rugged and fartheft about. Befides new and fimple Words, we want fome compounded ones, and Phrafes in which the Art of joining Words together, that were always us'd a-part, might produce a graceful Novelty. Dixeris egregiè, notum fi callida verbum Thus the Latins faid Velivolum in one tenuis autufque ferendis. The Nations that live in a mild Climate relish ftrong and bold Metaphors less than the People of hot Countrys do. Our Language wou'd foon become copious, if those who are in greatest Repute for Politenefs endeavour'd to introduce fuch Expreffions, (either fimple, or figurative) as we have hitherto wanted. S. IV. |