Oldalképek
PDF
ePub

speech, and his appreciation of the rules of Syntax. In the remainder of Part III. free use must be made of the pen, and all foreign words that are quoted in illustration of an English one must, as before, be written down. The sections upon Composition and Derivation (§§ 256 -289) may be omitted in the first reading.

Before entering upon the Syntax (Part IV.) the Etymology should be gone through twice, and the sections explanatory of the structure of propositions more than twice.

Such seems to the author the amount of time and attention requisite to obtain clear ideas in general grammar, and a knowledge in detail of the structure of the English language. Upon those points, where the attempt at explanation and illustration is most visible, such time and attention should more especially be bestowed. A few fundamental points familiarly understood serve as key to the rest. What these are, the teacher will collect from the degree to which the exposition of them is extended. Amongst others, it may be

necessary to indicate §§ 33, 37, 64, 65, 66, 52, 86—

100.

University College,

July 20th, 1843.

ENGLISH GRAMMAR.

PART I.

HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION.

§ 1. THE history of the English language, as spoken in England, begins in the year 449 a.d. In that year it began to be introduced into Britain from the continent of Europe. The portion of the continent from which it was introduced was Germany. In that part of Europe it had been spoken from times anterior to history, being the original language of the country. Respecting the English language in its earliest stage two points must be remembered. 1. That it was not the native language of Britain, and must not be called British. 2. That it was the native language of Germany; and that it is the languages of ancient Germany in the earliest, and of modern Germany in the present times, to which it is related.

§ 2. By referring to a map of Northern Germany we may mark the districts from which the English language was introduced into Britain; remembering, at the same time, that the date is the year 449 A.D. Beginning with the sea-coast, and starting from the north, at the province of Jutland, on the limits between Germany and

B

Denmark, we should remark the rivers Eyder, Elbe, Weser, Ems, and Rhine. It was from the line. of country between the first and last of these rivers that the English population of Britain was chiefly introduced. Particular notice should also be taken of the following provinces, viz. Jutland, Sleswick, Holstein, Friesland, and Westphalia.

§3. First settlement of invaders from Germany.-In the year 449 A.D. the invaders from Northern Germany made the first permanent settlement in Britain. Ebbsfleet, in the Isle of Thanet, was the spot where they landed; and the particular name that these tribes gave themselves was that of Jutes. Their leaders were Hengist and Horsa. Six years after their landing they had established the kingdom of Kent; so that the county of Kent was the first district where the original British was superseded by the mother-tongue of the present English, introduced from Germany.

§ 4. Second settlement of invaders from Germany.— In the year 477 A.D. invaders from Northern Germany made the second permanent settlement in Britain. The coast of Sussex was the spot whereon they landed. The particular name that these tribes gave themselves was that of Saxons. Their leader was Ella. They established the kingdom of the South Saxons (Sussex); so that the county of Sussex was the second district where the original British was superseded by the mother-tongue of the present English, introduced from Northern Germany.

§ 5. Third settlement of invaders from Germany.—In the year 495 A.D. invaders from Northern Germany made the third permanent settlement in Britain. The coast of Hampshire was the spot whereon they landed.

Like the invaders last mentioned, these tribes were Saxons. Their leader was Cerdic. They established the kingdom of the West Saxons (Wessex); so that the county of Hants was the third district where the original British was superseded by the mother-tongue of the present English, introduced from Northern Germany.

§ 6. Fourth settlement of invaders from Germany. A. D. 530, certain Saxons landed in Essex; so that the county of Essex was the fourth district where the original British was superseded by the mother-tongue of the present English, introduced from Northern Germany.

§ 7. Fifth settlement of invaders from Germany. — These were Angles in Norfolk and Suffolk. This settlement, of which the precise date is not known, took place during the reign of Cerdic in Wessex. The fifth district where the original British was superseded by the mother-tongue of the present English was the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk; the particular dialect introduced being that of the Angles.

§ 8. Sixth settlement of invaders from Germany. — In the year 547 A.D. invaders from Northern Germany made the sixth permanent settlement in Britain. The south-western counties of Scotland, between the rivers Tweed and Forth, were the districts where they landed. They were of the tribe of the Angles, and their leader was Ida. The south-western parts of Scotland constituted the sixth district where the original British was superseded by the mother-tongue of the present English, introduced from Northern Germany.

§ 9. A general idea of the quarters from whence the invaders from Germany originated has been given in the

B 2

« ElőzőTovább »