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Rise, Progress, and Present Structure of the English Language
Rise Progress and Present Structure of the English Language Author:Matthew Harrison General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1856 Original Publisher: E.C. and J. Biddle Subjects: English language Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to ... more »Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. Excerpt: SECTION II. SOURCES OF CORRUPTION. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION OF FOREIGN TERMS, PHRASES, AND IDIOMS. Foreign Terms. In the time of Chaucer, the French language flowed in copiously upon the Anglo-Saxon. His popularity as a poet gave authority to the introduction of new terms. "He was, indeed," says an ancient author, "a great mingler of English with French, unto which by like, for he was descended of French, or rather Wallon race, he carried a great affection." " And he hadd6 be long time in clievachie, In Flanders, and Artois, and Picardie." Cant, Tales. Again: -- " And to ben holden digne of reverence." Ibid. "Of which achetours mighten take ensample." Ibid. This propensity acquired for Chaucer the nickname of " The French Brewer." Besides introducing French terms, Chaucer accented many of his syllables after the French form, and made dissyllables out of monosyllables; a principle quite contrary to the genius of the English language, and, as it has proved, incapable of sustaining itself: -- " A clerke there was of Oxenforde also, That unto Logicke hadd6 long ygo. And lene was his horse, as is a rake, And he was not right fat, I undertake." Cant. Tales. Some excuse may be found for the introduction of French terms by Chaucer, in the comparative poverty of the English language at the time in which he lived. What might even be excusable in his day would be an affected and mischievous principle in the present state of our language. If the French invent some new instrument, as guillotine or bayonet, we use the same te...« less