Some Writings on Grammar and the Use of Language
James Harris, Hermes: or a Philosophical Inquiry Concerning Language and Universal Grammar (1751)
’Tis a phrase often apply’d to a man, when speaking, that he speaks his MIND; as much as to say, that his Speech or Discourse is a publishing of some Energie or Motion of the Soul....The VULGAR merged in Sense from their earliest Infancy, and never once dreaming any thing to be worthy of pursuit, but what pampers their Appetite, or fills their Purse, imagine nothing to be real, but what may be tasted, or touched.
James Greenwood, an Essay towards a Practical English Grammar (1711)
The Preface.
I need not, I hope, make any Apology for publishing a Grammar of our Mother Tongue, since it is too plain and evident, how necessary a Performance of the Nature is, and especially for those Persons, who talk for the most part just as they have heard their Parents, Nurses, or Teachers, (who likewise may happen to be none of the best Speakers) talk; without ever taking the Matter into any farther Consideration: It is indeed possible that a young Gentleman or Lady may be enabled to speak pretty well upon some Subjects, and entertain a Visiter with Discourse that may be agreeable enough: Yet I do not well see how they should write any thing with a tolerable Correctness, unless they have some tast of Grammar, or express themselves clearly, and deliver their Thoughts by Letter or otherwise, so as not to lay themselves open to the Censure of their Friends, for their blameable Spelling or false Syntax.
For which reason after several others, I have endeavour’d to explain the Principles of Grammar in such a perspicuous and familiar way, as may rather incite, than discourage the Curiosity of such who would have a clear Notion of what they speak or write. And herein I have had regard to three things: In the first place, I was desirous to do what in me lay, to excite Persons to the Study of their Mother Tongue. Secondly, to give such a plain and rational Account of Grammar, as might render it easy and delightful to our English Youth, who have for a long time esteemed the Study of this Useful Art very irksome, obscure and difficult: And this their wrong and hard Notion seems to have proceeded, partly from the unpleasing and disadvantageous Manner it has been deliver’d to them in, and partly through the want of having every Thing explain’d and clear’d up to their Understanding as they go along: Not to mention the Teaching them Grammar in Latin, before they have learn’t any thing of it in English. And every Body must readily grant that the way to come to a true and clear Knowledge of any Art, is to explain Things unknown, by Things that are known. And I dare be bold to say, that if the Grammar of our own Tongue was first Taught in our Schools, our Youth would in a far less time, than they now commonly do, attain an Understanding of the Latin tongue, and also be better prepared for the Study of Things. My third Aim that I had in writing this Treatise was, to oblige the Fair Sex whose Education perhaps, is too much neglected in this Particular.
Art of Speaking, translated from the French of Messieurs du Port Royal (1676, 2nd end, 1708)
The best Expressions grow low and degenerate, when profan’d by the populace, and applied to mean things. The use they make of them, inflecting them with a mean and abject Idea, causes that we cannot use them without sullying and defiling those things, which are signified by them.
But it is no hard matter to discern between the depraved Language of common people, and the noble refin’d expressions of the Gentry, whose condition and merits have advanced them above the other.
James Harris, Hermes: or a Philosophical Inquiry Concerning Language and Universal Grammar (1751)
’Tis a phrase often apply’d to a man, when speaking, that he speaks his MIND; as much as to say, that his Speech or Discourse is a publishing of some Energie or Motion of the Soul....The VULGAR merged in Sense from their earliest Infancy, and never once dreaming any thing to be worthy of pursuit, but what pampers their Appetite, or fills their Purse, imagine nothing to be real, but what may be tasted, or touched.