The universal geography : earth and its inhabitants

38
THE BEITISH ISLES.
tions?* English writers consequently congratulate themselves upon having delivered
their language from a " superannuated system of flexions." They are by no means
sorry that in some respects it should resemble the monosyllabic, and in others the
agglutinate languages.f The want of conciseness is felt so much that in ordinary
conversation a long word is sometimes reduced to a single syllable, and initial
letters are substituted for proper names and titles. " What other language is there
so expressive and concise," says Ampere, " as that in which clog means ' to follow
some one's track like a dog in pursuit of its prey,' or where, in familiar language,
cut conveys the meaning of ' appearing not to know some one in order to break off
an undesirable acquaintanceship ? ' " Poetical language is hardly ever capable
of being translated, and this applies more especially to English. The language
of Shakspere, Tennyson, and Byron is rich, powerful, vigorously precise, and
picturesque to such a degree that the task of adequately conveying its meaning in
other tongues is almost a hopeless one. All its vigour vanishes in the process
of translation, and there remains but a body without a framework.
The ordinarj^ speech of an Enghshman, however, strikes a foreigner as being
anything but agreeable. He misses the distinct pronunciation of vowels, and finds
it monotonous, abounding in sibilants and even " explosives." There is none of the
sonorousness of the Southern languages, or of the clearness and pure pronunciation
of the French. No other language presents similar anomalies in its orthography,
which etymology and a respect for tradition have caused to be adhered to, although
in many instances it no longer corresponds with the language as it is spoken. Will
the excess of the evil bring about its cure, as several men of thought and intelli-
gence expect ? t At all events a reform of English spelling would facilitate the
acquisition of the language by foreigners, and improve its chances of becoming one
day the language of the entire world. There are bilingual countries even now
where the children at school are taught both languages, in order that they may
converse with all their fellow-countrymen. Would it be impossible to introduce
this system into every country of the world, and to teach an international language,
such as English, in addition to the mother tongue, embodying the national genius
and its aspirations ?
In the meantime civilisation in an English guise is rapidly gaining ground in
every part of the world, and mainly through the agency of its language. What
then, we may ask, is the ideal type of the powerful nation whose sons, scattered
broadcast over the face of the earth, essay to remodel mankind on the pattern of
Old England ? What moral influence has it already exercised upon other men,
and what good or evil fruit is it likely to bear in the future ?
The Englishman combines in a vigorous individuality the characteristics of the
Celt, the German, and the Dane. He is, above all others, distinguished for strength
of will, energy, and tenacity. He has something of the nature of the mastifi", which
would rather be cut to pieces than let go his hold. Military history abounds in
* Blichel Brcal, " Melanges de Mj-thologie et de Linguistique."
t Sweet, " Language and Thought." Elie Reclus, " Ethnography " (" Encyclopaedia Britannica ").
X Max MtiUer, " On Spelling " {Fortnighthj Review, vol. xix. New Series).