A History of English Language

A history of the english language 268
Of almost equal importance in representing this point of view, and perhaps more
influential in giving it currency, was George Campbell, whose Philosophy of Rhetoric
(1776) in two substantial volumes has already been referred to. Proceeding from
Priestley’s position, which he refers to with approval, he states his own views in very
similar terms: “Language is purely a species of fashion…. It is not the business of
grammar, as some critics seem preposterously to imagine, to give law to the fashions
which regulate our speech. On the contrary, from its conformity to these, and from that
alone, it derives all its authority and value. For, what is the grammar of any language? It
is no other than a collection of general observations methodically digested, and
comprising all the modes previously and independently established, by which the
significations, derivations, and combinations of words in that language, are ascertained. It
is of no consequence here to what causes originally these modes or fashions owe their
existence, to imitation, to reflection, to affectation, or to caprice; they no sooner obtain
and become general, than they are laws of the language, and the grammarian’s only
business is to note, collect, and methodise them.” 46 This sounds peculiarly modern. What
is even more important, however, is the fact that Campbell did not stop here but went on
to inquire what constituted this body of usage that he recognized as so authoritative. And
he defined it as present, national, and reputable use, a definition so reasonable and sound
that it has been accepted ever since. It is so well known that it needs no explanation other
than the remark that by reputable use Campbell meant “whatever modes of speech are
authorized as good by the writings of a great number, if not the majority of celebrated
authors.”
The difference between Priestley and Campbell is that whereas Campbell expounded
the doctrine of usage with admirable clarity and then violated it, Priestley was almost
everywhere faithful to his principles. Campbell is frankly inconsistent. In one place he
holds “that to the tribunal of use, as to the supreme authority, and consequently, in every
grammatical controversy, the last resort, we are entitled to appeal from the laws and the
decisions of grammarians; and that this order of subordination ought never, on any
account, to be reversed.” In another passage, however, he says that everything favored by
good use is “not on that account worthy to be retained” and he sets up canons by which
features of the language sanctioned by good use may be pronounced objectionable and
discarded. Thus Priestley stands alone in his unwavering loyalty to usage. After the
perpetual dogmatizing of other eighteenth-century grammarians, it is refreshing to find on
almost every page of his grammar statements like “This may be said to be
ungrammatical; or, at
least, a very harsh ellipsis; but custom authorizes it, and many more departures from
strict grammar, particularly in conversation.” “The word lesser, though condemned by
Dr. Johnson, and other English grammarians, is often used by good writers.” “It is very
common to see the superlative used for the comparative degree, when only two persons
or things are spoken of…. This is a very pardonable oversight.” “The word whose begins
likewise to be restricted to persons, but it is not done so generally but that good writers,
and even in prose, use it when speaking of things.” “A language can never be properly
fixed, till all the varieties with which it is used, have been held forth to public view, and
the general preference of certain forms have been declared, by the general practice
afterwards. Whenever I have mentioned any variety in the grammatical forms that are