THE PRONOUN 'IT.' 193 such as) might be expected from one who aimed (aiming) only at personal aggrandizement, and who had (having) no generous views beyond.' He who thinks that sovereign power is too great, and would desire to limit it, can only do so by setting up a greater;' 'he that, thinking Sovereign power too great, desires.' 14. The too frequent repetition of 'who' and 'which' may be avoided by resolving them into the conjunction and personal or other pronoun: In such circumstances, the utmost that Bosquet could be expected to do was to hold his ground, (which) and this he did.' THE PRONOUN' IT.' We have seen that the variety of reference of this pronoun is a fre quent cause of ambiguity. The peculiar English idiom it is,' 'it brings,' 'it comes to pass,' followed by the thing referred to, makes a clash of meaning such as does not occur with the other pronouns. I am going to mention the matter. It is right that it should be mentioned.' The first 'it' here is prospective, and refers to the clause that it should be mentioned; the second refers back to the matter.' 'It had been well both for England and (for) Scotland that there had been more of such good and moderate kings, as it would have prevented many long wars.' 'It' in both instances points to the same clause that there had been more of such good and moderate kings), but the first precedes, and the other follows the clause. There are so many advantages of speaking one's own language well, and being a master of it, that let a man's calling be what it will, it cannot but be worth our taking some pains in it.' The variety of reference is here very great. The first 'it has 'language' for its antecedent, the prominent subject of the previous clause, and is therefore unexceptionable; the second it' readily refers us to the noun immediately preceding, calling;' but the third changes the reference to something prospective, our taking some pains; and the fourth carries us back to language.' To remedy the confusion, the third "it' should be done away with, and the second removed to the end: the advantages of speaking one's own language well are so many, that the taking of some pains to be master of it, cannot but be worth while to every man let his calling be what it will.' The pronouns remaining are so placed that their antecedents are obvious. When we intend to employ the prospective it,' 'it is,' &c., we should not bring the retrospective use into collision with the other. The best way in the world for a man to seem to be anything is really to be vat he would seem to be. Besides, that it is many times as troublesome to make good the pretence of a good quality as to have it; and if a man have it not, it is ten to one but he is discovered to want it, and then all his pains and labours to seem to have it are lost.' Here the two modes of reference are inextricably confused together. One of them ought to be done away with. Besides, to make good the pretence of a good quality is many times as trouble some as to have it; and if a man have it not, ten to one but he is discovered to want it, and then all his pains and labour to seem to have it are lost. The sole reference now is to the one subject quality." 'If it were spoken with never so great skill in the actor, the manner of uttering that sentence could have nothing in it which could strike any but people of the greatest humanity,-nay, people elegant and skilful in observations upon it.' The first 'it' refers to sentence,' the others to 'manner.' The first might be left out, the clause being converted into a participial phrase which would be readily interpreted as in apposition with 'that sentence:'‘if spoken with never so great skill.' 'It is a sign of great prudence to be willing to receive instruction; the most intelligent persons sometimes stand in need of it.' 'The willingness to receive instruction is a sign of great prudence; the most intelligent persons sometimes stand in need of it'-is better, although the natural antecedent would still be, not instruction,' but ' willingness.' OF PURITY. Besides observing the rules of grammar, we must employ only such words as really belong to the language, and we must use them in their correct sense. To attend to these conditions is to have regard to purity. The errors against purity are classed under three heads: Barbarism, Solecism, and Impropriety. BARBARISM. This consists in using words that are not English. Such are-1. Obsolete words. Many words occur in old writers that have ceased to be current; some of them being no longer intelligible. Such are hight,' clept,' 'erst,' 'umwhile,' behest,' addulce,' surcease,' 'uneath,' 'whilom,' &c. 2. New words not fully adopted into the language. New words are in part borrowed from foreign languages. Some are introduced for good reasons, as new scientific terms, and the names of new materials (gutta-percha,' for example). But many are used without much necessity. Such are most of the following words from the French :-sortie,' 'dernier resort,' beaux arts 'belles lettres' (polite literature), politesse, délicatesse,' hauteur,' 'connoisseur,' 'roconnoitre,' 'agréments,' ' opine,' 'ignore,' 'fraîcheur. es esprit de corps,' 'cortége,'' soubriquet,' habitué,' 'boudoir, pionage,' Some indicate shades of meaning that we cannot express by English words, and hence the pretext for using them; for example: ennui, prestige,' 'naïveté,' 'dolce far niente' (Ital.), ‘verbiage,' solidarity. It is a special objection to the employment of these words, that the pronunciation of them is totally different from the pronunciation of our language. In books they are generally printed in italics, to mark that they are not English. A number of Latin words and phrases have obtained currency in their original form; as onus probandi,'' obiter dictum,'' sub judice, res gestæ, a priori, a pesteriori,' a fortiori, non sequitur,' 'ad hominem,' verbatim et literatim,' &c. It is well to employ such phrases as little as possible. 6 Newly-coined words are barbarous until their adoption has become general. There is a constant tendency to coin new words, a great number of which never obtain currency. Thus, martyrized,' for martyred,' 'incumberment' for 'encumbrance: proclivity,' 'productivity,''acquests,' are words suggested, but not adopted. Many new words and phrases have come from America; as outsiders,' coincidences,' 'immigrants,' 'progréss' (as a verb), 'to feel of,' &c. Talented' is a word not yet in good use. talent.' SOLECISM. The words employed may be English, but they may be combined in a form that is not English. This is Solecism. Bad Syntax is included in the definition, but there may be Solecisms that do not violate grammar; they are then said to be violations of idiom. If we say 'I have hunger,' we do not commit bad grammar; still the combination is not English: it is French. I feel a smell' is grammatical, but not according to idiom. I will speak my mind' 'get thee gone' (we cannot say 'make thee gone'), 'many a man,' 'you had best,' 'do honour to,' (Shakspeare says 'do grace to Cæsar's corpse,')' once and again,' are English idioms, for which no reason can be given but that they are in use. IMPROPRIETY. This means employing words in a wrong sense. 1. Impropriety in single words. Goldsmith says 'whatever may be thought of the veracity of this story,' for the truth of this story.' Veracity is the quality of the narrator. There was a quantity of people present, there were a number.' These are examples of one kind of impropriety. It often happens that two words have similar, but not identical meanings, so that the one cannot be used for the other on every oc 6 6 or synonymes. The fol allow, permit; assist pleasure, delight, joy observe, remark; on the casion. Such terms are called synonymous, lowing are examples:- all, every, each; help; astonish, surprise; belief, faith repentance, remorse; principle, truth;' contrary, on the other hand.' Another class of improprieties originate in not adverting to the composition of a word, or to the precise force of the prefix or the suffix combined with the root. Thus: Ramus published a Greek grammar, with many important variances from his precursors,' for variations; the observation of the Sabbath,' the observance;' 'the Greek is a language superior in riches,' 'richness;' he felt himself. compelled to acknowledge the justice (justness) of my remark;' the negligence (neglect) of this leaves us exposed; you are like (likely to be late.' Sometimes we are misled by similarity of sound, as in using the word demean' (signifying to behave,' to conduct oue's self,' as in ⚫demeanour') in the sense of lowering,' 'debasing,' 'making mean.' They form a procession to proceed (precede) the palanquin of the ambassador;' he rose (raised) the price of bread last week;' 'it lays lies) on the table;' they wrecked (wreaked) their vengeance." 2. Impropriety in phrases. This refers to expressions that contain, when analyzed, some inconsistency or absurdity. A common instance of the class is seen in the following example:-'it celebrates the Church of England as the most perfect of all others,' meaning 'the most perfect of all.' So, The comeliest man of men since born His sons. The fairest of her daughters' Eve. This makes Adam one of his sons, and Eve one of her daughters! 'I had like to have gotten one or two broken heads for my impertinence;' 'I was once or twice likely to get my head broken for my impertinence.' Like kings we lose the conquests gained before, 'Conquests gained before,' cannot be made more.' It is a rule in English that two negatives make a positive; the one neutralizes the other: as I entertain a not unfavourable opinion of him.' Hence, when denial is intended, it is an inconsistency to use more than one negative. They cannot utter the one, nor will they not utter the other;' this is not always the case neither.' These two men are both equal in strength,' is an inconsistent expression, if it be meant that one is equal to the other. There is a congruity to be observed in the use of two or more verbs in a sentence under a similar construction. It were well for the insurgents, and fortunate for the king, if the blood that was now shed had been thought a sufficient expiation for the offence;' it had been well,' is the tense suiting had been thought.' 'If you please to cmploy your thoughts on that subject, you would easily conceive the miserable condition many of us are in;' this should be either if you please, you will, or, if you pleased (it pleased you you would. Fierce as he moved, his silver shafts resound,' is incongruous, dif ferent tenses being applied to contemporaneous actions.- Crombie, pp. 301, 302. Many improprieties are provincialisms, or district peculiarities. Thus, we have Scotticisms, Irishisms, Americanisms, Cockneyisms. The Scotticism consists, not in the employment of purely Scotch words, but in the employment of English words in a Scotch meaning or construction. A list of Scotticisms is here appended, in addition to those already noticed. SCOTTICISMS. (1. Wrong Use of Words.) By-yone, by-past. has gone-by. Past. Shakspeare A sugar-bowl.-Basin. He walked at the burial.-Funeral. They never cast-out. - Disagree, or quarrel. I was his caution.-Security. The affair comes to be serious.--Becomes. For common.-Commonly. Compliment.-A present. A couple of hens.-Two hens. A coarse day; coarse weather.-Bad. Are your children at the counting ?— To A cloth-brush.-A clothes-brush. Were you crying on me?-Calling. To disabuse is sometimes used for to abuse. I am very dry.-Thirsty. He is dull.-Deaf. The day is dull.- An oaken deal.-Plank. Deals, or deal- Give me a drink. -Give me drink, some A faint.-A fainting-fit; a swoon. I feel a sweet smell. I smell a sweet I find no pain.-Feel. Flesher.-Butcher. He A flower (bunch of flowers).-—A nosegay. Fog is a Scotch name for moss. He sits at the foot of the table.—The lower end. To follow out a plan.-To execute, or carry on a plan. For ordinary.-Ordinarily, usually, com- A four-square table.-A square table. I was unable to get.-Get away. Goblet. Saucepan. Greedy and greediness are English, but greed is Scotch. The boy was ill-guided.-Ill-used, illtreated. He fell in the gutter.-In the dirt. What's o'clock? Half six.-Half an hour past five, or half-past five. Five minutes from twelve.-Five minutes to twelve, or before twelve; or, it |
