English Past and Present

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

20900

Title

English Past and Present

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Richard Chenevix Trench's "English Past and Present" explores the evolution of the English language through a series of lectures. Trench argues that English is a composite tongue shaped by history, culture, and human necessity. With wit and scholarly depth, he examines linguistic gains, losses, and spelling changes, urging readers to cherish their native tongue as a sacred trust that reflects national character and intellectual independence.

Summary up to 500 words

In this collection of lectures, Richard Chenevix Trench delivers a comprehensive survey of the English language's history and development. Addressing an audience of young Englishmen, Trench frames the study of language as a patriotic duty and a means to deepen love for one's country. He begins by establishing that English is a composite language, noting that the speech of Chaucer differs significantly from that of Shakespeare or modern times. Trench argues that a complete history of the language would illuminate the development of the human mind more than metaphysical systems. The work is divided into five lectures. In the first, Trench discusses the composite nature of English, tracing its sources and the vicissitudes it has undergone. He posits that new ideas constantly reshape the language, causing words to be coined, obsolete, narrowed, or split. He emphasizes the importance of preserving the language's purity against corruption. The second lecture focuses on the gains of the English language. Trench distinguishes between living and dead languages, asserting that a living language is one undergoing actual evolution, appropriating useful elements and discarding the useless. He addresses the imperfection of writing, explaining how alphabets are inherently incomplete and how the divergence between spoken and written words widens due to human laziness and the limitations of phonetic representation. He argues against phonetic spelling reforms, noting that such changes would disrupt the established harmony between speech and writing and that people are unwilling to alter their alphabet. The third lecture considers the diminutions or losses the language has suffered. Trench acknowledges that no language is perfect and that mistakes are inevitable in the process of evolution. He discusses how words may fall into disuse or become obsolete, and how synonyms may diverge. He also touches upon the dangers of barbarism that threaten a nation if its language becomes rude. The fourth lecture examines changes in the meaning of English words. Trench illustrates how words can shift in meaning over time, sometimes acquiring new senses or losing their original ones. He provides numerous examples of words that have undergone semantic shifts, highlighting the fluidity of language and the need for careful etymological research to understand these changes. He warns against assuming etymological connections between words that merely share a specious air of kinship. The fifth lecture addresses changes in the spelling of English words. Trench discusses the history of English orthography and the various attempts to reform it. He argues that spelling reforms are often misguided and that the current system, despite its imperfections, serves the needs of the language. He provides examples of words that have been misspelled or misunderstood, and he emphasizes the importance of preserving the original form of words when editing historical texts. Throughout the work, Trench employs a tone that is both scholarly and accessible, blending historical analysis with practical advice for language users. He draws on the works of other scholars, such as Professor Skeat and Dr. Murray, to correct errors in his own time and to demonstrate the progress of etymological...

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Categories

• History
• Language