Page:Cyclopaedia, Chambers - Volume 2.djvu/73

 LAN ( 425) )

rous Part being fomething fix'd and palpable, whereas the moil found Part may be infenfible or arbitrary. See Grammar.

There is found a conftant Rcfemblance between the Genius or Natural Complexion of each People and the Language they fpeak. Thus the Greeks, a polite but vo- luptuous People, had a Language perfectly fuitable, full of Delicacy and Sweetnefs. The Romans, who feemed only born to command, had a Language noble, nervous, and auguft ; and their Defendants, the Italians, are funk into Softnefs and Effeminacy, which is as vifible in their Language as their Manners. The Language of the Spa- niards is full of that Gravity and Haughtinefs of Airwhich make the diftinguifhing Character of the People. The French, who have a World of Vivacity, have a Language that runs extremely brisk and lively. And the EmUfi, who are naturally blunt, thoughtful, and of few Words, have a Language exceedingly iliort, concife, and fenten- tious.

The Diverfity of Languages is generally allowed to have took its Rife from the Confufion of Babel, both by Jezvs, Chriftians, and Mahometans: But the Manner in which this Diverfity was effected, is Hill in difpute among the Learned. The Quettion is, Whether God only expunged the Remembrance of the Signification of Terms in thofe who built the Tower ; or whether he immediately infpired them with new Words. Scalier holds that they only for- got the Meaning of the Words, and named one thing inftead of another; tho' all indifferently fpoke the Hebrew Tongue. Nor does CafauUn allow that they immediately fpoke different Languages: the Confufion of Tongues he thinks might be very well effected, without introducing a Multiplicity of Languages. See Ziegra de Confujlone Lin- guarum liabylonica ad Genef. XL

As to the Point of Antiquity, that too has been ex- tremely controverted. Herodotus tells us, that in the Dif- pute between the Egyptians and Thrygians about the Anti- quity of their Languages, Pfammeticus King of Egypt, or- dered two Children to be brought up, with exprefs Prohi- bition not to have one Word pronounced before them, but to leave Nature to fpeak of her Cell; and the firft Word they fpoke happen'd to be Beccos, which in the Phrygian Language fignifies Bread. The Egyptians however were not convinced with this Proof. The Arabs difpute the Point of Antiquity with the Hebrews: But the Jews, jealous even to Excels of the Honour of their Nation, pofitively infift on it, that the Hebrew Tongue, fuch as it is found in the Holy Scriptures, is the primitive Language, and that fpoken by the firft Man. Others maintain that the Lan- guage fpoken by Mam is loft, and that the Hebrew, Chal- dee, and Arabic, are only Dialects of that original Tongue. So far are they from giving the Priority to the Hebrew, that they maintain Abraham fpoke Cha/dee before he pafs'd the Euphrates; and that he firft learn'd the Hebrew in the Land of Canaan: fo that this was not a fpecial Language confecrated to the People of God, but was originally tEe Language of the Canaanites.

M. le Clerc is of Opinion the Hebrew is far inferior to the Greek, both in Copioufnefs, Elegancy and Perfpicuity ; it is dry and deftitute of Ornaments, infomuch that want- ing Expreffions to vary the Phrafe, the fame Periods are perpetually returning. The Rabbins fay 'tis fo pure and chafte, that it has no proper Namcsfor the Parts of Gene- ration, nor for thofe by which the Excrements are dif- charged. The Arabic is held the moft copious of all Lan- guages ; it has 300 different Words to exprefs a Lion, and no lefs than 1200 for a Sword.

Languages are divided into matriculate or original Lan- guages, as the Hebrew and Arabic in the Eaft, the Teutonic and Sclavonic in the Weft ; and into fecundary or derived Languages, which are thofe formed out of a Mixture of feveral Tongues, as Latin, French, &c. Kircher will have the Cophtic a Mother Tongue, independent of all others ; and Du John maintains the Gothic to be primitive, and the Mother of all the Teutonic Tongues; that is, of all thofe fpoke in the North. Some add the Bafqite and Low Briton to the Number of Mother Tongues, imagining them to have been thofe of the anticnt Celtic or Gauls.

The learned or dead Languages are thofe which only fubfift in Books, which null be learned by the Rules of Grammar, as the Greek, Hebrew, Syriac, and Chalice. See thefe under Hebrew, Greek, &c. Raimond Lully follicited the Eftablifhmcnt of the Study of thefe Languages a long time in the i;th and 14th Centuries. At length, in the Icar 1312, Pope Clement and the Council of Vienna, ap- pointed that in the Court of Rome, and in the Univerfities of Paris, Oxford, Boulogne, and Salamanca, there fhould be inftituted Profeffors'of each, who fhould have Salaries from the refpecrive Courts. The Monks however vigo- roufly oppofed the fpreading of thefe Studies, and with fo much Succefs, that Erafmus tells us in his Time, Grxce noffe fufpeilum Hebraice profe Htreticttm.

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The living Languages are thofe ftill fpoke in fome Coun- try or other, and which may be learn'd by Convention. The moft popular among thefe are the French, Italian Spanifi, and Englifi ; which fee under their refpeflive Names.

The Spaniards feem to place the Noblenefs and Gravity of their Language, in the Number of Syllables, and the Swelling of Words ; and fpeak lefs to make themfelvesr underftood, than to make themfelves admired. Their Terms are big and fonorous, their Expreffions haughty and boifterous, and Pomp and Oftentation run thro' all rhey fay : their Language cannot paint a Thought to the Life ; it always magnifies it, frequently didorts it ; and does nothing if it do not exceed Nature. The Italian Tongue does not fwell up Things to that Degree, but it adorns and embelifhes them more 5 yet thefe Ornaments and Embelifhments are not real Beauties. The Italian Expreffions, thus rich and brillanr, are like thofe Faces cover'd with Patch and Paint, which make a fine Show ; but that Finery, all Deceit. The French Language (as fome of their Authors exprefs them- felves) is Ample without Lownefs, bold without Inde- cency, elegant and florid without Affectation, harmo- nious without Swelling, majeftick without Pride, delicate without Softnefs, and ftrong without Roughnefs. As to the Points of Strength and Majefty, the French mull give Way to the Englifi, which in thefe, as well as in Copi- oufnefs, exceeds moft of the living Languages ; as far as it comes behind fome of them in Smoothnefs and Delicacy. Of all the modern Languages, the Englifi is allowed to be the clofeft and the moft clear, the cbafleft and the moft referved in its Diction, the moft judicious and fevere in its Ornaments : Of all others it is the moft honeft, open, and undefigning ; it won't bear double-meanings, nor cart it palliate or hide Nonfenfe : bad Senfe and good Englifi being Things inconfiftent. With all its Sublimity it is gay and pleafant on occafion ; but its Gaiety is ftill moderated and reftrained by good Senfe ; it hates exceffive Orna- ments, and for the greater Simplicity, would almoft chufe to go naked : It never dreffes more than Decorum and Neceffity requires. The Spanifi refembles thofe Rivers whofe Waters are always fwelling, and always muddy and turbulent; that never keep long within their Channel, bur are ever overflowing, and their Overflowings ever noify and precipirate. The Italian is like thofe pleating Rivulets that purl agreeably among the Stones, and glide in Meanders through Meadows full of Flowers. The French refembles one of thofe beautiful Streams that always run briskly, but at the fame time fmoothly and equally 5 without much Noife or much Depth. The Enghjh, like the Nile, preferves a Majefty even in its Abundance ; its Waters roll rapidly, notwithftanding their Depth ; it ne- ver roars but when its Banks are too narrow, nor overflows without enriching the Soil. The Latin is the common Mother of the three former, but the Daughters have very different Genius's and Inclinations. The Spanifi, a haughty Dame, that piques herfelf on her Quality, and loves Excefs and Extravagancy in every thing. The Ita- lian, a Coquette, full of fine Airs ; always appearing drefs'd, and taking all Occafions of Slewing her Finery : to be admired, being all /lie aims at. The French, an eafy Prude, that has her Share of Modefty and Difcretion, but on occafion can lay them both afide. The Englifi is of a more Mafculine Temperament. 'Tis not only of a diffe- rent Family from the others, but appears of a different Sex; too : Its Virtues are thofe of a Man : indeed 'tis the Pro- duct of a colder Climate and a rougher People, and its Features may be fomewhat coarfer than thofe of its Neioh- bours ; but its Faculties are more extenfive, its Conduct more ingenuous, and its Views more noble. See Englifi, French, &c.

Ennius and Cecrops are celebrated for their Knowledge of various Languages. Mthridates King of Pontus under- ftood twenty two Tongues, which was the Number of different People over whom he commanded ; and thofe Languages he knew fo well, that he was able to hatangue each of his People in their own Language. 'Twas a Say- ing of Charles the Vth, that fo many Languages as a Man underftands, fo many times he is Man. Sultan Soliman'a Interpreter fpoke perfectly well 17 different Langua- ges. But among the Moderns none have been more remarkable in this Way than Poftelhts, who, betides a perfect Knowledge of all the dead Languages, was fo well acquainted with the living, that 'tis faid he could have made the Tour of the Giobe without the Ufe of an In- terpreter.

Bibhander

has written of the Analogy and Proportion of all Lastguages and Letters, F)e ratiane Communi Linguarum, in 1 5 18 . Gefner of the difference of Languages in T572. Lazius published an Introduction to the Learning of the politeft Languages in a common Method, in 1 548. Megif- Jier a Scheme of 40 different Languages, and different Dia- R r r r r kits,