Page:History of Bengali Literature in the Nineteenth Century.djvu/159

 5 CAREY AND FORT WILLIAM COLLEGE 13 variations alluded to above refer to the alterations and additions, particularly in the declension and derivation of nouns and in the conjugation of verbs, extending the grammar to nearly double its original size. The later editions, however, do not differ materially from the second edition. Another merit of this Grammar arises from the fact that Carey seems to have realised very early that the basis of the vernacular language must be sought in its classical The basis of the Progenitor: and this fact enables him language and of the to examine critically the ultimate grammar. structure of the language and evolve rigid rules fixing the chaotic colloqualism and dialectal variety of the vernacular into definite forms. A_ living language, however, can never be regulated by artificial rules borrowed from a dead language. however closely con- nected they might be with each other: and Carey, in giving full scope to colloquial and temporal variations, shows himself fully alive to this fact. ules of Sanscrit Grammar can never suffice for the study of Bengali: yet one can never wholly dispense with Sanscrit Grammar in framing a grammar for its vernacular off-shoot. A truly scientific grammar of Bengali must avoid these extremes : and Carey, who had a wonderful knowledge of the vernacular as it was spoken and written as well as of the classical Sanscrit, succeeded to a great extent in steer- ing through the middle path. The Bengali Grammar of Carey explains the peculiarities of the Bengali alphabet and the combination of its letters : the declension of substantives, and Scope of the book. formation of derivative nouns : inflee- tions of adjectives and pronouns: and the conjugation of verbs. It gives copious lists and