Page:Persian manual pocket companion 1877.djvu/13

 ways in which a sentence may be rendered, will observe the force of words, and will be able to compare idiom with idiom.

4. It has been customary to regard Persian as a language easy of attainment ; this is far from being the case. A certain degree of proficiency may easily be reached ; but to obtain a thorough knowledge of the language is exceedingly difficult, owing to—

(a) The vast number of words (said to be 80,000) in the language ;

(b) The ambiguous expressions in which a Persian delights ;

(c) The want of translations ;

(d) Want of properly qualified teachers.

That there are defects in this work is most readily allowed ; yet all that care and labour could do to prevent error has been given to the task. The critic will remember that this is the first attempt ever