Page:The study of living languages (IA studyoflivinglan00cott).pdf/48

34 use of leaving the learner to guess what the English meaning is, knowing that when he has guessed it, it may be either right or wrong. Suppose a Tamil man were learning English, how could he find out the expression we use when we ask who a certain person is? How could he ever guess the expression, Who's that? Or could he find out of himself these expressions, What's the matter? Where has he been? Come away. I'd rather not. Never mind. Whether or no. I can't help it. You might as well set a man to guess, at the words of a language as at its common expressions.

When I put this book into a Moonshee's hand, the first thing he said, was, Many of these sentences are not common Tamil expressions, and many of the words are not commonly used in conversation.

This might be said of almost any book, I suppose every book, of the kind. What is a learner to do who has no better materials? It is destructive for a learner to use a book, when he is not sure whether the sentences are Tamil or not.

I mention these particulars of this book, as illustrative of the mistakes, and undigested ideas that are current on the subject.