Читать книгу Notes and Queries, Number 21, March 23, 1850 - Various - Страница 6

I have just been exceedingly interested in reading a lecture on the Origin and Progress of the English Language, delivered at the Athenæum, Durham, before the Teachers' Society of the North of England, by W. Finley, Graduate of the University of France.

The following passage well expresses a caution that should be always kept in mind by the literary archæologist:

"In the orthography of English words derived from the Latin, one great and leading principle must be kept in view. If the word is of new adoption, it is certain that its spelling will be like that which appears in the original word; or if it has come to us through the French, the spelling will be conformable to the word in that language; thus, persecution from persequor, pursue from poursuivre. Again, flourish from fleurir, efforescent, florid, &c., from floreo. And to establish our orthography on certain grounds, it ought to be the business of the lexicographer to determine the date of the first appearance of an adopted word, and thus satisfactorily determine its spelling." (Lecture, p. 20. footnote.)

D.V.S.

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