The Grammar of English Grammars eBook

Goold Brown
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 4,149 pages of information about The Grammar of English Grammars.

The Grammar of English Grammars eBook

Goold Brown
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 4,149 pages of information about The Grammar of English Grammars.

19.  “I know,” says he, “that the Aristotelians think otherwise; but no one will doubt that names are the signs, and as it were the instruments, of things.  But the instrument of any art is so adapted to that art, that for any other purpose it must seem unfit; thus with an auger we bore, and with a saw we cut wood; but we split stones with wedges, and wedges are driven with heavy mauls.  We cannot therefore but believe that those who first gave names to things, did it with design; and this, I imagine, Aristotle himself understood when he said, ad placitum nomina significare. For those who contend that names were made by chance, are no less audacious than if they would endeavour to persuade us, that the whole order of the universe was framed together fortuitously.”

20.  “You will see,” continues he, “that in the first language, whatever it was, the names of things were taken from Nature herself; but, though I cannot affirm this to have been the case in other tongues, yet I can easily persuade myself that in every tongue a reason can be rendered for the application of every name; and that this reason, though it is in many cases obscure, is nevertheless worthy of investigation.  Many things which were not known to the earlier philosophers, were brought to light by Plato; after the death of Plato, many were discovered by Aristotle; and Aristotle was ignorant of many which are now everywhere known.  For truth lies hid, but nothing is more precious than truth.  But you will say, ’How can there be any certain origin to names, when one and the same thing is called by different names, in the several parts of the world?’ I answer, of the same thing there may be different causes, of which some people may regard one, and others, an other. * * * There is therefore no doubt, that of all things, even of words, a reason is to be rendered:  and if we know not what that reason is, when we are asked; we ought rather to confess that we do not know, than to affirm that none can be given.  I know that Scaliger thinks otherwise; but this is the true account of the matter.”

21.  “These several observations,” he remarks further, “I have unwillingly brought together against those stubborn critics who, while they explode reason from grammar, insist so much on the testimonies of the learned.  But have they never read Quintilian, who says, (Lib. i, Cap. 6,) that, ‘Language is established by reason, antiquity, authority, and custom?’ He therefore does not exclude reason, but makes it the principal thing.  Nay, in a manner, Laurentius, and other grammatists, even of their fooleries, are forward to offer reasons, such as they are.  Moreover, use does not take place without reason; otherwise, it ought to be called abuse, and not use.  But from use authority derives all its force; for when it recedes from use, authority becomes nothing:  whence Cicero reproves Coelius and Marcus Antonius for speaking according to their own fancy, and not according to use.  But, ‘Nothing can be lasting,’ says Curtius, (Lib. iv,) ’which is not based upon reason.’  It remains, therefore, that of all things the reason be first assigned; and then, if it can be done, we may bring forward testimonies; that the thing, having every advantage, may be made the more clear.”—­Sanctii Minerva, Lib. i, Cap. 2.

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The Grammar of English Grammars from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.