Vermont School Journal Volume 4 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1862 edition. Excerpt: ... THE VmroNT SCHOOL JOUBML. THE ANGLO-SAXON LANGUAGE. The study of the English language, in its Anglo-Saxon and Gothic sources, has not received in our country, such marked attention as it deserves. We have not regarded a knowledge of our ancient mother-tongue an essential part of a complete English education. Its study has formed no part of the regular course of instruction in any of our higher schools or seminaries. No helps, in the way of text-books, have been provided for those who might wish to obtain a critical knowledge of the Anglo Saxon and our Modern English in their mutual relations. True there is the vague conviction thatour language as well as our race is Anglo-Saxon in its origin, but we have manifested no interest in its history. Of the old elements of our speech, so rich and varied from the 6th to the 14th centuries, we are almost entirely ignorant. Although they form the foundation elements of our language, and furnish an inexhaustible mine of material for enriching our present speech, giving it vigor and point, yet they are regarded of little importance. Descendants of the Goths, as we are, we have learned from the Greek and Romans, to despise our Gothic ancestry. We have associated with the name of Goths, every species of ignorance, cruelty and barbarity, though our language, our government and laws, display our Gothic origin in every part, and show our great indebtedness to them. An English writer says, " There is no doubt that the foundation of our justly admired Constitution which distinguishes Great Britain and makes her stand pre-emiuent among the nations of Europe, was laid by our Saxom ancestors." They live not merely io our annals and traditions, but in our civil institutions and familiar discourse. The radical...