Cylchgronau Cymru

Chwiliwch trwy dros 450 o deitlau a 1.2 miliwn o dudalennau

^r iBL&wa) & siilwhdibs OR, Cfj£ (üỳronitU atẃ (BMttütr. Rhif. 4a'r5.] EBRILL a MAI, 1828. ^u, [Cyf. I. ATo. 4 and 5.] ^ÍPiUL oíîíì JÍ.4Y, 1828. fìíAY 15J [ FOL. I. THE IMPOETANCE Or A GOOD LANGUAGS, AS WELI TOR THE PURPOSE Or EDUCATION, AS TOR COREECTNESS OF THOUGHT AND EXPKESSIOET. TN our last number, \ve endeavoured to give the outlines of our views of the importance of a good language, to dignify the mind with superior powers than a language constructed upon no uniform principle could de- velope. We partially pointed out the consequences of such defective lan- guage, and ofFered some arguments to prove that a perfect philosophical language was spoken at one period, and might at this day be restored. No new attempt, however commend- able in design, and useful in result, must be expected to gain, at once, the good opinion of the public. Although we are discussing a sub- ject which, we have little doubt, will, before long, make greater demands on the public attention than any other subject ever did; we do not expect to be better favoured than others with immediate success: we there- fore from the íirst determined to be as gradual in developing the merits of the design, as the public would be slow to perceive them. But we have not been left wholly destitute of en- couragement to go on. On the con- trary, we are gratifìed to know that what we have already written has in- duced more than one individual to resolve upon acquiring a language (the Ancient British) to which they were before not much inclined. Al- though we had calculated, and do calculate on producing such an efFect, very soon, upon a great many, we confess that our expectations were ex- ceeded in those instances, and per- haps others, which have not come to our knowledge. Our arguments could have to contend with no great pre- judices, where they so readily pre- vailed. The discussion contained in our last was only a íirst step. We did not on that occasion, so much as touch upon the most interesting points, except with remote hints, which no doubt have been passed over unnoticed, and will be understood only when recurred to from future discussions. It will take us some time to make sure the step already advanced. We shall proceed to make some remarks on the two specimens given of Welsh Etymology, after first correcting an error in the lastspecimen. SPECIMEN of WELSH ETYMOLOGY. The last specimen of the primitive etymology of Language * difFered from the prior one, in being compiled extempore. ìb and ib, as the Welsh Critic may well know, are from that classof roots or themes, the deri- vation, and corresponding sense of the derivatives of which, are most diffi- cult to be recognized, and which for this reason, if capable of being at all traced, are proved to be most ancient. Had we selected the radical words that are most easily derivable, we shouldhave flxed upon such as ag,ca, de, es, &c. which can be traced by äny superficial critic in the Ancient Brit- ish. But their origin being obvious, might raise a doubt respecting their antiquity. The sketch which we gave being thus extemporaneous, and * Page 74.