to; hoost for she shall; intle or int'll for if thou will; I wou'didd'n for I wish you would.

Tummus and Meary.

Tummus. Odds me! Meary, whooa the dickons wou'd o thowt o' leeting o thee here so soyne this morning? Where has to bin? Theaw'rt aw on a swat, I think; for theaw looks primely.

Meary. Beleemy, Tummus, I welly lost my wynt; for I've had sitch o'traunce this morning as eh neer had e' meh live: for I went to Jone's o'Harry's o'lung Jone's, for't borrow their thible, to stur th' furmetry weh, an his wife had lent it to Bet o' my gronny's; so I skeawrt eend-wey, an' when eh coom there, hoo'd lent it Kester o' Dick's, an the dule steawnd 'im for a brindl't cur, he'd mede it int' shoon pegs! Neaw wou'd naw sitch o moon-shine traunce potter any body's plucks?

Tummus. Mark whot e tell the, Meary; for I think lunger ot fok liv'n an' th' moor mischoances they han.

Meary. Not awlus.—But whot meys o't' sowgh, on seem so dane-kest? For I con tell o' I'd fene see o' whick an hearty.

Tummus. Whick an hearty too! oddzo, but I con tell thee whot, its moor in bargin ot I'm oather whick or hearty, for 'twur seign peawnd t'a tuppunny jannock, I'd bin os deeod os o dur nele be this awer; for th' last oandurth boh one me measter had lik't o killt meh: on just neaw, os shure os thee and me ar stonning here, I'm actilly running meh country.

The Dialect of Craven.

28. The Deanery of Craven is in the West Riding of Yorkshire. A short specimen will be sufficient.

Dialogue between Farmer Giles and his neighbour Bridget.

Giles. Good mornin to thee, Bridget, how isto?

Bridget. Deftly as out, and as cobby as a lop, thanksto.

Giles. Wha, marry, thou looks i gay good fettle.

Bridget. What thinksto o't' weather? Awr house is vara unrid and grimy, t'chimla smudges an reeks seea, an mackst' reckon, at used to shimmer and glissen, nowght bud soote an muck.

Giles. It's now a vara lithe day, bud there war a girt roak, an a rag o't' fells at delleet, an it looked fearful heavisome.

Bridget. I oft think a donky, mislin, deggy mornin is a sign o't' pride o't' weather, for it oft worsels up, an is maar to be liked ner t' element fuli o' thunner packs er a breet, scaumy sky.

Giles. Wha, when't bent's snod, hask, cranchin an slaap, it's a strang sign of a pash.

Bridget. I've oft obsarved there hes been a downfaw soon efter; bud for sure, I cannot gaum mich be ouer chimla at prisent, it's seea smoored up wi mull an brash. Yusterday about noon, t' summer-goose flackered at naya lile rate, an t' element, at edge o' dark, wor feaful full of filly tails an hen scrattins.-Thou knaws that's a sartain sign ov a change, sometimes I've knaan it sile and teem efter.

An Alphabetical Glossary of the peculiar Words used in the preceding specimens of Provincial Dialects.

29. A-mà-be as may be, perhaps: s. Arter after: e. Auver over: s. Aw all: d. Awlus always: 1.-Banehond to intimate: s. Becoz

1.

Brash

because: d. Begit to forget: e. Brans brands, fire-wood: s. rash, impetuous: c. Bur but: d.-Cawd called: d. Cham I am : e. Charrin jobbing: d. Chel I shall: e. Chorrin jobbing: s. Cobby lively: c. Conner can not: d. Cood cold: d. Cranchin scranching, grinding, crackling: c. Crub a crumb: e.-Deggy foggy: c. De day: d. Deftly decently, well: c. Dickons, Deuce the devil: d. Donky wet, dark, gloomy: c. Drash to thrash: s. Dunner do not: d. Dwon't don't, do not: s.-Es, ise I, is: e.-Fettle condition: c. Fok folk: 1. Fother to fodder: d.-Gaum to know, distinguish: c. Gee to give: e. Girt great, friendly: c. Gripy to cut in gripes, to cut a trench: s.-Hâ have: s. Han have: Hanner has or have not: d. Hask dry, parched: c. Hirn to run: s. Hoo'd her had, she had: 1.Jannock oat cake, bread made of oatmeal: l. Jawd scolded: d. Jitch such: s.-Kesson Christian: e. Kittle-smock a smock-frock: s.-Lile little: c. Lithe blithe, mild: c. Lop a flea: c.-Marry truly: c. Mess, messy to serve cattle: s. Mine to mind, regard: s. Mislin misty, small rain: c. Mul dust or refuse of turf or peat: c.-Nation great, very: d. Never-the-near useless: s. Now-reert now right, just now: e. -o' of: s. Oandurth afternoon: 1. Odds me bless me: l. Ood'n would not: s.-Pash a fall of rain: c. Pride fineness: c. Proker a poker: d. -Rag mist: c. Rather soon, early: e. Reckon, reek on what is smoked on, an iron bar over the fire to support a boiling pot: c. Reek to smoke: c. Roak a reek, smoke: c.-Sar to earn: s. Seign seven: 1. Shimmer to shine: c. Shoon shoes: d. Sile to pour with rain: c. Sin since: d. Skeawr to make haste: 1. Slaap slippery: c. Smoored smothered: c. Snod smooth: c. Sowgh to sigh: 1. Spars pointed sticks, doubled and twisted in the middle to fasten thatch upon a roof: s. Summet somewhat: d.-Tacker: s. tachin: d. a waxed thread, Teem to pour out: c. Thâ they: s. Thack to thatch: d. Thaw though: s. Theaw thou: 1. Theaze these, this: s. Thibble a thin piece of wood to stir meat in a pot: 1. Think thing: a troublesome journey: 1. Twar it was: s. to find: s.-Warnt to warrant, assure: s. Wimmy to winnow: s. Wine wind: s. ner would not: d. Worsel to wrestle: c. Yarn to earn: s. Yo you: d. Yore your: Zunz since: s. Contractions. c. Craven. d. Derbyshire. e. Exmoor. 1. Lancashire. s. Somerset.

d.

Towd told: d. Traunce

Twull as it will: e.-Vine

Whick quick, alive: 1. Withers others: s. WoodWynt wind: 1.-Ya you: e. d.-Zaw so: s. Zo so: d.

30. Many expressive Anglo-Saxon words, which are no longer in use among the refined, have been retained in the provincial dialects. These then ought not to be neglected. The facility and simplicity of combining several short indigenous words to express any complex idea, practised by the Anglo-Saxons and other Gothic nations, is now too seldom used. Instead of adopting technical terms from other languages, or forming them from the Greek or Latin, as is the present English custom, our

Anglo-Saxon forefathers formed words equally expressive by composing them from their own radical terms. For our literature they used bóccræft book-craft, from bóc a book, cræft art, science; for arithmetic rimcræft, from rim a number, craft art; for astronomy tungelcræft, from tungel a star, &c. If, however, we have lost in simplicity, we have gained in copiousnes and euphony. In collecting from other languages, the English have appropriated what was best adapted to their purpose, and thus greatly enriched their language. Like bees they have diligently gathered honey from every flower. They have now a language which, for copiousness, power, and extensive use, can scarcely be surpassed. It is not only used in England, Scotland, and Ireland, but in the whole of North America and Australia: it prevails in the West Indies, and is more or less spoken in our vast possessions in the east. Indeed, wherever civilization, science, and literature prevail, there the English language is understood and spoken.

Camden observes: "Whereas our tongue is mixed, it is no disgrace. The Italian is pleasant, but without sinewes, as a still flecting water. The French delicate, but even nice as a woman, scarce daring to open her lippes, for fear of marring her countenance. The Spanish majesticall, but fulsome, running too much on the o, and terrible like the Divell in a play. The Dutch manlike, but withall very harsh, as one ready at every word to picke a quarrell. Now we, in borrowing from them, give the strength of consonants to the Italian; the full sound of words to the French; the variety of terminations to the Spanish; and the mollifying of more vowels to the Dutch; and so, like bees, we gather the honey of their good properties, and leave the dregs to themselves. And thus, when substantialnesse combineth with delightfulnesse, fullnesse with finesse, seemlinesse with portlinesse, and currentnesse with staydnesse, how can the language which consisteth of all these, sound other than full of all sweetnesse ?"-Camden's Remains, p. 38, edit. of 1623.

In the following comparison of the Anglo-Saxon with the ancient and modern Friesic, though there may be, in some minor points, a little diversity of opinion between the author and his friend the Rev. J. H. Halbertsma, yet it would be unjust to make alterations. Mr. Halbertsma has, therefore, been always permitted to speak for himself, and to give his reasons in his own way. Where opinions vary, the author has generally referred to both statements, leaving it to the reader to form his own. conclusions from the evidence adduced. Considering this the most equitable mode of treatment, he has adopted it, not only in regard to the valuable Essay of Mr. Halbertsma, but in reference to the works of those from whom he may differ far more widely. He is too conscious of his own liability to err, to be over confident in his own views. He has given his reasons or authorities, and all that he can confidently assert is, that it has been his constant and earnest wish and endeavour to avoid the natural bias towards the idol self, or that of any party, and to discover and follow truth, whether it favour his own previous opinions, or those of others. Perhaps he may have failed even here. If he have, he will, as soon as it is pointed out, gladly make every acknowledgement and reparation in his power.

35

IV.-FRIESIC.*

Ancient and Modern Friesic↑ compared with Anglo-Saxon.

1. Anglo-Saxon being one of those languages called dead, a knowledge of its pronunciation cannot be obtained from the people themselves. Of course, all information in these matters depends upon the written letters, and upon determining the sound of those letters.

2. This, however, is a very difficult task. There is no connexion at all between visible marks and audible sounds: the letters serve more to indicate the genus, than the species of the sounds, and use alone can teach us the shades (nuances) of pronunciation.

* "In comparing kindred languages with each other, the scholar will generally start from the point where he was born. Rask usually refers the A.-S. to the Scandinavian tongues, especially to the Icelandic. Germans have chiefly recourse to the Theotisc, and what is called by them Saxon. Others will bring it back to the dialects of their country; all with the same aim of elucidating the grammar, or discovering the sounds in A.-S. The reason of this is evidently the intimate acquaintance each of them has with the old and modern dialects of his own country, and most likely the scholar would compare the A.-S. with another class of dialects, if all the tongues of the Germanic branch were as thoroughly known to him as those of his native country. Being a native Friesian, and comparing the A.-S. chiefly with the Friesic, I could scarcely escape the suspicion of having yielded to the same influence as others, if I did not explain my reasons. This, I hope, will be a sufficient excuse for my entering into some details about the primitive relationship between the Anglo-Saxons and the Friesians.

"As every scholar has his own point de vue in matters of language, I beg leave to have mine. If my principles were unknown to my readers, my rules depending on these principles, would, as void of foundation, be unintelligible. It is for this reason that I have here inserted some of my opinions about the pedigree and comparison of languages, appearing properly to belong more to general grammar than to my present subject.

"As history often fails in showing the full truth of my opinion about the relationship between the Angles and the Friesians, I had recourse to the languages. Hence a view of the remnants of the Friesic both dead and still flourishing is here presented, and compared with the English and A.-S. It pleases not the muse of history to speak but late, and then in a very confused manner. Yes, she often deceives, and before she is come to maturity, she seldom distinctly tells the truth. Language never deceives, but speaks more distinctly, though removed to a far higher antiquity.

"It is at the request of my dear friend Bosworth that I write in English, a language in which I have not been favoured with any instruction. I possess only some dim feeling of analogy between its manner of speaking and my native tongue. I, therefore, grant to my English readers the full freedom of smiling at my thousand and one Friesianisms, while I shall have reached my aim if I am only understood.

DEVENTER, August 10th, 1834.

"J. H. HALBERTSMA."

+ Mr. Halbertsma, to promote Friesian literature, amongst other works, has published Hulde aan Gysbert Japiks, 2 vols. 8vo. Bolsward, 1824-1827.-De Lapekoer fen Gabe Scroar, 12mo. Dimter, 1834.-Friesche Spelling, 18mo. 1835.-The following are by other hands: Dr. Epkema published Gysbert Japicx Friesche Rijmlerye, 4to. Ljeauwert, 1821.—Woordenboek op de gedichten van Japicx, 4to. id. 1824.—Mr. Postumus translated into Friesic two of Shakespeare's plays, entitled, De Keapman fen Venetien in Julius Cesar, 8vo. Grintz, 1829.-Jonkh. Mr. Montanus Hettema has shown his patriotism by giving to the public the following valuable works:-Emsiger Landrecht Beknopte handleiding om de oude Friesche taal, 8vo. Leeuwarden, 1829.-Proeve van een Friesch en Nederlandsch Woordenboek, 8vo. Leeuwarden, 1832.-Friesche Spraakleer van R. Rask, 8vo. id. 1832.-Jurisprudentia Frisica, of Friesche Regtkennis, een handschrift uit de vijftiende eeuw, 8vo. id. 1834-35, 2 parts, &c. &c. Many more Friesians ought to be named as great promoters of their literature.Professors Wassenburg, Hoekstra, Mr. Hoeufft, Wielinga Huber, Scheltema, Beuker Andreae, van Halmael, and others. See paragraphs 86–102, for an account of ancient Friesic works.

3. The simple sounds we assign to letters, bears no proportion to the diphthongal nature of almost every sound in A.-S.

The inhabitants of Hindelopen still retain some A.-S. sounds undefiled. When I first heard some old people speak in this little town, I was quite astonished how sounds so compounded and diphthongal as those could be pronounced with so much ease and fluency. What is more simple in writing than the words lêod, A.-S. leód people; neugen, A.-S. nigen nine? When you hear these words at Hindelopen, you will find that the pronunciation baffles every effort of the grammarian to invent signs giving an adequate idea of its nature. In the eu you hear first the y, then the eu blended with the French ou, ending in oi. Such words as lêod people, and neugenend-neugentig nine-and-ninety, are, for this reason, Hindelopean shibboleths above all imitation of their own countrymen, the other Friesians.

4. Besides this, the sounds of letters are in restless fluctuation. If we could trace the changes in the sound of letters, our success would exceed our hopes; but even this discovery could not give an adequate idea of the sound of letters in use at any period, for sounds are altered when the letters remain still unchanged. The English and French languages give full proof of this truth.

When they enter into the class of dead languages, there will still be greater difficulties in ascertaining the pronunciation of chateau, and eschew. When, after long investigation, you discover that chateau ought to be pronounced ka-te-au, as the Picardians pronounce it at this very day, you find that by the tyranny of custom it is enervated to sya-to; when also you discover that the English first pronounced e-schew, and afterwards es-tshow (ou French), how few readers will believe your assertions, seeing that these words remain expressed by the same letters.

5. The sounds of a language, like other things, are, by time, subject to mutations, and these changes are homogeneous or heterogeneous, according as the cause of change is internal or external. In this way, diphthongs become vowels, and vowels again diphthongs. An elaborate treatise would point out the changes in a language, if an uninterrupted succession of MSS. of different ages could be procured.

6. Independently of these succeeding general changes of the whole language, there are diversities existing at the same time, called dialects. The A.-S. is subject to these diversities in the highest degree, and with a free people it could not be otherwise. When a nation easily submits to an absolute sway, individuals have little attachment to what is their own in character and opinions, and easily suffer themselves to be modelled in one general mould of the court or priesthood. On the other hand, when a nation, as the Angles and Friesians, is jealous of its liberty, and will only submit to the law enacted for the public good, while every individual regulates his private affairs for himself, the slightest peculiarity of character, unrestrained by the assumed power of any mortal, developes itself freely in the proper expressions, and every individuality is preserved. This I believe is the reason why in the province of Friesia are more peculiarities than in the other six provinces of the present kingdom of the Netherlands, and more in England alone than in the whole of Europe.