The prophetic outlines and Divine place of this language may be seen in
the germal foundations, which give unto it such vigour, tenacity, and
capabilities of expansion. All the features of this language go to show
that it is destined to be the medium of a world’s intercourse, and that
it very suitably belongs to Israel, in whose hand will be the destiny of
the world. It is the lion of languages. It will grow anywhere, and by
reason of its tenacity when once it gets a foothold it abides. It is
peculiarly suited to the humanities of every race, clime, and condition;
there is no limit to its expansive adaptability. It is in a special
manner voracious in the destruction of other languages; wherever it goes,
it sounds the death-knell of all the rest.
Soon as this language entered Britain, it began its work of destruction.
Before it has disappeared the real British, the Cymric or Welsh, Erse or
Irish, the Gaelic of Scotland, and the Manx of the Isle of Man. The
British Keltic is entirely gone; the rest are entirely local. Beside
these it ousted from the island the Norse, the Norman-French, and several
other tongues that tried to transplant themselves on English soil. It is
at work in every part of the globe, planting itself and displacing
others. A few years ago French was the language best suited for a
traveller on the Continent. But this has changed. Now the English is by
far superior. And why is it that the English is supplanting all others?
To answer such a question in a scientific way, one cannot do better than
quote from the great and learned German philologist, Prof. Grimm, of
Berlin. He says of it: “It has a thorough power of expression, such as
no other language ever possessed. It may truly be called a
world-language, for no other can compare with it in richness,
reasonableness, and solidity of texture.” But perhaps the most definite
and distinct testimony given by a foreigner touching the future ubiquity
of the Anglo-Saxon race and language, is that put forward by Provost
Paradol, a learned Frenchman. He says “that neither Russia nor united
Germany, supposing that they should attain the highest fortune, can
pretend to impede that current of things, nor prevent that solution,
relatively near at hand, of the long rivalry of European races for the
ultimate colonisation and domination of the universe. The world will not
be Russian, nor German, nor French, alas! nor Spanish.” He concludes
that it will be Anglo-Saxon.
A British poet has presented in poetry the special features of several of
the European languages, which we give:—
“Greek’s a harp we love to hear;
Latin is a trumpet clear;
Spanish like an organ swells;
Italian rings its bridal bells;
France, with many a frolic mien,
Tunes her sprightly violin;
Loud the German rolls his drum
When Russia’s clashing cymbals come;
But British sons may well rejoice,
For English is the human voice.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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