A Grammar of Rhetoric and Polite Literature: Comprehending the Principles of ... - Alexander Jamieson - كتب Google

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CONTENTS.

OF LANGUAGE AND STYLE AS THE FOUNDATION OF

PAGE

CHAPTER I.-Of the Rise and Progress of Language in the

Structure and Composition of Words

CHAPTER II.-Of the Rise and Progress of Language in the

Manner of uttering and pronouncing Words

CHAPTER III.-Of the Progress of Language in the Style

and Character of Speech

CHAPTER IV.-Of the Rise and Progress of Language, as

respects the Order and Arrangement of Words in Sentences

CHAPTER V.-Of the origin and Progress of Writing

CHAPTER VI.-A Comparison of spoken with written Lan-

guage; or of Words uttered in our Hearing, with Words

represented to the Eye

OF THE STRUCTURE OF LANGUAGE; OR THE PRIN-

CIPLES OF GENERAL GRAMMAR.

CHAPTER 1.-Of the several Parts of which Speech or Lan-

guage is composed

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CHAPTER II.- The Nature and Character of the Use which

gives Law to Language

Language mainly a Species of Fashion

Use, or the Custom of Speaking, the sole original standard of
Conversation, as far as respects the Expression; and the
Custom of Writing the chief standard of Style

ibid

Authors of Reputation

CHAPTER III.-The Nature and Use of verbal Criticism,

with its principal Rules or Canons, by which in all our Decis-

ions, we ought to be directed

The divided Use

Canon the First, when Use is divided as to any particular Word

Canon the Second. In doubtful cases, regard ought to be had,

in our decisions, to the analogy of the Language

Canon the Third, prefers what is most agreeable to the Ear ibid
Canon the Fourth, allows simplicity to determine our choice ibid
Canon the Fifth, prefers what is most conformable to ancient
Usage

Every thing favoured by good Use, is not on that Account

worthy to be retained

ibid

Criteria, by which we may discriminate the objectionable

Words from all others

Canon the Sixth, points out such Words and Phrases as merit

Canon the Seventh, points to Words that require dismission

Canon the Eighth, respects Words become obsolete

Canon the Ninth, enables us to detect solecisms and idiomatical

Canon the Tenth, regards the Suppression of a significant

Term, which hath come into good Use

CHAPTER IV.-Of Grammatical Purity

Pure English Composition

The reproach of barbarism may be incurred in three different

ways: 1st. By the Use of Words entirely obsolete; 2ndly.

By the Use of Words entirely new; or, 3dly. By new Form-

ations and Compositions, from simple and primitive Words in

By the Use of obsolete Words

The Use of new Words inundates a Language

By the Use of good Words new modelled

The Impropriety

Of Improprieties arising from a similitude in Sense

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ON THE NATURE AND STRUCTURE OF SENTENCES,

THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF PERSPICUITY,

AND THE HARMONY OF PERIODS.

CHAPTER I.-Of the Nature of Sentences and Periods

Simple Sentences

Complex Sentences

Short sentences

The full Period

CHAPTER II.-Of the Errors to he avoided in the Structure

of Sentences, and the arrangement of Single Words

The Arrangement of the Agent, the Action, and the Subject

Of the Arrangement of the other Parts of Speech, Pronouns,

Participles, Prepositions, and Conjunctions

CHAPTER III.-On the Structure of Sentences

The distinction of long and short ones

The Properties most essential to a perfect Sentence

Clearness and Precision

In the Position of Adverbs

In Circumstances in the middle of a Sentence

In the proper Disposition of the relative Pronouns, who, which,

Redundant Words, redundant Members, new Ideas, new

The Members of Sentences rising and growing in their Impor-

The same Word used in different Senses

From too artificial a structure of the Sentence

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The squinting Construction

CHAPTER VII. Of the Unintelligible

The Unintelligible from Confusion of Thought

The Unintelligible from Affectation of Excellence

CHAPTER VIII.-The various Species of the Unintelligible

The Unintelligible from want of meaning in the Writer

The learned Nonsense

CHAPTER IX.-Of the Harmony of Periods

How a melodious Structure is formed

The Distribution of the several Members

The close or cadence of the whole Sentence

A falling off at the end always injurious

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Vivacity and Strength of Composition promoted; various

All Appearances affecting Harmony, are disagreeable

The Current of Sound adapted to the Tenour of a Discourse

CHAPTER X.-Resemblance between Sound and Sense-In-

The Inversions of modern Languages

CHAPTER I.-Of the Character and Advantage of Figures 140

Figures of Words

Figures of Thought

Tropes, or Figures

Table of Figures, which, among related Objects, extend the

All Metaphor imports Comparison, and, is, in that respect, a

Figure of thought

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Of all the Figures of Speech, none comes so near to painting as

Metaphors must be suited to the Nature of the Subject of which

The Choice of Objects from whence Metaphors, and other

Fgures, are to be drawn

Metaphors drawn from Objects of Resemblance, which is the

Foundation of the Metaphors, be clear and perspicuous, not

far-fetched, nor difficult to discover

In the Conduct of Metaphors, we are never to jumble meta-

phorical and plain Language together

Never make two different Metaphors meet on one Object

Addison's Rule for examining the Propriety of Metaphors.

Metaphors must not be too far pursued

CHAPTER III.-Comparisons or Similes

The Difference between Comparisons or Similes

Explaining Comparisons

Embellishing Comparisons

All Comparisons may be reduced to the following Heads

Comparisons employed to elevate or depress the principal ob-

Comparisons should not be instituted between Objects, the Re-

semblance of which is either obscure, faint, or remote

Comparisons should not be deduced from Objects which rise

much above the primary Object

Comparisons destitute of dignity, transfer insignificance to the

principal Object

Comparisons are censurable when they prompt Feelings dis-

cordant with the aim of the principal Object, or when they

suggest Sentiments painful or disagreeable

Comparisons should never be founded on Resemblances which

are too obvious and familiar, nor on those which are imagin-

Extended Similes may be introduced with advantage on various

ibid

Improper Occasions on which circumstantial Similes make

ibid

their Appearance

Short Similes appear in the most passionate Scenes

CHAPTER IV.-Personification

Descriptive Personification

Passionate Personification

A capital Error in Personification, is to deck the Figure with

fantastic and trifling Circumstances

The English Language possesses a singular Advantage in

marking Personification

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