The Queen's English vs The Dean's English [pp. 558-585]

1867.] TIte 1)ean's English. 563
It is undoubtedly true that the English language is spoken
much more correctly by the mass of the people in America
than by the corresponding class in England; but it is also true
that the best educated people in England deviate less frequently
from the standard of good English than do our best scholars in
America. In other words, the educated class employ better
English in their conversation, not in their writings, than the
same class in America. Although dialects do not exist among
us, and the Janguage has achieved a remarkable degree of
purity and uniformity, yet there are peculiarities that distinguish the different sections of the country. The nasal intonation of New England, the omission of the h after w in the
Middle States, the drawl of the Southern, and the peculiar
accent of the Western States, seem to us to mark unmistakably
the inhabitants of the different parts of the land.
The Dutch have left only a few words in New York and
New Jersey; while the Swedes have left no imprint upon the
language. The Germans in Pennsylvania have not impaired
the national speech, and the French of the Mississippi valley
are destined to a complete absorption; while our immense
llibernian immigration has not even succeeded in obliterating
the distinction between shall and will. In fact the English
language in the days of Shakespeare resembled the Irish mode
of pronunciation more nearly than does the language of the
younger generation of the Irish in this country resemble that
of their parents. The assimilating power of the English blood
and the English language in this country is truly wonderful.
Even "Carlyle" cannot obtain a footing here, and the "me"
and the "not-me," "stand-~oint," &c., we hope will be ignominiously expelled. Only a few Spanish words were annexed
with Texas and California, while the poor Indian has contributed only a few words, except geographical names. This,
however, is a digression from our main subject.
While noticing the errors either of Dean Alford himself, or
those to which he calls attention, it may be well to glance at
some of the mistakes that are made even by well~educated
people among ourselves. In reference to spelling, the Dean is
conservative, and desires to preserve those forms of words which
recall their origin and etymology, where long usage does not