Article published In: New Approaches to the Study of Later Modern English
[Historiographia Linguistica 33:1/2] 2006
► pp. 39–56
James Merrick (1720–1769)
Poet, scholar, linguist
Published online: 17 July 2006
https://doi.org/10.1075/hl.33.1.05tie
https://doi.org/10.1075/hl.33.1.05tie
Summary
At the end of the preface to his Short Introduction to English Grammar (1762) Robert Lowth (1710–1787) makes an appeal for comments on his work. This article analyses his correspondence with James Merrick (1720–1769), a friend and fellow scholar, written between December 1761 and October 1764, in which he receives such comments. The discussion is an illustration of the current debate at the time as to whether Custom or Propriety should be invoked in deciding on correct usage. It shows first and foremost that Lowth’s attitude to grammar was focussed on the level of usage rather than the structure of the language.
Résumé
À la fin de la préface de son manuel, Short Introduction to English Grammar (1762), Robert Lowth (1710–1787) sollicite des commentaires sur son travail. Dans cet article l’auteur examine les commentaires compris dans sa correspondance, composée entre décembre 1761 et octobre 1764, avec James Merrick (1720–1769), son ami et collègue. Ces échanges illustrent un débat contemporain : devrait-on invoquer l’habitude ou la correction pour trancher des questions d’usage ? Cette correspondance révèle d’abord et avant tout que la grammaire de Lowth cible l’usage plutôt que la structure de la langue.
Zusammenfassung
Am Schluß des Vorworts zu seiner Short Introduction to English Grammar (1762) bittet Robert Lowth (1710–1787) den Leser um kritische Bemerkungen zu seinem Buch. Der vorliegende Beitrag analysiert seinen von Dezember 1761 bis Oktober 1764 reichenden Briefwechsel mit seinem Freund und Kollegen James Merrick (1720–1769), der darin Lowths Veröffentlichung eingehend kommentiert. Dieser Austausch veranschaulicht die damalige Diskussion über die Frage, ob Usus oder Angemessenheit als Maßstab für eine Entscheidung über sprachliche Korrektheit herangezogen werden sollte. Es zeigt sich hier vor allem, daß Lowths Einstellung gegenüber Fragen der Sprachnorm stärker am Kriterium des Sprachgebrauchs orientiert ist als an sprachstrukturellen Aspekten.
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