The pedigree of the English people : an argument, historical and scientific, on the formation and growth of the nation, tracing race-admixture in Britain from the earliest times, with especial reference to the incorporation of the Celtic aborigines / by Thomas Nicholas.

  • Nicholas, Thomas, 1820-1879.
Date:
1878
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The pedigree of the English people : an argument, historical and scientific, on the formation and growth of the nation, tracing race-admixture in Britain from the earliest times, with especial reference to the incorporation of the Celtic aborigines / by Thomas Nicholas. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    19/604
    A.M., for valuable criticisms on the work in MS., and suggestions which have contributed in no small degree to its improvement; and the list of Authors appended, together with the numerous references throughout, will show to what extent he has availed himself of the best sources and authorities, ancient and modern, and of the most recent scientific research. Part I. is to be understood as introductory ; the main Argu?nent is embodied in the succeeding parts. The less accurate orthography, Celtic rather than Keltic, is followed in deference to prevailing custom. Until the hard sound of c before e and i, as well as before a, o, and u, in words of Latin and Greek origin, is restored in practice, or the place of c filled by k in our classical scholarship, it is hardly worth while making an exception in the single case of the word Celt and its associates. The same rule would apply to Cirero, Cecrops, Cimbri, Ciliria*, in all of which the c should, in strictness, be sounded like k. German scholars, like those of some other continental countries, are led by the analogy of their own language to the more accurate pronunciation of the classical tongues. The English, who in this and other matters are slow to adopt the linguistic reforms pleaded for by Professor Blackie, have unfortunately an impediment to rational usage sanctioned by the rules of their own orthoepy. London, yanuary, 1868.