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Why learn French?

I came across an 1823 French grammar primer by an American called William Cobbett. It is in the form of a series of letters to his son Richard. In the first letter he offers his son a justification for learning French. Among other things he writes:

"this talent gives... not only an air of superiority, but also a reasonable and just claim to real superiority because it must be manifest to every one (sic), that it is the effect of attention and of industry as well as of good natural capacity of mind.It is not a thing like dancing or singing, perfection in the former of which is most likely to arise from an accidental pliancy of the limbs, and in the latter from an organisation of the throat and lungs, not less accidental: it is not a thing of this sort, but a thing, the possession of which necessarily implies considerable powers of mind, and a meritorious application of those powers."

Do you think people of that day struggled to be concise?

He's also an intellectual snob and talking bull of course, since a singer or a dancer also has to work hard to develop their natural talent.

Comments

  1. Thank-you for your fascinating blog.

    See http://saisonsdesaintececile.blogspot.com/

    Do you have any information on the 1960's filmstrip course featuring La Famille Thibault/Thibaud?

    Best regards.

    Alan BROWN

    ReplyDelete

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