DRIE TALEN Anniversary. The January number of De Drie Talen is the first instalment of the fortieth volume. To publish a periodical of this kind for forty years, without any change of publisher or editor except those necessitated by deaths is a success to which we know no parallel in our country. And it is a still more wonderful circumstance that one of the original editors is still doing his work with the same zest and capacity that has given such a reputation to the part for which he is specially responsible: the fortieth anniversary of the periodical coincides with the fortieth year of Mr. Eykman's editorship. The editors and the publisher have decided to commemorate the event by the publication of a Miscellany to which many older and some younger students of modern languages have contributed articles of varying length. At the time of writing, the book has not yet appeared, although it will be sent to subscribers in the course of this month (January). It is with great pleasure that we note among the contributors scholars representing the scientific as well as the practical study of languages, professors and other scholars as well as schoolmasters. It is a sign that the study of foreign languages in Holland is in the hands of men of the world, who know that the University needs the elementary and secondary school as much as the elementary and secondary school need the University. For this reason we, too, rejoice in the success of a periodical that has had a considerable share in raising the teaching of foreign languages in Holland to its present high level, and express the hope that it may long continue its useful career. Modern Studies at Dutch Universities. In November of last year Dr. H. W. Rutgers opened his course in Modern German at Groningen University with a lecture entitled Der Unterricht in der Neuhochdeutschen Sprache an der Universität. 1) The speaker expressed his satisfaction that modern languages, after a discussion of forty years, have at last been recognized as subjects which it is not below the dignity of a Dutch university to hold examinations in. We should have preferred if he had expressed his sense of the scandalous spectacle of a government pretending to give opportunities of training, and asking a big sum for it, while withholding from the university the means of carrying out its duties towards its alumni. But we understand that a young man may think it the duty of those who are older than himself to criticize the official representatives of State education. Dr. Rutgers says a few words as to the possibility of learning a foreign language at a university. It seems to us that the answer depends rather on the teacher than on the place of teaching. It need not be explained here that it is absurd that the university undertakes to provide diplomas without teacher who is responsible for the subjects examined. As to the place of the living language in a University, Mr. Rutgers holds that the aim must be entirely practical. The scientific training must be the task of the teacher charged with the history of the language. We are afraid that the study of modern languages will not be benefited by the changes introduced in the university regulations, even if and when carried out with a due sense their real importance, unless university teachers are really convinced that the practical study of a modern language should be accompanied by a thorough scientific study of the present stage of the language, because such 1) Wolters, f 0.75. a study is absolutely necessary to make the historical studies of real use. Mr. Rutgers repeatedly declares that he is thoroughly orthodox; the study of the history of language must complete the practical study. It is a pity that he does not seem to grasp the importance of the idea that has been advocated by the greatest representatives of language-study: that the modern language is even more important to the historical student. We recommend the study of Delbrück's little book on the Grundlagen der neuhochdeutschen Satzlehre, a book that is no doubt known to him, but whose importance does not seem to be fully understood by him, as by many others. For the rest we are pleased to find ourselves in agreement with most of what Mr. Rutgers says. 1) One point may be specially mentioned; the speaker warns against the tendency of undervaluing the importance of reading against studying handbooks. If he can teach students to learn their idiom, their synonyms, and also much of their grammar, by a careful study of German texts, he will do them a great service. It is a lesson that most students find it very hard to learn. Dutch Studies in the University of London. It is probably known to most of our readers that the University of London, some five years ago, organized a Department for Dutch Studies. Dr. P. Geyl, at that time the London correspondent of the Nieuwe Rotterdammer, was appointed to the Chair, and some time afterwards Dr. P. Harting was appointed as his assistant. We learn that the University has made a new arrangement. Professor Geyl is now specially charged with the study of Dutch history, whereas Dr. Harting will be responsible for Dutch language and literature. We hope that the new arrangement, which makes the two men independent heads of practically two different departments, and takes account of the special field of study cultivated by each of them, will prove beneficial to the development of Dutch studies in England. Translation. 1. Wiegen lay down at full length on the knoll and forgetful of all earthly things let his large and dreamy eyes roam over the country around him, the blue sky and clouds as they came and went. 2. On the knoll where he lay stood two or three birch trees. 3. The thick, crooked trunks rose glistening white with black patches; the branches were white and glistening up to the top where they changed into brown and broke into a hundred thin fine hanging stems, which gave to the trees the appearance of weeping birches. 4. Gay colours prevailed in trunks and leaves, delicate, green leaves which were always stirring, never at rest, talking and whispering about the thousand things happening on the moor which the birches alone can know. 5. "Oh! go on talking and whispering, for I know all about it," thought Wiegen. 6. Did you imagine I did not know that the rabbits were here quite early this morning, and that they played about till the two big bucks bit each other, while the does sat by the side? 7. And that all at once 1) E.g. when he stresses the importance for modern studies of a thorough knowledge of classical languages. the whole troop scuttled off head over heels to their burrows because the hawk came swooping down from overhead? 8. I say, what did the hawk tell you that I do not know? 9. I know it all and that he perched on a branch, looking far across the hills at the marsh, and that you dared not say a word then." 10. And Wiegen, lying at full length, kept gazing up at the tree top where the twigs laughed and nodded at him. 11. "But I know something that you do not," he continued pensively; "it is true you can look far across the moor because you are so big and tall, but you can't move from your places; you must for ever remain here, you will never get any further. 12. You can't reach the ducks in the morning when they swim and dive and skim over the water. 13. I was there early this morning, they were sitting on the bank; and they stuck their bills in between their feathers and under their wings, they wanted to make them oily and clean, the dead feathers they took out, they had no use for them and dropped them on the ground; the whole bank is still full of them. 14. And you did not see what I did, you lie-abeds! 15. They did not know I was coming for I can steal along noiselessly on my bare feet in face of the wind, and I had told Sipie to keep quiet and with a stone I hit one full on its head: look, here it is, dead; do you want to see it?" 16. And he raised himself up from his recumbent position and drew the duck, the big and shining one, from the bag beside him. 17. "Do you see it up there?" he said. 18. "No, Sipie, let go, be off!" 19. For the dog already had the feathers between his teeth. 20. "Look, it has a red bill and its feathers are blue and white, it is a drake; and do you feel the thickness of the greyish-brown feathers on its breast? 21. Wine shall have him when she comes!" 22. And at the same time he put the bird back into the bag. 23. The village policeman might be sneaking about in the neighbourhood. 24. But his conversation with the birches was finished for the present. 25. For, sitting up straight, he fixed his eyes on the far horizon over the low range of hills; and he gazed behind him in the other direction; you never could tell, that policeman had such a stealthy way of creeping about. Observations. 1. Wiegen stretched himself at full length on the hill. In his full length and as long as he was are literal renderings of the Dutch. Forgetting about all earthly things. - The country around him is correct. The various senses of land and country are treated exhaustively in Günther's English Synonyms. Pacing up and down this walk, while her eyes wandered over the still green country. (Lucas Malet, Mrs. Lorimer, Chapter III, p. 29.). Come and go to watch the soft shadows come and go upon the ceiling as the sun came out or went behind a cloud. (Samuel Butler, The Way of All Flesh, Chapter LXXX p. 363.) 2. Two or three birches were standing. The periphrastic form should not be used when the verb expresses a permanent state. Compare: He was lying on the sofa Rotterdam lies on the Maas; The boy was standing on his head - The house stood in a fine situation. There stood. There is not necessary: On the table stood a tea kettle (Gaboriau, The Clique of Gold, p. 10.). Where he was lying is correct. Birch tree: The birchtrees were all gold among the rocks of the knoll; a roving buck rabbit came to the foot of it. (Windsor Magazine, Sept. 1911. p. 476). -- 3. Knarled is obsolete; the modern form is gnarled. Many an acorn sown by the autumnal wind which wafted Caesar to the coast, may have become the 'unwedgeable and gnarled oak' long before the final retirement - of his successors. (Thomas Milner, The History of England Ch. IV. p. 30.). -A stem differs from a trunk in being slender. Gleaming white is good English. For the difference between gleam, shine, glitter etc. Günther may be consulted. The statue of Hercules was back upon its pedestal again ... the gleaming white arm was uplifted under the rays of the electric light. (Windsor Magazine, July 1908, p. 204.). His eyes were fixed upon the stark, gleaming body, coming out more and more steadily till two-thirds of it rested on the slimy bank (Ib., p. 202). "See what a glass of good wine can do! Why, your eyes are shining already!" Poor fellow! his large eyes gleamed rather than shone; for the effect of wine on his excitable brain was not more powerful than instantaneous (E. A. Poe, Hop-Frog.). Children's hands and men's dark clothes soil table-cloth edges this is where wear first shows. P. and G. removes this 'edge-soil', saves linen and keeps it gleaming white. (Advertisement.). His face shone with perspiration (Windsor Mag. 1909). A face which shone with soap. (Pearson's Magazine, July 1910. p. 102.). Something shines in the grass. A knife! (T. Hopkins, The Romance of Fraud, p. 54.). His eyes twinkled (humorously) but also glittered (with avarice). (Hornung, Raffles, p. 35.). From the whitewashed ceiling depended a T-shaped gasfitting, one burner of which showed a glimmer. (A. Bennett, Anna of the Five Towns.). Nor did this glimmer of a quenched fire seem to light him to a quicker sense of his debasement (Dickens, The Chimes.) A lantern glimmer. (Hardy, Return of the Native, I. p. 109.). Humorously twinkling eyes. (Strand Magazine, Sept. 1909, p. 282.). A funny twinkle that made him peculiarly adaptable for his part of clown. (Windsor Magazine, March 1905. p. 552.). - They branched out into. Subtle leaves. In 4. A cheerful tone prevailed in trunks and foliage. the sense of 'slender', 'thin' the word subtle is marked obsolete in N.E.D. - Hung still is right. Hung quietly must be condemned because we can substitute the preterite of the copula for hung. It would be an impropriety to write The clouds look darkly, the poor child looks coldly. But the adverb should be used as soon as the adjunct qualifies no longer the noun but the verb: He looked coldly on me. See Onions' Advanced Syntax, § 24. Rustled would refer to sound rather than to motion. Which always stirred. See Kruisinga's Handbook, § 265 & § 266 and compare Sweet N.E.G. § 2221. Both on the heath and in the heath: Remaining on the heath (Hardy, Return, I 181.). Should be so easily worked upon by a girl in a heath. (Ib., p. 231.). 5. Yes, talk away. "Grin away", said Sikes, replacing the poker and surveying him with savage contempt. (Dickens, Oliver Twist, Ch. XV.). Yes, darling, ask away (Pearson's Magazine, June 1909. p. 608.). Wiegen thought. 6. Het as a provisional object anticipating an infinitive or clause is often left untranslated. Ik weet het wel, dat hij me bedriegt. Here het is a mere expletive. See Kruisinga's Grammar and Idiom, § 84. - The rabbits sat (have sat) here. The preterite seems more appropriate because it expresses a past occurrence without any reference to the present, laying more emphasis on the action than on its result. Ram is not said of a male rabbit. Buck may also be applied to a male hare: Hares are usually solitary, but in early spring, when they pair, several may be seen playing about together, even by day the proverbial madness of the "March hare." The bucks fight savagely together . the doe usually produces five young. (Frank Finn, The Wild Beasts of the World, II p. 2.). While the does sat by the side. Sit may have the same meaning as sit down: The hurrying crowd smooths its caudal plumage as it sits. (Holmes, Addr. opening Fifth Avenue Theatre 100. quoted from N. E. D.) When she could stand the crick in her neck no longer she sat upright again (Mrs. Sidgwick, Lamorna). Here the addition of down would be impossible. 7. Dived into their holes. Dive is often used in the sense of 'dart out of sight,' 'disappear': He dived into the coffeeroom. (E. M. Forster, Howard's End, p. 208.). He dived into his bedroom. (Leys, Houseboat Mystery, p. 75.). -The hen-raven began it by tweaking the cat's tail and scuttling for dear life from the slashing paw that followed (F. St. Mars, Kafoozalum.). A rabbit pricked up its ears, stared for an instant and then scuttled to cover. (J. D. Beresford, A World of Women, p. 150.). Causing the conceited hares to scuttle away for the hills (R. L. Surtees, Ask Mama XXXI. 74..) Swoop (down): In olden times an eagle swooped down upon the New England coast, and carried off an infant Indian in his talons. (H. Melville, Moby Dick, Ch. XIV. p. 84.). The roar of the engine swelled to a terrifying violence, so close, it seemed to swoop upon us (Strand Magazine, Dec. 1921. p. 562.). Fly down: The raven flew down to a river to drink. (St. Mars, Kafoozalum). The wonder-bird, who was watching from above, flew down to meet the sorrow-stricken chieftain with the boy in his hold. (Children's Encyclopaedia, p. 902.). Pounce suggests the idea of catching the prey: The insect was pounced upon by one of the great black-and-white hornets, as a hawk pounces upon a rabbit. (G. D. Roberts, The Black Swamp.). From overhead: There was a quick run of reports, half heard in that devastating roar, from overhead (Strand Magazine, Dec. 1921. p. 562.). The thunder roared and rattled overhead. (Conan Doyle, The Surgeon of Gaster Fell.). A hideous yellow fog overhead, blurring every outline. (Strand Magazine, Aug. 1906. p. 223.). In a different sense: If they bathed, they never were to go overhead, unless they liked it. (Stead, The Jolly Family at the Seaside, p. 24.). From on high. He does not deal in wicked arts, he is inspired from on high (Strand Magazine, April 1914. p. 427.). - 8. Say is an Americanism, British usage requiring I say. 9. The hawk made off, striving to gain a tree-top where she might perch. (Windsor Mag., Aug. 1916. p. 312.). This rook was perched in a tree. (Harmsworth Magazine, June 1899. p. 445.). A robin perched upon a bare bough was wistfully watching old Quercy, who was digging in his garden (Strand Mag., April 1914. p. 473.). On descending at daybreak into her kitchen the dame would descry the cat perched on the dresser. (Bulwer Lytton, Eugene Aram, p. 92.). Old castles, perched like eagles' nests among the mountains (Irving, Sketchbook.). Swamp Bog Marsh. A swamp differs from a bog and a marsh in producing trees and shrubs, while the latter produce only herbage, plants and mosses (Webster.). In dark fens of the Dismal Swamp The hunted Negro lay. (Longfellow.). Near the top of a steep and rocky knoll at the heart of a cedar swamp a mother lynx had her lair. (Windsor Magazine. Sept. 1911. p. 472.). A mangrove swamp was successfully evaded. (Royal Magazine, Oct. 1913. p. 568.). A spacious patch of morass, fairly firm on the surface, but underneath, a slough of viscid mud. (G. D. Roberts, The Black Swamp.). 10. Where the twigs made fun of him. 11. You can't from your place. Verbs of motion were often omitted in the early stages of English, just as they are still occasionally left out in present-day Dutch. Shakespeare has many examples of this practice: I must to Coventry. (Richard II.). Înstances are sometimes found in modern English literature where the Elizabethan idiom is deliberately introduced for quaintness. Let's to table. Are you for London? See Onions, Advanced Syntax, p. 5. — |