Hermann Paul
Published: 2013-09
Total Pages: 162
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1888 edition. Excerpt: ...the Latin ligustieum; fclltisen, from French valise; f/ircit/iohi, (rum lie re It; Greek trwf&piov, from the Hebrew sanlifdrin cf. the vulgar Knglish sfntrwtv-grass for aspargus One part changes its form, while the other merely changes its meaning, in the case of iil'Sfit, -, formerly apsitie, from the Greek ty; Kiissnatht from Cnssiuiacum; probably also in Mailainl from MUG. M(l, in. Those examples help to show that an additional impulse is given to unification if the meaning of the transformed word icrmits of being connected with that of its model; but such impulse is not absolutely necessary for its production. To explain the process we have to notice in the first instance that we do not as a rule apprehend the words and sentences which we hear with absolute exactness according to their several factors. We commonly to some extent divine them by guesswork, and our guess depends on the sense which the context leads us to expect. In the process we come naturally upon sound-groups with which we arc quite familiar; and it may thus happen that the very first time that the word is heard, instead of an intrinsically meaningless portion of a lonj; word, a word in ordinary use with a similar sound may substitute itself. And further, a portion of a word, which otherwise has no hold on language, has, even when correctly caught, no firm hold on the memory, and it is therefore possible that on the attempt at reproduction a familiar element may substitute itself as an independent word. And when such substitution has once taken place cither in the process of hearing or in that if speaking, the substitution has the advantage over the genuine ( imprinting itself more lastingly on the memory. It is natural to expect that this process should be,