WHY WE SPEAK ENGLISH.
P. 2, c. 2.—“Erse,” erish. A Celtic language, properly called the Gælic, but by the Scotch Highlanders called Erse.
“Bengali,” ben-galˈee. The dialect spoken in Bengal.
“Brahmans,” brähˈmans. The priests who officiated in the Hindoo ceremonials. The devotees and worshipers sometimes received this name.
“Vedas,” vēˈdas. “Punctilio,” punc-tĭlˈyo. Exactness in forms, conduct or ceremony.
P. 3, c. 1.—“De Chésy,” deh shaˈzeˈ. (1773-1832.) He was an orientalist of some renown.
“Bopp.” (1791-1867.) A German professor of oriental languages in the University of Berlin during most of his life.
“Grimm.” (1785-1863.) A German philologist and voluminous writer.
“Joorkistan,” joor-kis-tanˈ.
“Hindoo Kosh.” Also spelled Kush, Koosh, or Kusch. A range of mountains in Central Asia.
“Oxus,” oxˈus. Called also the Amoo, the Gihon, or Jehoon.
P. 3, c. 2.—“Lithuanian,” lithˈu-āˌni-an.
P. 4, c. 2.—“Mæso-Goths.” Mœsia, or Mysia, was a country of Europe occupying about the same territory as do Servia and Bulgaria to-day. It was occupied by the Goths in the fourth century. They were called Mæso or Mœso-Goths.
“Ulphilas,” or Ulfilas, ŭlˈfi-las. (310-381.) The family of Ulfilas were Christians supposed to have been carried away by the Goths. In 341 he became the bishop of these people and soon induced a number of them to leave their warlike life to settle a colony in Mœsia. Here he cultivated the arts of peace, doing much to civilize the people. He introduced an alphabet of twenty-four letters, and translated all of the Bible except the book of Kings.