Audiobook The Grammar of English Grammars

The work opens by establishing language as a unique attribute of human reason, distinguishing grammar as both a science and a practical art. The author examines the historical origin of language and writing, arguing against theories that reduce early speech to animal cries or spontaneous invention, and emphasizing the divine and structural foundations of human communication. A critical survey of grammatical authorship follows, exposing the common faults of copyists, plagiaries, and visionaries, while contrasting them with genuine scholarship. The volume provides an extensive catalog of English grammars and grammarians, detailing the historical development of linguistic studies. Through subsequent chapters, the text explores the inherent power of language, the mechanics of thought, and the historical transformation of the English language from its Anglo-Saxon roots. Throughout, the author asserts that true grammatical rules must be founded on good use and logical analysis rather than uneducated caprice or ephemeral literary trends.