The Englishing of French Words; the Dialectal Words in Blunden's Poems: Society for Pure English, Tract 05

"The Englishing of French Words; the Dialectal Words in Blunden's Poems" by Brander Matthews is a scholarly publication written in the early 20th century. The book focuses on the integration of French words into the English language, examining the linguistic transition from French to English pronunciations and usages, while also addressing the impact of dialectal vocabulary found in the poetry of Edmund Blunden. Matthews discusses how words from various languages, especially French, have been absorbed into English, often without full assimilation into English phonetics and spelling. In this exploration, Matthews emphasizes the importance of adopting foreign words in a manner that aligns with English linguistic norms. He critiques the tendency to retain French pronunciations and spellings, which he argues undermines the purity of the English language. He provides numerous examples of terms that have either assimilated fully or retained their foreign characteristics, and reflects on the implications this has for the clarity and integrity of English expression. Additionally, the latter part of the book analyzes specific dialectal terms in Blunden's poetry, assessing their appropriateness and effectiveness in conveying meaning within his work. Overall, the publication serves as a thoughtful examination of the dynamic relationship between languages and emphasizes the need for conscious linguistic practices in English.