Encyclopaedia of the Languages of the World (4 Vols-Set)

Contents: Vol. I. 1. The treasury of languages. 2. A rudimentary dictionary of universal philology.

Vol. 2: 1. Phrasis: a treatise on the history and structure of the different languages of the world with a comparative view of the forms of their words and the styles of their expression/J. Wilson.

Vol. 3: The worlds chief languages1/Mario A. Pei.

Vol. 4: 1. The worlds chief languages II/Mario A. Pei. 2. The peoples and languages of the world/A. Maclean Sinclair.

The Study of language as a science in itself has attracted sop far but very little attention in many countries of the world. Indeed it would be quite impossible for the student, however great his interest in the subject might be to find the means with which to prosecute his inquiries. There are very few works which are devoted exclusively to this subject we know of not a single general or comprehensive work similar to the one before the reader nor do the works of English authors present us with anything like a complete view of the subject. There is then a want which is every day felt of a work which shall give a fair view of the present state of philological science which shall initiate the inquiring student into the mysteries of language and inform him of its wonders and its beauties of a work which shall be complete in itself and which shall not imply anything else than a knowledge of the English and a disposition on the part of the learner to study and reflect a work which shall be simple and plain enough for anybody to read, and yet thorough and philosophical enough for even the experienced philologist to study with advantage.

The most important part of the whole work is the comparative view of the history and idioms of the principle languages of the world. It is believed that nothing can so well instruct us in the true nature of language as the manner in which the different classes of people, or nations, express their ideas. Here the selections have been very copious and no pains have been spared to render their character and meaning easily understood. The subject of etymology has also been thoroughly treated, of and the rules by which we may trace the connation of words, have been carefully set forth. The large lists of worlds under this head must prose very instructive to anyone who carefully examine them. (jacket)