| Description | He does not know of any book that gives a reasonable account of Greek accentuation. Ordinary grammars contain rules, but not in a systematic method. He cannot help Herschel in determining why some words are accented one way, and others another. Etymology is an uncertain guide. Herschel has mentioned other difficulties, which Malden addresses. He will send Herschel a copy of a paper he gave to the Philological Society, in order to understand his views. He has never had the leisure to study the original Greek grammarians who have treated accentuation, but he thinks Latin grammarians erred, and some false rules have come down from them. He is sorry he cannot give more satisfactory information. If Herschel sets to work to study the matter, rules might be presented more clearly, and he would be happy to discuss what he means. It would take some time and labour, however. |