ALEX JOHN ELLIS – ARANY JÁNOSNAK
14 July 1874
As the acknowledgement of the receipt of my book „Algebra identified with Geometry” by
the Hungarian Academy of Sciences,
n
which
you have been kind enough to forward to me, is expressed in English, and as the printed
part contains a grammatical usage unknown in our language, I thought that you would not be
offended if I pointed it out with a view to future correction, as it is of course
unpleasant to print any language erroneously. My own acquaintance with Hungarian is about
as slender as possible not to be absolutely nothing, but I know that you do not
distinguish genders, & hence it appeared to me that you
probably attributed a feminine gender in English to Academy, which is feminine in Latin & French. In English our
feminines & masculines proper are confined to objects with actual sex, altho’ in
various occupations some words are invested with gender. To a sailor a ship & to an engine driver a train etc are feminine. Often the sun is masc. &
the moon is fem., but not Jegyzet
As the acknowledgement of the receipt of my book „Algebra identified with Geometry” by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences–
Alexander John Ellis
: Algebra Identified with Geometry, C. F. Hodgson & Sons,
1874. A műnek napjainkban is vannak új kiadásai.Ellis, Alexander John
generally
in astronomical
treatises, where both are it or neut., & all words not
actually implying sex are now generally considered as neuter in
ordinary prose & scientific works. In poetry & declamatory passages any amount of
prosopopoeia & hence of sexual distinction occurs.
Beszúrás
But when the word referred to is a noun of multitude, as Academy,
Society,
Council
, Committee, College, University, usage varies as to
whether the pronouns referring to them should be considered as neuter
singular (it, its) or plural genderless (they, their). So
doubtful is usage upon this point that many secretaries continue to word their letters so
as to avoid the pronoun altogether, or else speak of the Members
of Academy etc., to justify the their; but on the other hand some use it, its; the greater number I think use their. Having
presented my book to numerous societies & libraries, I thought it might be interesting
to you if I sent you the official (printed) wording of Beszúrás
some of
the
acknowledgements I received classified according to the above usages. See annexed
slip.
Beszúrás
Although this usage of her is the most striking peculiarity in
the wording, there are also true inversions of the usual English
order of words, and the spelling
Pest
for
Budapest
Pesth
. The latter is the English spelling, possibly to avoid any confusion with pest, a plague.
Budapest
Your letter runs as follows, where the red ink shows the corrections which I beg to
submit with a view of reducing it to English usage.
Pesth
Budapest
As the passage original stands, the words strictly imply that „the undersigned” is a woman, & that the „thanks” are sent from „her” personally,
& not from the Academy! Which, of course, is absurd!
Also „warmest thanks” are not usual words in an official communications. Allow me to
suggest either no adjective, or „their best thanks” simply. By reading the annexed
transcripts you will see the formulae which English Societies employ.
Of course this is a private communication to yourself, &
not addressed to the Society, although perhaps it may lead your Council to change the
English of its form of acknowledgement.
Feeling sure that you will receive this communication in the spirit in which it was
written – the desire of a member of one learned society to assist another – I remain with
great respect for the Hungarian Academy & yourself
Alex J. Ellis
Ellis, Alex John
Vice-President of the Philosophical Society.
n
Jegyzet
Vice-President of the Philosophical Society– A Cambridge Philosophical Society-t 1819-ben alapították
Sir, I am directed to return you the thanks of the Society for your esteemed Present of
–––– which has been received and deposited in the Society’s –––––.
2. Royal Institution, Albermark Street, Piccadilly, W. – 18–– Sir, I have the honour to
return you the thanks of the Members of the Royal Institution of Great Britain, for your
Present of ––––– which has been received and is deposited in the Library of the Royal
Institution.
3. Royal Cork Institution Library – 18––– Sir, I have the honour to convey to you the
thanks of the Library Committee for your Donation, below specified; which I shall have
much pleasure in submitting to the Board of Managers.
4. Trinity College Dublin –––––– I am desired by the Provost & Senior Fellows to
return you the thanks of the University for the donation mentioned below which you have
presented to the Library.
On behalf of the Corporation of the McGill University, I beg leave to acknowledge with
thanks, the receipt of ––––– a Donation from ––––– to the ––––– of the University.
6. Mathematical Society, 12 St. James’s Square, London ––– 18 ––– ––––– I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the present
to this Society of ––––– and I am desired to express the thanks
of its members for this ––––– donation, which has been duly
placed in its Library.
––––– I am requested by the Master & Seniors to return you
their thanks, in usual English on behalf of the College for ––––– which you have kindly presented
to the College Library. I have the honour to remain ––––– Your Obedient Servant –––––
Librarian.
Sir, I am directed by the Royal Society to express their thanks for ––––– and to assure You that the Society duly appreciate – plural verb –
this mark of consideration.
9. University College, London. ––– 18 –––– ––––– I am directed by the Council to
request that you will accept their sincere thanks for your kind
present of the undermentioned Work to the College Library. I am, ––––– , Your obedient
Servant,
I am directed by the Library Committee of the Corporation of
the City of London, to return you their unanimous thanks for the
undermentioned Work, which you were pleased to present to them, to be placed in the
Library established in the Guildhall.
––––– I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of ––––– and I am directed by the
Library Committee to convey to you their best thanks for the donation.
Sir, I am directed by the Society to express their thanks for ––––– and to assure you that the Society duly appreciate plural verb this
mark of consideration.
Except as regards the spelling honour (which
in England
is the most usual, although honor is most usual in
America) this is clearly a transcript of no. 8.
Anglia