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signified nothing in public opinion； any more than that of
Inscriptions。 。 。 The languages is considered a science for fools。
D'Alembert was ashamed of belonging to the Academy of Sciences。 Only a
handful of people listen to a mathematician； a chemist； etc。 but the
man of letters； the lecturer； has the world at his feet。〃＇8＇ … Under
such a strong pressure the mind necessarily follows a literary and
verbal route in conformity with the exigencies； the proprieties； the
tastes； and the degree of attention and of instruction of its
public。＇9＇ Hence the classic mold； … formed out of the habit of
speaking； writing and thinking for a drawing room audience。＇10＇
This is immediately evident in its style and language。 Between
Amyot； Rabelais and Montaigne on the one hand； and Chateaubriand；
Victor Hugo and Honoré de Balzac on the other； classic French comes
into being and dies。 From the very first it is described at the
language of 〃honest people。〃 It is fashioned not merely for them； but
by them； and Vaugelas；＇11＇ their secretary； devotes himself for thirty
years to the registry of decisions according to the usages only of
good society。 Hence； throughout； both in vocabulary and in grammar；
the language is refashioned over and over again； according to the cast
of their intellects； which is the prevailing intellect。 …
In the first place the vocabulary is diminished：
* Most of the words specially employed on erudite and technical
subjects； expressions that are too Greek or too Latin； terms peculiar
to the schools； to science； to occupations； to the household； are
excluded from discourse；
* those too closely denoting a particular occupation or profession
are not considered proper in general conversation。
* A vast number of picturesque and expressive words are dropped；
all that are crude； gaulois or naifs； all that are local and
provincial； or personal and made…up； all familiar and proverbial
locutions；＇12＇ many brusque； familiar and frank turns of thought；
every haphazard； telling metaphor； almost every description of
impulsive and dexterous utterance throwing a flash of light into the
imagination and bringing into view the precise； colored and complete
form； but of which a too vivid impression would run counter to the
proprieties of polite conversation。
〃One improper word；〃 said Vaugelas； 〃is all that is necessary to
bring a person in society into contempt；〃
and； on the eve of the Revolution； an objectionable term denounced
by Madame de Luxembourg still consigns a man to the rank of 〃espèces；〃
because correct expression is ever an element of good manners。 …
Language； through this constant scratching； is attenuated and becomes
colorless： Vaugelas estimates that one…half of the phrases and terms
employed by Amyot are set aside。＇13＇ With the exception of La
Fontaine； an isolated and spontaneous genius； who reopens the old
sources； and La Bruyère； a bold seeker； who opens a fresh source； and
Voltaire an incarnate demon who； in his anonymous and pseudonymous
writings； gives the rein to the violent； crude expressions of his
inspiration；＇14＇ the terms which are most appropriate fall into
desuetude。 One day； Gresset； in a discourse at the Academy； dares
utter four or five of these；＇15＇ relating； I believe； to carriages and
head…dresses； whereupon murmurs at once burst forth。 During his long
retreat he had become provincial and lost the touch。 … By degrees；
discourses are composed of 〃general expressions〃 only。 These are even
employed； in accordance with Buffon's precept； to designate concrete
objects。 They are more in conformity with the polished courtesy which
smoothes over； appeases； and avoids rough or familiar expressions； to
which some views appear gross or rude unless partly hidden by a veil。
This makes it easier for the superficial listener； prevailing terms
alone will immediately arouse current and common ideas； they are
intelligible to every man from the single fact that he belongs to the
drawing…room； special terms； on the contrary； demand an effort of the
memory or of the imagination。 Suppose that； in relation to Franks or
to savages； I should mention 〃a battle…ax；〃 which would be at once
understood； should I mention a 〃tomahawk；〃 or a 〃francisque；〃＇16＇ many
would imagine that I was speaking Teuton or Iroquois。＇17＇ In this
respect the more fashionable and refined the style； the more
punctilious the effort。 Every appropriate term is banished from
poetry； if one happens to enter the mind it must be evaded or replaced
by a paraphrase。 An eighteenth century poet can hardly permit himself
to employ more than one…third of the dictionary； poetic language at
last becomes so restricted as to compel a man with anything to say not
to express himself in verse。＇18＇
On the other hand the more you prune the more you thin out。 Reduced
to a select vocabulary the Frenchman deals with fewer subjects； but he
describes them more agreeably and more clearly。 〃Courtesy； accuracy〃；
（Urbanité； exactitude！）； these two words； born at the same time with
the French Academy； describes in a nutshell the reform of which it is
the tool； and which the drawing…room； by it； and alongside of it；
imposes on the public。 Grand seigniors in retirement； and unoccupied
fine ladies； enjoy the examination of the subtleties of words for the
purpose of composing maxims； definitions and characters。 With
admirable scrupulousness and infinitely delicate tact； writers and
people society apply themselves to weighing each word and each phrase
in order to fix its sense； to measure its force and bearing； to
determine its affinities； use and connections This work of precision
is carried on from the earliest academicians； Vaugelas； Chapelain and
Conrart； to the end of the classic epoch； in the Synonymes by Bauzée
and by Girard； in the Remarque by Duclos； in the Commentaire by
Voltaire on Corneille； in the Lycée by la Harpe；＇19＇ in the efforts；
the example； the practice and the authority of the great and the
inferior writers of which all are correct。 Never did architects；
obliged to use ordinary broken highway stones in building； better
understand each piece； its dimensions； its shape； its resistance； its
possible connections and suitable position。 … Once this was learned；
the task was to construct with the least trouble and with the utmost
solidity； the grammar was consequently changed at the same time and in
the same way as the dictionary。 Hence no longer permitting the words
to reflect the way impressions and emotions were felt； they now
had to be regularly and rigorously assigned according to the
invariable hierarchy of concepts。 The writer may no longer begin his
text with the leading figure or the main purpose of his story； the
setting is given and the places assigned beforehand。 Each part of the
discourse has its own place； no omission or transposition is
permitted； as was done in the sixteenth century＇20＇。 All parts