144 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



questions of linguistic pliilosophy, or are loose and inconsistent in 

 their views of such questions ; liardly seeming, in many cases, to be 

 aware that there are antagonistic doctrines before them, one of which 

 ouglit to be, and must finally be adopted, to the exclusion of the 

 other. There needs to be, perhaps, a radical stirring-up of the sub- 

 ject, a ventilation of a somewhat breezy, even gusty, order, which 

 shall make words fly high, and dash noisily against one another, 

 before agreement shall be reached. If so, the sooner it is brought on, 

 in whatever way, the better ; and they are no true promoters of the 

 progress of the science Avho strive to smooth things over on the sur- 

 face, and act as if all were serene and accordant below. 



Amid manifold minor diversities, and half-views and compromises 

 innumerable, opinions respecting language seem to be divisible into 

 two principal opposing classes, which may be termed (rudely, and 

 without intended oiFense to the sensibilities of the adherents of either) 

 the positive and the sentimental, or the common-sense and the meta- 

 physical. The latter class tends toward an admiring contemplation 

 of language, in its comprehensive relation to the human mind and 

 human progress, and toward its study in and through the processes 

 of mental action tliat underlie its production and use. The other 

 class plants itself upon the consideration, first of details, and then of 

 their combined result ; it begins with the a;idible sign the word 

 and works from this toward the intellectual process which it repre- 

 sents. The one strives after profundity, brings in its illustrations 

 from remote periods and languages, and forms grand and striking 

 views ; the other aims at simplicity, at general intelligibility, at mod- 

 eration, and rejoices in the overthrow of exaggerated and illusory 

 opinions. It is by no means easy to characterize the two opposing 

 tendencies fairly in a sentence or two ; and I would not at all claim 

 that the description here given is not tinged with the prejudices of 

 the describer. One may acknowledge the influence of such prejudices 

 in drawing up a general account of the questions at issue, while yet 

 he may believe himself capable of examining and discussing, with en- 

 tire fairness, any detailed views, any distinct statements or arguments, 

 brought forward by the opposing party. 



As to which of these two general tendencies is at present the pre- 

 vailing one among the professional students of language, there can be 

 no reasonable doubt : it is the one here called the sentimental or meta- 

 physical. How long this is going to be the case is another and a 

 more difficult question. In the prevailing confusion of discordant 

 opinions, and carelessness about the discordance, described above, 

 comparatively few have declared themselves; and there is probably 

 light enough abroad to bring out men's decisions prevailingly on the 

 right side when once they can be led tQ reason themselves into clear- 

 ness and consistency of opinions. Meanwhile, the unlearned popular 

 view of speech, that of the general body of cultivated people, that 



