Owen — Revision of Pronouns. 79 



it precedes the sign of the idea itself, a profix; and when it fol- 

 lows the sign of that idea, it might be called a postfix. 



Yet another, and I think a better designation, is suggested by 

 comparison with vicarious words. To illustrate, given ^^The 

 Bible teaches him who will learn," it is plain that 'Svho" does 

 not indicate that the idea expressed by ^'him" is to be reinstated 

 (taken up in a second thought after being dropped at the end 

 of a fii*st) or coinstated (duplicated in the same thought before 

 being dropped) ; the duty of ^'who'' is to show the second func- 

 tion of a factor which has two simultaneous functions. But 

 also, inferentially at least, it tells you more generally that a sec- 

 ond fimction will occur. When now, as usual, the idea in its 

 first function has already been presented, the relative warns you 

 to keep it in mind for further use.-^ It accordingly somewhat 

 resembles the musical sign which directs the musician to hold a 

 given note. 



Comparing now it and its linguistic neighbors, I note that the 

 implied order of the reinstative is to recall ; that of the coinsta- 

 tive is to repeat ; that of the relative is to continue or retain. 

 Such being the procedure of the relative, and its special service 

 being the maintenance of continued expression, it is perhaps 

 most of all convenient to contrast it with reinstative and coin- 

 stative by calling it continuative. 



^Even when such idea, as sometimes happens, is yet to be presented, the rela- 

 tive, showing in the meantime one of its memberships, warns you to IooIj out for 

 the exhibition of a second membership at the same time with the presentation 

 of the idea itself. Thus, in '"Who claims me first that man I serve," you ob- 

 tain from '^who" a warning to watch for an idea of which "who" might tell you 

 nothing but the former of two functions. That is, you are warned to maintain 

 an attention which in this case takes the form of expectation instead of the com- 

 mon form of retention. 



