ON THE 



PRIMEVAL LANGUAGE OF MANKIND. 



BY RICHARD KIRWAN, ESQ. L.L.D. P. R.I. A. &c. &c. &c. 



READ, NOV. 4-", 1805. 



1 HE origin of vocal language, that combination of sounds, 

 by Avhich the thoughts and sentiments of men are commu- 

 nicated to each other, thus forming the principal link of 

 their social intercourse, has always excited the astonish- 

 ment of those who have attended to its investigation. 



On this subject, two opinions have been proposed. Thq 

 first was held, or rather suspected, by persons unacquaint- 

 ed with the most ancient and authentic record of the ori.- 

 gin of our species. They supposed, that men originally 

 lived in a savage unconnected state, destitute of any lan- 

 guage; that their mutual wants and dangers induced them 

 at last to unite; and, that by uttering different sounds j as 

 often as they pointed at different objects, they gradually 

 formed a language. Thus its origin is explained by Dio- 

 dorus,* and by Lucretius. -{- 



VOL. X. I .<*.•..;•;;.;,./ r;. .^i' - ^^ 



* Lib. I. cap. iii. t Lib. V. X. lOSTl^ 'fJc. 



