278 Onan Universal written Character. 
of these arbitrary signs, is employed solely in de- 
noting simple ideas.* Thus davocy SOMNUS, SOM, 
schlaf, SLEEP, sommetl: Dayw, EDO, yem, Ich esse, 
IT eat, Fe mange: CALOR, jar,t hitze HEAT, cha- 
. deur: epac, AMOR, liubov, liebe, Love, amour. 
I do not say that the examples above stated are 
absolutely arbitrary signs in all the languages from 
which these words are taken. Perhaps some of 
them may be compounds, but they must be ulti- 
mately: traced to signs merely arbitrary ; and that is 
sufficient to establish my assertion concerning the 
structure of language, as far as relates to this class’ 
of signs. 
As the names of things alone cannot afford sub- 
ject of discourse, which is entirely occupied in telling 
to others, the relations which one thing bears to an- 
other, it became necessary to invent signs which 
denote these relations. Farther, as the extent of 
human knowledge increased, new objects of dis- 
course were discovered, which necessarily came to — 
be denoted by distinctive marks. Some of these 
last have, I doubt not, been represented in some 
languages by new arbitrary signs: but, for the most 
part, mankind, by a very simple device, have ob- 
viated the necessity of multiplying signs, which it 
* If I do not speak with metaphysical precision, I hope 
I shall be excused ; because I daresay my meaning will be 
understood, 
+ Pronounced like the French J in Jour. 
