I. DEPARTMENT: 



GLOSSOLOGY. 



IN the department of Glossology, we include the study of all Lan- 

 guages ; or the means of communicating ideas, by words; whether 

 written or spoken. The name is derived from the Greek, yXwava, the 

 tongue ; this being the principal organ of speech. The name Lin- 

 guistics, from the Latin, lingua, the tongue, has also been applied to 

 this department, by the Germans ; but we prefer the term above 

 adopted ; sanctioned, as it is, by the authority of Ampere. It has 

 the advantage of being symmetrical with the names of the succeeding 

 departments ; and of similar origin ; while it is at least equally 

 euphonic with the German name. The term Philology, was formerly 

 applied to Literature in general ; and has sometimes been restricted to 

 the study of languages, or their philosophical principles and relations ; 

 but it is now more generally applied to critical examinations of Classic 

 Writings ; particularly in regard to their exact meaning, and verbal 

 peculiarities. The present department is placed first in order ; because 

 an acquaintance with some one language, is the first step in the acqui- 

 sition of knowledge, beyond the ideas acquired by mere sensation. 

 Some writers have even doubted whether we could think at all, with- 

 out words to embody our ideas ; but this is probably carrying the 

 point too far ; especially in regard to infants, before they acquire some 

 knowledge of words. 



A. Language, so called from the French, langue, also signifying 

 the tongue, is a system or collection of sounds, or signs of sounds, 

 called words ; which express ideas, or thoughts ; and by means of 

 which, ideas are communicated, from one intelligent being to another. 

 In a wider sense, all modes of conveying ideas, from mind to mind, 

 are comprehended under the general term Language. Among these 

 modes, we would mention gestural language, in which ideas are 

 conveyed by gestures, or by looks ; as in the ancient pantomime, 

 or the modern language of the deaf and dumb ; and exclamative 

 language, expressed by vocal sounds, though not by words ; as 

 cries of pleasure, or pain. These modes of expression have also 

 been termed natural language. To them might be added pictorial 

 language ; in which ideas are conveyed by pictures ; as among the 

 ancient Mexicans ; and musical language, if such it can be called ; 

 which, unless used arbitrarily, as in the bugle or trumpet war calls, 

 may serve to excite the feelings, but hardly to convey distinct ideas. 

 Pictorial language serves well to indicate sensible objects ; but in 

 regard to abstract or general ideas, it is also vague, and imperfect ; 

 unless used arbitrarily, and understood in the same sense by both 

 the parties using it. 



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