THE ORIGIN OF LANGUAGES 47 



in their power to convey to one another some vague 

 notions that are perhaps too indefinite for words, 

 even if the animals had the power to make words. 

 No one can fail to recognize in a dog's whines, 

 growls, and barks, given with varying intonations, 

 that he can convey to us his feelings of anger, pain, 

 or entreaty, and doubtless to his brothers these 

 sounds are equally intelligible. 



Child Language 



If we compare this condition with the language of 

 the young child, we find a striking resemblance. In 

 early childhood the child passes through a stage in 

 which his language and mental powers are both upon 

 practically the same level as those of animals. At 

 first his expression of feelings is confined to such 

 intonations of pleasure and displeasure as are shown 

 in laughing or crying. But presently he gains a few 

 more general, vague ideas, and with them an ability 

 to express them. He holds up his arms to express 

 his desire to be taken up, a gesture that is plainly on 

 a par with that of a dog sitting on his legs to beg 

 for food. The use of gestures, however, is never 

 highly developed in the child, because he soon learns 

 by imitation to use words. 



It will be instructive next to notice what sort of 

 language the child first develops as he begins to use 

 words. It is most suggestive to find that all his 

 words early indicate that his mental actions are 

 vague, and that he is on about the same plane as the 

 animal. The words he uses are of the broadest char- 

 acter and have a most indefinite and wide meaning. 

 Everyone who has watched young children will think 

 of many examples. The word "star" means to him 



