Essays on Life 



introspection, but it will be always there. A 

 sayer, a sayee, and a convention, no matter 

 what, agreed upon between them as insepar- 

 ably attached to the idea which it is intended 

 to convey these comprise all the essentials 

 of language. Where these are present there 

 is language ; where any of them are wanting 

 there is no language. It is not necessary for 

 the sayee to be able to speak and become a 

 sayer. If he comprehends the sayer that is 

 to say, if he attaches the same meaning to a 

 certain symbol as the sayer does if he is a 

 party to the bargain whereby it is agreed 

 upon by both that any given symbol shall be 

 attached invariably to a certain idea, so that 

 in virtue of the principle of associated ideas 

 the symbol shall never be present without 

 immediately carrying the idea along with it, 

 then all the essentials of language are com- 

 plied with, and there has been true speech 

 though never a word was spoken. 



The lower animals, therefore, many of them, 

 possess a part of our own language, though 

 they cannot speak it, and hence do not possess 



it so fully as we do. They cannot say " bread," 



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