252 THE INTEGUMENT AND ORGANS OF 



3d. By the selection of the more appropriate forms. 



i. It thus appears that these composite sounds which 

 men originally employed as abstract terms have supplied the 

 roots or primordial forms of all words employed in languages. 



h. The same principle appears to determine the process of 

 acquisition of language by the child. The impressions made 

 by external objects on the consciousness of the infant appear 

 to be merely general impressions, as indicated in the terms 

 employed by it to express them. As it advances in its course 

 of self-tuition, and as the special properties of external bodies, 

 and their various relations to one another, and to itself, be- 

 come recognised by it, it applies terms of a more special and 

 relational character. It thus avails itself, in the acquisition 

 of its mother-tongue, of the same analytical process by which 

 every form of speech has been, and will be developed, and by 

 which, be it recollected, all acquired human knowledge has 

 been attained. 



I. It would appear, therefore, that as the roots from which 

 the various classes of words have been derived are expressions 

 of general ideas or conceptions of the different properties, 

 qualities, relations, and attributes, of the objects to which 

 they were originally applied, their original adoption is in ac- 

 cordance with the peculiar constitution of the human con- 

 scious principle ; in virtue of which its special processes are 

 conducted under those general modes or forms of thought by 

 which it is fitted for the intellectual and moral ends of human 

 existence. It appears, therefore, incontestable, that the 

 peculiar character of the human consciousness is the fun- 

 damental condition of speech; and that no animal talks, 

 because every animal economy is conditioned by a merely 

 instinctive form of consciousness. 



m. As speech therefore is merely thought expressed 

 phonetically, it remains to be considered — 



