Universal 
Grammar. 
a el - 
392 
for ever unknown. ‘One of these fortunate accidents, 
as relating to the subject of our present article, is the 
existence of various languages in the world, and the 
’ aecess which individuals have to compare them toge- 
Present 
state of the 
science. 
ther. The success which philosophers have met with 
in these inquiries has arisen from the study of langua- 
gesthe most diversified from each other in their structure. 
‘Those of ancient Greece and Rome have, for example, 
been compared with those of modern Europe, and both 
these with the languages of the East, and the great diffe- 
rences apparent in their origin and structure have afford- 
eda valuableopportunity of tracing, with a scientific hand, 
the general operations of man in this conspicuous depart- 
ment of his active efforts. An extensive erudition in liter- 
ature confers emancipation from that enthralling influ- 
ence which any single language exercises over those 
whose knowledge is confined to it. The errors which the 
habits of one would produce receive correction from. the 
attention exacted by the varying genius of another. 
These inquiries might even lead us a step higher. 
They might enable us to discover whether or not there 
are any circumstances in which the habits common to 
all languages mark a prevailing erroneous bias in our 
nature, and might lead us to improve and purify in 
this department the perspicacity of our intellect. 
The difficulty of the subject renders it at least pru- 
dent to avail ourselves of all the aids which can be af- 
forded by diversities in the structure of languages. 
These, indeed, are of themselves elegant subjects of 
study. No person who cultivates them can be indif- 
ferent about Universal Grammar, or insensible to the in- 
timate connection which exists between the two pur- 
suits, A very limited fact in philology not. unfre- 
quently suggests an important doctrine in the philoso- 
pay of grammar, which is afterwards confirmed b 
multiplied evidences, and, though formerly caunecla 
exhibits, when known, a character of. internal truth, 
and throws a broad light over the whole extent of the 
subject. 
In no circumstance does the difficulty of this subject 
appear more conspicuous than in the diversity of senti- 
ment which preyails on it. This diversity is indeed ca- 
pable of being represented as chiefly, if not entirely, 
verbal. But, where verbal differences are pertinaciously 
adhered to, some misconceptions with regard to the 
subject itself are undoubtedly more or less prevalent. 
It cannot be said to be clearly understeod among all 
who cultivate it, unless they either agree in the choice 
of the words by which their theories are expressed, or 
concur in acknowledging their differences of phraseo- 
logy to be immaterial. 
This is not at present the case. The cultivators of 
the science are divided into parties, which seem so 
distant from one another that the philosophical ana- 
lysis of language may be considered as still in its in- 
cy. The account which we shall now give of it will 
not arrogate to itself the rank of a system matured for 
indiscriminate adoption. It will only be offered for de- 
liberate consideration, as an attempt to advance the pro- 
gress of this interesting branch of study, by exhibitin 
explanations which will show to partial systems oat 
of their leading defects, and reconcile a variety of dis- 
putes without compromising the spirit of investigation. 
CHAP. I. 
On the Object or Universal Office-of Language. 
In order to investigate the characteristic differences 
GRAMMAR. 
by which words are distinguished, it is essential-that we Un 
queries correct neon st € OBJECT or PURPOSE of lan- © 
uage. Grammarians have satisfied themselves, 7 
oith describing itas consisting in the communtcaTron oF 2 8*8 
our THOUGHTS. Yet it does not appear certain that the 
have always entertained the same ‘views of what is meant 
by this communication. Vague notions of the offi 
of language have in consequence been entertained, 
and a confusion arising from this cause has’ impe- 
ded the inquiries which were-made into the origin and 
distinctions of the various parts of » Mr Harris 
describes it as consisting in “an exhibition of the ener- 
gies or motions of the soul.” These he divides into per- 
ception Fira ; and he considers every sentence as 
either m ae ~_. assertion,” or ** a sentence of voli- 
tion.” Someconsider the object of ]; as simply con- 
sisting in the exhibition of apoB 0, i br idea 
and another, and therefore make the act of arrirMa~ 
TION its universal office. These opinions, thoughalighis 
our. 
af 
varying, agree in stating the communication 
thoughts to be the object of language. 
That we may divest the subject of ambiguity, we shall 
uire in what respects thought is ever communicated. 
ie ingens 3 what are the circumstances that lead to 
such communication ; and whether or not the import« 
ance of this object entitles it to be as the sole 
and definite purpose for which it is formed and em- 
ployed. , 
Men may evince, by various si that icular How a 
thoughts occupy their oie This is not aie. done langy 
by pantomimical language, but by oral sounds consti- © 
tuting the materials of verbal discourse. We sometimes °*** 
shew by involuntary exclamations that we are affected ~ 
by certain impressions called passions, which, » 
they originate from outward causes, do not 
point to such causes in our mode of expressing them. 
At other times, words are employed ne signs of 
ternal objects which are known to. the | addres- 
sed. The effect of the employment of heowinae recal 
to his recollection ideas formerly possessed by him. We 
show, at the same time, that they occupy our own minds. . 
The meaning of the words being formerly known, they. 
exhibit nothing new except their connection with some 
present occasion. Old ideas thus recalled, however, 
do not constitute exactly the same state of 
which accompanied the former employment of the 
words. The mental exercises excited by the same word 
at different times are not strictly the same. They can- 
not be identical, because they are instances of 
mental exercise. But they are not even perfectly simi, 
lar. Amidst the varying movements of the 
mind, in which one thought. impels. another, and in 
which external and internal causes modify the state of 
the percipient being, the appropriate affection produced 
by any particular word can never be separately obtain- 
ed. it is always modified either by humour, by degrees | 
of activity in the mind, or by the kinds of exercise in 
which it has been previously e vin, 
The most important modifications of the mental ef- 
fects of words arise from their connection with one ano- 
ther. By changes in this connection, new conjunctions - 
of ideas are presented to the mind of the addres- 
sed. The signs of thoughts formerly known to him 
are so exhibited as to. excite impressions ing 
the most striking novelty, and imparting the most im, 
rtant character both to the immediate thoughts of the . 
individual, and to those which are liable to occur on 
numerous future occasions. This is the case when, by 
means of words well understood, and therefore convey — 
