FACULTIES OF THE MIND. 289 
they journey onward to the sea shore, the ebbing and flow: 
ing of the water, the waves and their murmurings and 
roarings, would attract notice and receive particular desig- 
nations. In each district, therefore, there will be a parti 
cular language, expressive of the objects which are peculiar 
to it, and of their relation to the wants of its inhabitants, 
We have likewise to bear in mind, that every country fur- 
nishes man with a supply of animals and vegetables which 
are, In a great measure, peculiar to itseif,—peculiar modes 
of collecting and storing fruit or grain must, therefore, be 
resorted to,—a peculiar mode of hunting and fishing prac- 
tised,——a peculiar mode of clothing and shelter adopted, all 
giving rise to new names, expressive of objects, qualities 
and actions. In the construction of these new words, it is 
obvious, that, in this stage of society, there are no rules but 
the caprice of individuals, influenced by the sounds of na- 
ture and the resemblance which may be traced between 
the old and new objects. There is always an aversion to» 
the formation of new sounds; and this aversion has given 
rise to attempts at generalization, or the introduction of ge- 
nera and species. By degrees, however, the terms in which 
they are expressed, coalesce, and the resulting sound, mo- 
dified by the ear, loses its compound nature, and passes as 
the simple sign of a particular object. 
According to this view of the matter, were two families, 
of the same speech, to settle m different countries, they 
would soon assume different languages, although the ori- 
ginal connection might be traced in some of those words 
which express objects occurring every where, or actions 
which all are compelled to perform. 
These circumstances, connected with situation, account 
for the existence of different tongues prevailing among the 
inhabitants of different regions; but they offer no explana- 
tion of the fact which we have admitted, that even among, 
VOL. I. F 
