THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 177 



diction, is the one we shall accept and attempt to enlarge upon in 

 the present paper. 



OFFICES OF LANGUAGE. 



Four distinct functions are set forth as belonging to language : 

 (i) to preserve thought; (2) to analyze thought; (3) t© facilitate 

 thought ; (4) to communicate thought. It must appear evident, 

 and will be made even more clear, when we come to consider the 

 psj'chological conditions of speech, that to suppose any of the first 

 three to have been motives in its production would give an appear- 

 ance of mechanical design to the origin of language wholly at vari- 

 ance with its physical nature and the mental conditions of the primi- 

 tive race ; since they would imply the exercise of the reasoning 

 powers. But we shall there see that these must make use of sym- 

 bolic representation in their very development. The last of these 

 motives, however, being but an instinctive desire, implies but the 

 lower stages of mental growth, which stages are not dependent on 

 representation for their operations. But we shall here offer a theory 

 somewhat at variance with that usually accepted. We hold that the 

 motive power underlying the origin of language was no more a de- 

 sire to communicate our own thoughts to others, than it was a desire 

 on their part to interpret properly the thoughts and feelings of fel- 

 low-beings in whom they took an interest. As the reasons upon 

 which this theory must rest will come up later ; we defer its further 

 consideration till that time. 



CONDITION OF LANGUAGE. 



It has been seen that the office of language is symbolic or 

 representative. The elements of language, when used as such, are 

 not in themselves real objects of attention, but representative sym- 

 bols of objects of past experience. Thus the development of speech 

 in the primitive race will imply the possession by them of the sym- 

 bolic power or faculty with whatever other intellectual development 

 appertains thereto. This consideration will necessitate a brief men- 

 tion of the mental powers and their order of development. 



The intellectual faculties — faculties of knowledge — are 

 divided into three general classes : 



I. Those connected with the acquisition of knowledge, in- 

 cluding (a) sensation and (b) perception. 



