#4§f Observations on Lajiguage. 



Should we now suppose the descendants of this ship- 

 wrecked company, or of one of these colonies, which 

 had fallen into a state of barbarism, to emerge again in- 

 to a state of civilization, and science : Their language, 

 thus changed, and thus barren, would in an inverse or- 

 der undergo another change, equally great ; as their 

 ideas, particularly those derived from composition, ab- 

 straction, and comparison, would be greatly multiplied ; 

 those, I mean, which they would w*ish to communicate : 

 and for all these, words would be devised. Should they 

 derive their improvements fi'om the books of another 

 nation ; these words would extensively be taken from_ 

 the language of that nation : and this seems to have 

 been the only course of mankind, in their progress out 

 of the savage and civilized states. In this view of the 

 subject it is perfectly evident, that, in consequence of 

 these tzvo great revolutions^ their language would become 

 in a great measure nexu. 



A fifth cause of changes in language is found in In- 

 tercourse xvith other ?iations. Persons, Vv^ho have much 

 intercourse with each other, always become acquainted 

 in some measure with each other's language. Of these, 

 a few, comparatively, will learn the respective langua- 

 ges well, and will keep them distinct. The many will 

 acquire them imperfectly ; pronounce them badly ; and 

 mingle them together. The w^ords of one language, 

 however, will in all such cases be transferred to the 

 other. 



The most remarkable example of a mixed language, 

 springing from such intercourse, of which I have heard, 

 is the lingua Fvanca. This, as I understand, is a med- 

 ley of various languages, spoken by no nation in the 

 world ; understood by ni:) nation ; and accordant with 

 no grammatical analogy, or legitimate pronunciation. 

 Yet it is spoken, and understood, on the borders of the 

 Mediterranean, by such inhabitants of different coun- 

 tries, as live in trading towns on the shore, and have in- 

 tercourse with its several nations. A more striking 

 . proof cannot be wished, that mankind will always con- 

 form their speech to the exigencies of life. 



It ought to be observed, that, when words are from 



