102 OBSERVATIONS ON THE 



throw some light on the general nature of Language, and 

 prove materially subservient to the purposes of a rational ety- 

 mology. 



Imperatives seem to be deprived of their characteristic ani- 

 mation when we attempt to resolve them into affirmations. 

 Affirmations, on the other hand, will preserve that interest 

 which originally belongs to them by being considered as im- 

 perative directions for regulating the thoughts and volitions of 

 others. 



The etymology of verbs in every language illustrates the 

 primary importance of Imperatives. The first purpose for 

 which a man naturally employs language is to implore the as- 

 sistance f)f his fellow-creatures. The first ideas, therefore, for 

 which he wishes to have signs are those of locomotion. 

 Words expressing locomotion are employed for a variety of 

 purposes ; but that purpose for which a man is likely soonest 

 to call the attention of another to the idea by means of the 

 oral sign, is to solicit him to perform the motion. For this 

 reason, the Imperative is in all languages the shortest part of 

 the Verb. In the English language, it consists in the mere use 

 of the syllables which distinguish each verb from all others. 

 It is in the Imperative that we say, " walk," — " run," — 

 and " go." The other uses of the verb, such as that of descri- 

 bing our own motions or those of a third person, are subse- 

 quent to it in the order of etymology, as they are in the or- 

 der of nature. In such cases, we find the Verb receiving a 

 Nominative, a Termination, or some sort of additional sign. 

 For example, " I go," — " thou goest,"— " he goes." Even 

 when the definitive idea expressed by any verb is introduced as 

 an Object concerning which an assertion is to be made, an addi- 

 tional sign is employed besides that which is used for the impera- 

 tive. The simple act is not called " walk," — " run," — or "go ;" 

 but, "to walk," — " to run," — " to go;" or " walk-iNG," — " runn- 



ING ? 



