856 General Notes. 
primitive speech presents a very curious phenomenon. In Tinne 
the same word may express good or bad, high or low. In Cree the 
union of opposite significations reappear in the ultimate rudiments 
of the language and numerous series of opposite ideas are develop- 
ments from the same original sounds. The gradual development 
of grammar is strikingly illustrated in these languages. Subject, 
verb, direct object and remote object were all expressed in one word. 
Primitive words expressed being in relation, and hence partake of 
the nature of verbs. Primitive man did not connect his sentences. 
They followed one another disjointedly. Relative pronoun and 
conjunction are absent in American languages. Few American 
tongues have adjectives. The question has arisen did primitive 
man model his sounds after what he heard or what he saw? The 
former opinion has been most popular. His earliest sounds seem 
to have been expressive of motion and rest, energy and its absence, 
space and direction, color, form, and the like 
Tuesday, August 21st—Horatio Hale, Esq., read a paper on 
“ An International Language,” for scientific and other purposes. 
In this he dissected the Volapiik and showed its many errors. 
He advocated a language founded upon a more scientific basis. 
His paper is published in The Critic, N. Y., of August 25. 
r. Wilson doubted the success of the experiment and expressed 
his belief that no new language could be impressed upon the people 
y any vote or decree however authoritative. He cited the persis- 
tency of the Basque and Gallic languages in France and the many 
dialects extending over all Europe; and this in spite of all efforts 
to uproot or consolidate them. He thought a common language 
might be established between the people of different countries by 
the different governments uniting in the choice of a language (one 
of the living ones), to be taught in the schools of the country. We 
Americans could adduce many arguments why English should be 
chosen as the common language. But suppose the governments | 
should be unable to agree upon it and German should be chosen. 
Then in all English-speaking countries there would be taught 8 
the public schools English and German; in France, French m 
German ; in Italy, Italian and German; in Spain, Spanish an 
German, and soon. Thus every one would be able to speak his 
own language and a common language which every other perso? 
of whatever nationality would also be able to speak. _ d 
Prof. MacFarlane elaborated with approval Mr. Hale’s meth i 
and commented upon the defects of Volapük. The discussion was 
continued by Prof. Mason and Dr. Brinton. 
To be continued. 
