LECT. LECTURE VI. RISE AND PROGRESS OF LANGUAGE. HA AVING finished my obfervations on the Pleasures of Tafte, which were meant to be introductory to the principal fubject of these Lectures, I now begin to treat of Language; which is the foundation of the whole power of eloquence. This will lead to a confiderable difcuffion; and there are few fubjects belonging to polite literature, which more merit fuch a discussion. I shall first give a History of the Rife and Progrefs of Language in feveral particulars, from its early to its more advanced periods; which fhall be followed by a fimilar History of the Rife and Progrefs of Writing. I fhall next give fome account of the Construction of Language, or the Principles of Univerfal Grammar; and shall, laftly, apply these observations more particularly to the English Tongue *. LANGUAGE, *See Dr. Adam Smith's Differtation on the Formation of Languages.-Treatife of the Origin and Progress of Language, VI. LANGUAGE, in general, fignifies the expref- L E C T. fion of our ideas by certain articulate founds, which are used as the figns of thofe ideas. By articulate founds, are meant thofe modulations of fimple voice, or of sound emitted from the thorax, which are formed by means of the mouth and its feveral organs, the teeth, the tongue, the lips, and the palate. How far there is any natural connexion between the ideas of the mind and the founds emitted, will appear from what I am afterwards to offer. But as the natural connexion can, upon any system, affect only a finall part of the fabric of Language; the connexion between words and ideas may, in general, be confidered as arbitrary and conventional, owing to the agreement of men among themselves; the clear proof of which is, that different nations have different Languages, or a different fet of articulate founds, which they have chofen for communicating their ideas. Language, in 3 vols.-Harris's Hermes, or a Philofophical Enquiry concerning Language and Univerfal Grammar.-Effai fur l'Origine des Connoiffances Humaines, par L'Abbé Condillac.-Principes de Grammaire, par Marfais. Grammaire Generale & Raifonnée.-Traité de la Formation Mechanique des Langues, par le Prefident de Broffes. Difcours fur l'Inegalité parmi les Hommes, par Rouffeau.-Grammaire Generale, par Beauzee.-Principes de la Traduction, par Batteux.-Warburton's Divine Legation of Mofes, vol. iii.-Sanctii Minerva, cum notis Perizonii.-Les Vrais Principes de la Langue Françoise, par l'Abbé Girard. LECT. VI. THIS artificial method of communicating thought, we now behold carried to the higheft perfection. Language is become a vehicle by which the moft delicate and refined emotions of one mind can be tranfmitted, or, if we may fo fpeak, transfufed into another. Not only are names given to all objects around us, by which means an easy and speedy intercourse is carried on for providing the neceffaries of life, but all the relations and differences among shefe objects are minutely marked, the invifible fentiments of the mind are described, the moft abftract notions and conceptions are rendered intelligible; and all the ideas which fcience can difcover, or imagination create, are known by their proper names. Nay, Language has been carried fo far, as to be made an inftrument of the most refined luxury. Not refting in mere perfpicuity, we require Osnament alfo; not fatisfied with having the conceptions of others made known to us, we make a farther demand, to have them fo decked and adorned as to entertain our fancy; and this demand, it is found very poffible to gratify. In this ftate we now find Language. In this ftate, it has been found among many nations for fome thoufand years. The object is become familiar; and, like the expanse of the firmament, and other great objects, which we are accustomed to behold, we behold it without wonder. BUT VI. BUT carry your thoughts back to the firft LECT dawn of Language among men. Reflect upon the feeble beginnings from which it must have arifen, and upon the many and great obftacles which it must have encountered in its progrefs; and you will find reafon for the highest aftonishment, on viewing the height which it has now attained. We admire feveral of the inventions of art; we plume ourselves on fome difcoveries which have been made in latter ages, ferving to advance knowledge, and to render life comfortable; we fpeak of them as the boast of human reafon. But certainly no invention is entitled to any fuch degree of admiration as that of Language; which, too, must have been the product of the first and rudeft ages, if indeed it can be confidered as a human invention at all. THINK of the circumftances of mankind when Languages began to be formed. They were a wandering fcattered race; no fociety among them except families; and the family fociety too very imperfect, as their method of living by hunting or pafturage must have feparated them frequently from one another. In this fituation, when fo much divided, and their intercourse fo rare, how could any one fet of founds, or words, be generally agreed on as the signs of their ideas? Suppofing that a few, whom chance or neceffity threw together, ..8 VI. LECT. gether, agreed by fome means upon certain figns, yet by what authority could these be propagated among other tribes or families, fo as to spread and grow up into a Language? One would think, that, in order to any Language fixing and extending itself, men must have been previously gathered together in confiderable numbers; Society must have been already far advanced; and yet, on the other hand, there seems to have been an absolute neceffity for Speech, previous to the formation. of Society. For, by what bond could any multitude of men be kept together, or be made to join in the prosecution of any common interest, until once, by the intervention of Speech, they could communicate their wants and intentions to one another? So that, either how Society could form itself, previously to Language, or how words could rife into a Language previously to Society formed, feem to be points attended with equal difficulty. And when we confider farther, that curious analogy which prevails in the conftruction of almost all Languages, and that deep and fubtile logic on which they are founded, difficulties increase fo much upon us, on all hands, that there seems to be no small reason for referring the first origin of all Language to Divine teaching or inspiration. BUT fuppofing Language to have a Divine original, we cannot, however, fuppofe, that a perfect 9 |