FROM hence it becomes evident, that Ch. I. LANGUAGE, taken in the most comprehensive view, implies certain Sounds, having certain Meanings; and that of these two Principles, the SOUND is as the MATTER, common (like other Matter) to many different things; the MEANING as that peculiar and characteristic FORM, by which the Nature or Essence of Language becomes complete.

CHAP.

libuit literis syllabisque conjungens, singulis subjectarum rerum substantiis dedit. Boeth. in Lib. de Interpret, p. 308.

CHAP. II.

Upon the Matter, or common Subject of
Language.

Ch. II. THE TAH or MATTER OF LANGUAGE comes first to be considered, a Subject, which Order will not suffer us to omit, but in which we shall endeavour to be as concise as we can. Now this TAH or Matter is SOUND, and SOUND is that Sensation peculiar to the Sense of Hearing, when the Air hath felt a Percussion, adequate to the producing such Effect.") As

(This appears to be Priscian's Meaning when he say's of a VOICE, what is more properly true of SOUND in general, that it is-suum sensibile aurium, id est, quod propriè auribus accidit. Lib. I. p. 537.

The following account of the Stoics, which refers the cause of SOUND to an Undulation in the Air propagated circularly, as when we drop a stone into a Cistern of

water,

As the Causes of this Percussion are various, so from hence Sound derives the Variety of its Species.

FARTHER, as all these Causes are either Animal or Inanimate, so the two grand Species of Sounds are likewise Animal or Inanimate.

THERE is no peculiar Name for Sound Inanimate; nor even for that of Animals, when made by the trampling of their Feet, the fluttering of their Wings, or any other Cause, which is

merely

Ch. II.

water, seems to accord with the modern Hypothesis, and to be as plausible as any—Ακούειν δὲ, τῇ μεταξὺ τῶ τε φωνοῦντος καὶ τῇ ἀκέοντος ἀέρος πληττομένε σφαιροειδῶς, ειτα κυματουμένο, καὶ ταῖς ἀκοαῖς προσπίπλοντος, ὡς κυματᾶται τὸ ἐν τῇ δεξαμενῇ ὕδωρ κατὰ κύκλους ὑπὸ τὸ ἐμβληθέντος λίθε Porrò audire, cum is, qui medius inter loquentem, et audientem est, aër verberatur orbiculariter, deinde agitatus auribus influit, quemadmodum et cisternæ aqua per orbes injecto agitatur lapide. Diog. Laert. VII.

Ch. II. merely accidental. But that, which they make by proper Organs, in consequence of some Sensation or inward Impulse, such Animal Sound is called a VOICE.

As Language therefore implies that Sound called HUMAN VOICE; we may perceive that to know the Nature and Powers of the Human Voice, is in fact to know THE MATTER or common Subject of Language.

Now the Voice of Man, and it should seem of all other Animals, is formed by certain Organs between the Mouth and the Lungs, and which Organs maintain the intercourse between these two. The Lungs furnish Air, out of which the Voice is formed; and the Mouth, when the Voice is formed, serves to publish it abroad.

WHAT these Vocal Organs precisely are, is not in all respects agreed by Philo

Philosophers and Anatomists. Be this as it will, it is certain that the mere primary and simple Voice is completely formed, before ever it reach the Mouth, and can therefore (as well as Breathing) find a Passage thro' the Nose, when the Mouth is so far stopt, as to prevent the least utterance.

Now pure and simple VOICE, being thus produced, is (as before was observed) transmitted to the Mouth. HERE then, by means of certain different Organs, which do not change its primary Qualities, but only superadd others, it receives the Form or Character of ARTICULATION. For ARTICULATION is in fact nothing else, than that Form or Character, acquired to simple Voice, by means of the Mouth and its several Organs, the Teeth, the Tongue, the Lips, &c. The Voice is not by Articulation made more grave or acute, more loud or soft (which are its primary Qualities)

Ch. II.