# Ideatypics; or, an Art of Memory/Chapter 7

APPLICATION OF THE PRINCIPLES TO THE LEARNING OF A LANGUAGE.
The affinities of any language must be first sought out, then there must be an endeavour to systematize similarities, to trace variances, and to bring them under some form. When systematized, the Latin, a seven years’ task for a boy, might be taught to some in six months, to others in three. They should know more of the language than is generally known on leaving school, and their judgments should be more improved.
A perfect knowledge of the Genders and declension of Nouns, the conjugation of Verbs, and other things, which may be considered the initials of Language, (the teacher’s drudgery,) may be taught in a few hours, in separate lessons: I speak from my own experience.
Let it be understood, however, by all readers of this Work, that something more is needed in the acquisition of a language than mere memory: there must be an exercise of judgment and a real activity of the thinking powers, then the progress of the pupil is rapid and certain. Men are not to ​be taught as if they were mere automata, and had no occasion to exercise their faculties. I have known men deluded as it were into the expectation that they were to be provided with a sort of talismanic key, that would at once open every door of difficulty. The reader must only expect to find a toilsome road diminished to a fraction of its former length, by the exercise of his mind in the application of the principles of this System, and his own practical judgment.
1.—We have first to learn words for practice.
2.—Learn the forms of the Noun.
genders.
Of those who have taught the genders by Mnemonical rules, I know of none who have taken up ​the subject as a whole. They have shew the way in which genders of nouns might be learned dozens at a time; but who would attempt to wade through a language thus?
The rules must be grasped, with all their exceptions and counter-exceptions, concentred and concentrated, till they become a comprehensive whole, or are collected and brought to connected points of immediate reference.
I will shew you in what manner, under the figure of a temple (or any other object), I bring all the genders of Latin nouns before me. We have space for one side only of the temple as represented in Pl. iii. Fig. 3. In the hinder part of the temple as represented, we have three pillars: call the one to the right Masculine, the middle one Feminine, the one to the left Neuter. The top of each pillar is used for words that have anomalous genitives. The bases of the pillars are used for the exceptions in gender of those final letters that are found on the pillars. It will be perceived that it is easy to recollect counter-exceptions by transferring the words, as a collected whole, to one of the pillars, as we shall explain, first giving the rules for x final, and its formation of the Genitive from Adam's Institutes.
​“Rules.— 1 .Nouns in x are feminine, and in the genitive case change x into cis; as, Vox, vocis—the voice; Lux, lucis—the light.
“2. Polysyllables in ax and ex are masculine; as, Thorax-acis, a breastplate; Corax-acis, a raven, ex in the genitive is changed into ĭcis; as, Pollex-ĭcis, m. the thumb.
Counter-exceptions in the formations of the Genitive.— (vide Association, Chap. iii., exercises Case ii., No. 1.) Masculines added to these.—(Vide No. 2, as above)
“3. But the following polysyllables in ax and ex are feminine. (Vide No. 3, as above.)
“4. A great many nouns in x are either masculine or feminine. (Vide No. 4, as above.)
“5. The following Nouns depart from the general rule in forming the genitive. (Vide No. 5, as above.)
I have not space for the varieties of Greek nouns in x. These rules and exceptions belong to only one final letter. Imagine a boy having to fag for years in acquiring such things by repetition only. Now, pass with me through the same rules, and observe how distinctness is preserved by the several localities, so that each word can be readily referred to.
1.—Nouns in x are feminine, etc. etc.
Paint an x black on the middle marble pillar, and cis on a screen behind the pillars or on the pediment. (Vide Pl. iii.)
2.—Polysyllables in ax and ex are masculine, etc. etc.
Paint ax and ex-ĭcis, in black letters, on the first pillar. Put the excepted genitives of ex at the top of the first pillar in this form:—
A wedder sheep was eating the vine brunch that a mower of hay had cut off.
​To make the lesson more effectual, draw a sketch of the thing, and let the mind pass to the reality. Then the mere reading of what I have penned will be enough for the pupil.
At the side of the base of the middle pillar put these masculines, connected in a chain of ideas, and represented by some drawing of the pupil’s.
Let a wild goat be plucking the offsets of the vine, and a cuckoo be examining the cup or hud of a flower that grows by a vault, in which we are to suppose there is a Phœnix.
3.—But the following Nouns in ax and ex are feminine, etc. etc.
These will be associated or chained to the base of the first pillar, because they are exceptions to ax and ex, which are on the pillar.
In & pan (household furniture), well burnt in a furnace, let the herb all-heal be placed, and by it a ladder with the herb rope weed and sedge about it. On the ladder let there be fixed a pair of scissors, and on this a herring.
4.—But a great many Nouns in x are either masculine or feminine, etc.
Here I take, if possible, an object that has a tendency to fall both ways, or I lay hold of some other circumstance.
I take a gutter tile, (imbrex, m. or f.) and imagine it to be supported on one side by a flint, on the other by a pumice stone, and that it contains sorrel of a purple color bound with the bark of a tree, upon which crawls a snail that a partridge is about to devour, but is prevented by a porcupine. Then imagine a Lynx to tread upon the corner of the tile and produce a swoln vein upon his heel. (Vide base of second pillar.)
Enough has been said, I think, to shew clearly my mode of procedure. All that is here associated is absolutely less in amount of words, when cleared of whatever is explanatory, than Adam’s rules in all their regular yet unassociated order.
​It may be said, there is the task of arranging and associating; but this is really a little difficulty, because every one will find, from the smallest beginnings, his own power encrease by exercise, and that his own associations have to him a perfect value above the best associations of another.
CONJUGATIONS.
I can afford but little space to the Verbs. A concentrated Grammar of the Latin Language shall appear, if the idea be encouraged, that shall be comprised in a small pamphlet, comprehending, nevertheless, all the rules of Syntax, Prosody, etc. etc.
An Explanation of the Table, Pl. III, Fig. 1.
Adopt this symbol X having ${\begin{array}{c}\;\;1\;\;\\2\;\;\;\;\;3\\\;\;4\;\;\\\end{array}}$ places: call it the exceptor. It is intended to furnish us with places for introducing exceptions, that will strike the eye in each conjugation. The top place is for the first conjugation, the left place for the second, the right for the third, the bottom for the fourth.
The finals for every first person of every tense Indicative or Subjunctive is o or m. (Vide Pl. iii.)
The Finals of every person in all the tenses are—
| SIN. | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | 1 Per. o or m | Exceptions in the Perf. Tense only | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | SIN. | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | 1 Prefect. |
| SIN. | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | 2 . . . . . . . s | Exceptions in the Perf. Tense only | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | SIN. | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | 2 . . . . . . sti |
| SIN. | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | 3 . . . . . . t | Exceptions in the Perf. Tense only | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | SIN. | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | 3 . . . . . . t |
| PLU. | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | 1 . . . . . mus | Exceptions in the Perf. Tense only | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | PLU. | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | 1 . . . . . . mus |
| PLU. | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | 2 . . . . . . . tis | Exceptions in the Perf. Tense only | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | PLU. | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | 2 . . . . . . stis |
| PLU. | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | 3 . . . . . . . nt | Exceptions in the Perf. Tense only | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | PLU. | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | 3 . . . . . . erunt not irunt. |
Recollecting these finals, we can use the table of the Conjugations, Pl. iii. Fig. 1, and acquire all the active conjugations, and by a regular but small change of letters, all the passives. More will be seen by comparison than by explanation. We shall give, therefore, some of the tenses.
PRESENT TENSE.
AMA—(Amao) Amo—(amaas) amas—(amaat) amat, &c. MONE—Moneo—mones—monet—monemus, &c. REG—Rego—(regs) regis—(regt) regit, &c. AUDI—Audio—audis—audit, &c.
Plate III.
Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 3.
It is important to know that all the difficulties attending the use of the Perfect rexi, in the tenses derived from it, are removed by substituting rexfor the v that is used in the other conjugations. In the case of other verbs of the third conjugation, we must in like manner substitute the root of the verb in its perfect form for the v that is used in the other conjugations, in the tenses derived from the perfect. All real difficulties in the way of learning the verbs are thus removed: a teacher may communicate the whole in an hour; he may use the Grammar as he pleases, but he must make the figure, Pl. iii. Fig. 1, with respect to its localities, the object of mental reference with the pupil, to produce an abiding effect.
| PRES. TENSE SUBJUNC. | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | Ama . . . E . . M—Amem-(amaes) ames-(amaet)amet, &c. | Ama . . . E . . M—Amem-(amaes) ames-(amaet)amet, &c. | Ama . . . E . . M—Amem-(amaes) ames-(amaet)amet, &c. | Ama . . . E . . M—Amem-(amaes) ames-(amaet)amet, &c. | Ama . . . E . . M—Amem-(amaes) ames-(amaet)amet, &c. | Ama . . . E . . M—Amem-(amaes) ames-(amaet)amet, &c. | Ama . . . E . . M—Amem-(amaes) ames-(amaet)amet, &c. | Ama . . . E . . M—Amem-(amaes) ames-(amaet)amet, &c. |
| Mone . . A . . M—Mones, &c. ||||||||
| Reg . . . A . . M—Regas, &c. ||||||||
| Audi . . A . . M—Audias, &c. ||||||||
| IMPERFECT TENSE, IND. | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | Ama | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | BA | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | The characteristic ba of the tense indicative is contained in the tipper part of the m, as re subjunctive in the lower. (Vide Pl. IV., imp. tense.) | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | M-s-t &c. &c. |
| IMPERFECT TENSE, IND. | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | Mone | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | BA | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | The characteristic ba of the tense indicative is contained in the tipper part of the m, as re subjunctive in the lower. (Vide Pl. IV., imp. tense.) | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | M-s-t &c. &c. |
| IMPERFECT TENSE, IND. | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | Reg— | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | BA | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | The characteristic ba of the tense indicative is contained in the tipper part of the m, as re subjunctive in the lower. (Vide Pl. IV., imp. tense.) | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | M-s-t &c. &c. |
| IMPERFECT TENSE, IND. | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | Audi​ | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | BA | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | The characteristic ba of the tense indicative is contained in the tipper part of the m, as re subjunctive in the lower. (Vide Pl. IV., imp. tense.) | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | M-s-t &c. &c. |
| IMP. SUB.— | AMA | . . RE . . M Final, &c. &c. | . . RE . . M Final, &c. &c. | . . RE . . M Final, &c. &c. | . . RE . . M Final, &c. &c. | . . RE . . M Final, &c. &c. | . . RE . . M Final, &c. &c. | . . RE . . M Final, &c. &c. | . . RE . . M Final, &c. &c. |
| PERF. TENSE IND | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | AMA- | | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | Sti—t—mus, &c. &c. | Sti—t—mus, &c. &c. | Sti—t—mus, &c. &c. | Sti—t—mus, &c. &c. | Sti—t—mus, &c. &c. |
| PERF. TENSE IND | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | MONE- | | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | Sti—t—mus, &c. &c. | Sti—t—mus, &c. &c. | Sti—t—mus, &c. &c. | Sti—t—mus, &c. &c. | Sti—t—mus, &c. &c. |
| PERF. TENSE IND | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | REX- | | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | Sti—t—mus, &c. &c. | Sti—t—mus, &c. &c. | Sti—t—mus, &c. &c. | Sti—t—mus, &c. &c. | Sti—t—mus, &c. &c. |
| PERF. TENSE IND | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | AUDI- | | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | Sti—t—mus, &c. &c. | Sti—t—mus, &c. &c. | Sti—t—mus, &c. &c. | Sti—t—mus, &c. &c. | Sti—t—mus, &c. &c. |
| PERF. SUBJ. | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | AMA- | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | VERI . . . . . . M Final, &c. &c. | VERI . . . . . . M Final, &c. &c. | VERI . . . . . . M Final, &c. &c. | VERI . . . . . . M Final, &c. &c. | VERI . . . . . . M Final, &c. &c. | VERI . . . . . . M Final, &c. &c. |
| PERF. SUBJ. | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | MONE- | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | VERI . . . . . . M Final, &c. &c. | VERI . . . . . . M Final, &c. &c. | VERI . . . . . . M Final, &c. &c. | VERI . . . . . . M Final, &c. &c. | VERI . . . . . . M Final, &c. &c. | VERI . . . . . . M Final, &c. &c. |
| PERF. SUBJ. | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | REX- | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | VERI . . . . . . M Final, &c. &c. | VERI . . . . . . M Final, &c. &c. | VERI . . . . . . M Final, &c. &c. | VERI . . . . . . M Final, &c. &c. | VERI . . . . . . M Final, &c. &c. | VERI . . . . . . M Final, &c. &c. |
| PERF. SUBJ. | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | AUDI- | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | VERI . . . . . . M Final, &c. &c. | VERI . . . . . . M Final, &c. &c. | VERI . . . . . . M Final, &c. &c. | VERI . . . . . . M Final, &c. &c. | VERI . . . . . . M Final, &c. &c. | VERI . . . . . . M Final, &c. &c. |
The remaining tenses may be easily made out from the Fig. Pl. iii.; the infinitives also that are between the p and the i; the participles that have their place in the p; the supines that have their place in the s; the gerunds also that have their place in the g. All the present tenses are in a line, the perfects in another, the futures in another. The s of the supine is made to curl round turum esse and turus, that are formed from the supine without breaking the line of the futures, etc. etc.
Much might be said about the advantage of presenting to the pupil so extensive a subject under a form that can be taken in at once by the eye: the letters, the localities, and the arrangement, all aiding the memory. More might be said in explanation of the table; but, if the student study it carefully by his Grammar, what I have said will suffice. I cannot here enter more into detail.
* ↑ The exceptor in the O of the Present Indicative reminds us of the I required in regis. Vide PI. III.
* ↑ We get these letters from the M in the top of the Fig. Pl. III., where it serves the purpose of the Exceptor, as well as shewing the final. Thus those letters and differences are made prominent which strike the mind only after some experience. At the same time, the characteristic differences lying between parts that are common to all the tenses, and soon known, makes the whole easy to be learnt.
* ↑ The large E in the third places of the Exceptor, indicates that an e is to be brought into both Indicative and Subjunctive moods of the third conjugation. The small e in the fourth place of the Ex. refers to the use of an e in the Indicative only of the fourth conjugation. This is better represented in Pl. III. Fig.
* ↑ This is the Final M in the imperfect indicative and subjunctive. (Vide FI. III. Fig. 1.) In the Passive the only change to be made is the turning this m into r, and using the passive finals.