The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1856-06-07
Original.
DID MAN INVENT SPEECH2

Mr. EDlroR-Yo our readers are under great
obligations to Mr.. II. II. Hoyt, M. D., for his
interesting lectures on the Natural History Of
Man. There is, however, in the second Lee
ture, an assertion which is far from being
generally admitted. Mr.. Hoyt says;
"Laslly. which is of vastly more impor-
tance, he (man) invented speech. This is
the greatest and most important charAcieri
tic Of man, since it is not born with him, like
the voices Of animals, but has been famed
AMI brought into use by himself, as the arbi-
trary variety of different languages incontest-
ably proves"
AS far rs I can understand the above quo
taticn, speech then, is synonymous to Ian
guage, and means languase expressed by the
articulated sounds of the human voice. The
proofs adduced in support of the assertion
that man Invented speech do not appear in
conteStoJle.
Speech is not born with the child But
then he does not invent, but learns it from
his parents. Could not the " first pair" just
as well, have learned or received it from their
wise ceTAtOT
There is an arbitrary variety Of different
languages. But what does this prove Merely
that mans language, as well as his social
habits, &c, is subject to changes dependent
not of his inventing genius or even his will
but of great variety of circumstances. Mans
genius has polished the vocal and written ex-
preston Of the English, Spanish, French,
Italian, etc, language; but it is for nothing
in the origin of these arbitrary varieties.
The learned Lecturer does no. reject I" the
Holy Writings" and "the authority Of these
inspired annals" Then he must also admit,
as matter of fact, that man has been Great
ed thinking and speaking and that the patent
right of speech, therefore, belongs to God
and not to man.
Reason and experience prove that man, oI
his nature, is a o,ial being. God, ga wise
creator" as he is called in the lecturers, has
given him this social instinct he must have
given him also language so necessary to so.
cial intercourse. For he who wills the end
must also will the means to attain it.
AS the improvement of the mind is not born
with the child no more than Speech then must
we suppose also, that man mind, originally
was as barren as the babe just born. How
then was it possible for him to invent Ian
guage which, as a great American scholar
remarks, embodies a truer and richer philoso
ply than is entertained by any of those who
speak it? Language presupposes rich and
true philosophy, the requirement Of which
in its turn, is inconceivabe without language
Therefore, language, even in the course o
time, is practical impo sibii!y to man.
The erect posture of man is considered as
admirably adapted to his social life, and tho
creator as Mr.. Hoyt has minutely shown it
has fitted for that posture, every part Of man,
bodily frame. Can We for moment suppos'
that this same creator, in his wisdom las no
done at least as mach Tor that nobler part o
man-his mind
Reason coacurs with the authority Of thC
inspired annals, to prove that GJd has made
man, not in a state of helpless infancy, bu
full-grown, and has given him, SO to say,
starr in the world, by endowing him with al
necessary knowledge and the use of speech t.
communicate it. y