The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-07-28
THE PATHOLOGICAL CONVENTION IN NEW
HAVEN.

The third days session OF the Association was
commenced yesterday forenoon at nine O'Clock.
Professor W. d. Whitney, OF Yale College, read
paper entitled ''Strictures on Schletcher's Views
of Language" The paper contained reply
TO his pamphlets, written by Professor
Schleicher and sent to Dr.. Heckel OF jena
one entitled .'Darwn's Theory and Science
Of Language" ana the other Respecting the I'm
portance OF Language to the Natural History OF
man." The first attempts TO prove that ode species
OF animals descended from another very unlike IT.,
because q modern dialect is very different from
an ancient one, and that animals Of higher struc-
lure are developed from thoso of lower,
because complicated tongues are derived from
monosylabic roots. Schleicher, to maintain this,
assumed that languages are natural organisms
which. not being determined by the will Of man,
grew and developed IN accordance with fixed laws
and then grew Old and died out and that to them
belonged the succession OF phenomena called life
In answer Professor Whitney shows that there has
been growth in the language, new names
have been adopted, new forms made and new
compounds, all OF which have been made by man, IN
ae eMerGe % s %, ~ meet ms hecessteS ana
that this growth was determined 10y the will Of a,
and not by liked laws, the theory Of schlecher that
language Is natural organism, the growth or which
Is determined by fixed laws, falls to the ground.
In the second paper Schlcichcr holds mat Ian.
guage has o material existence and depends upon
the structure Of the organs. Professor Whitney
cOntended In his paper that language did not de-
pend upon the structure of the organs, but upon
teaching, and tn Vt 1t mattered not To what race
child belonged, IL would speak the language taught
1t. Language did not depend upon organ structure.
The paper was discussed by DR.. sampson. OF
Washington, aud the Rev. Mr.. Anderson, or ater
bury, after which Professor March, OF Easton, Pa,
read paper on 'Ihe Origin OF Language" He
took the ground that language had grown up from
natural sounds and was G0d.glven endowment.
The paper was discussed by Professors Comfort
Benedict, whitney, Schlegcl, Brewer. March, Ken
rick, Caswel and Colonel 4. W. HigglnsOn. Colonel
Higglnson read paper entitled IAN Old Latin Text
Book II embraced "reminiscences of college life
and took ground in favor OF high literary educa.
ton.
DR.. Sampson read paper "On sign Language
He gave the results OF his observations among the
deaf mutes and also some Of the results Of a study
OF herOglyphcs. He thought perfect sign language
could yet be secured. The paper was discussed
until the hour OF adjournment by Professors COM
FORT whitney, Hademab, CasWe.l Crosby Messrs
Bristed, Anderson aud HIgginson.
AT the afternoon session ProiessorN W. Benedict,
OF Rochester, and DR.. J. Thomas, of Philadelphia
read papers, both Of which were devoted to dis
cussion Of the proper pronunciation OF Greek and
Latin. Roth gentlemen contcnded against the
adoption Of the so-called Continental system of pro-
nuncaton, and favored the English pronunciation.
The subject was warmly discussed by Mr. Cotton. Of
New York, who favored the English system; by
Professors IIaldeman, Schlegei, Kendrick aud
Thacher, who favored the Continental system.