Connecticut western news., 1872-02-09
OUR EUROPEAN CORRESPOND ON THE PROPOSAL TO CONSTRUCT A UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE.
OUR EUROPEAN


 WRITTEN EXPRESSLY FOR THE CONNECTICUT
 WESTERN NEWS BY WILLIAM GEORGES,
 BRIGHTON, ENGLAND.
 The idea of universal language is one that has occupied the attention and exer- cised the genius of numerous philologysts and men of learning, from the time of Bishop Wilkins, and others of the old school to the present time. By some, indeed, like Rant, it has been considered that universal language, not only falls within the limits of possibility but will ac- tually be established at some future, but not definite, period. q ,aae5,st ! EF
 The plans proposed for this object have been various, but such as they are, they have all been put forward by their respec- tive authors as a legitimate means to a use ful end. Bishop Wilkins, in his schemes, begins by classifying all that is or can be known. He then establishes this diction- ary of notions, se to speak, as the basis for a corresponding dictionary of signs. written and spoken. His classification co91 1pises:
 X. Fundamental notions.
 B. Substances.
 c. Quantities. ...
 D' Qualties~ .fH-.sI .a.u~ -ta
 aouonS' r'l5 srs asa -- a..s.1
 F. Relations. ....-... f.... ...s
 By subdiyiding each of these principal classes, he obtains number of minor classes comprehending everything that can be known or managed. His formation of a language is most ingenious. The Lords Prayer, written in his real character gives us a proof of the feasibility of such lan- guage Don Simbaldo de Mas, recent French Minister, published few years ago his Ideographim, atreatise on the possibility and facility of constructing an international system of written signs, by means of which nations might be able to make themselves mutually intelligible without knowing the language of each other. The plan has great advantages especially in an age like the pre- sent when important communications are carriedon almost more by writing than word of mouth. Professor Max Muller Q re- nowned authority on the question of lan- guage, thinks that common language IS not a scheme to laugh at, but problem which admits of a very perfect solution, aud that an artificial language could be prod uced more perfect than any now existing The same opinion is held by other scholars and literary men of note. r. .--5 -l
 The question divides itself iuto two parts. l. The desirabilty and probable advantages resulting from the adoption of an interna- tional speech. II. The manner and prob able feasibility of it's construction.
 Language is the work of man, for it was left to Adam to name all things. To remodel abolish, renew, and improve what man has invented, has been done over and over again. And the human work will ever be subject to change through the increased experience and mature judgmen. of sue ceeding generations. At Babel the tongues were caused to differ, but we find the anti dote to this in the promise. Then 1 will turn the people to a pure language that they may call upon the name of the Lord, !" which seems to point to the time when there shall l,e ''one fold and one shepherd, i" and, it follows, one language. The pro gress of the work is gradual. But every day brings It nearer to its completion. In the union of tribes and clans we mark the disappearance of dialects. Nations, who in former ages scarcely knew of each other hat fhs.xy vicf1 ,,l Hx-r bonds of friendship and are able to inter- change ideas and sentiments unchecked by distance. International meetings are con voked at which the produce of industry of every nation is exhibited even at this mo- ment as Ecumenical Counsel has met, at which only one language is spoken by the numerous deputies, rom almost every country upon earth. These men feel the want of some common tongue in which to carry on thei: deliberations, and, in spite of the difficulties raised by different pfonun- ciatlon &c. they make tue best of their con trivance, and certainly manage to make it answer. But it is not only on special occa- sions like these, but in mission work, or political relations, in the study of nature and for general education, that the desira- bility of ore language is obvious There is no impediment to the work of the mis- sionary greater than the difference and per petual changing of languages Loyard in his mission to the Hurons found tha, amongst these North American tribes, hardly one village spoke the same language as the other. The Jesuits in their labors amongst the American tribes found that these aborig. ines were, as rule unintelligible. h Robert Moffat's Missionary scenes in Southern Africa, I've read that in the course of one generation the entire nature of the language is changed. -' OF
 We may easily conjecture from this how few their ideas must be. and how poor theil vocabulary. Christian thought and feeling cannot get hold upon them under these cir cumstances. If the pioneers of Christian nations were to teach the heather the Cos pei in his own rude tongue, and at tho same time, the Universal Language of tho rest of the church, the seed thus sowr HOulu OAAuS AOttu uO uuCeILalu uuII, oHI we should hear less of the disastrous fail ures which now are, alas too often, tn, result of long years of earnest patien work. In political and internationa intercourse, better feeling could no but arise from 8 community of Ian guage. As an illustration of the truth ot this, let two persons from the same country speaking the same dialect meet abroad !; sr intimacy is at once formed through tht latter. Language, indeed, constitutes tht strongest bond between man and man Through one language nistrust is easily re