The record., 1911-04-13
ss The ORIGIN OF LANGUAGE se


and an intellectual faculty, the or
gans of articulation over the beast,
and having a desire for the com
munication of thought a gradual ad
vance to that end was made, from
signs TO sounds, then characters re-
presenting sounds, then letters and
an alphabet with meaning, signi6ca
ton and Interpretation.
From the alphabet words were form
ed making phrases and sentences, sub
iect to rules and parts of speech with
meaning; and language was made q
science To be used without the special
use of signs; altho signs are not now
used to communicate thought as once,
but being the fundamental and origin
al source of all human language they
are still in use to some extent and
seem To be instructive. not only with
man but with beast. If the beast could
articulatc and had the vocal organs of
speech, they might communicate with
each other and with man; they can
only communicate with signs and un-
Systemized sounds. altho understood
in meaning: while the beasts cannot
understand our language they can be
made TO understand our sounds and
signs. We use signs with our language.
often To make il more effective and
forcinle, this is manifested by our orat
ors and speakers in their enthusiasm of
subjects and issues presented before the
people. Many persons who use differ
cnt languages can understand each
other better by signs than the use of
the vocal language. We are of the
opinion that vocal language, which
was derived from signs, was once one
language, but 10y dispersion of man
different dialects and speech origin
ated until a multiplicity of forms of
speech and dialects sprung up; and we
believe that in the course of time Ian
guage will be consolidated and united
into but one or two forms of speech.
We shall not undertake to weary your
patience with n comment on the var
ious idiomS, dialects, tongues and the
phonetic construction of sound and
pronunciation that have taken place
in the run of language among the var
iouS nations of people, such is not
properly within the scope of our sub
ject; but some future time we shall he
g lad TO talk on the development of
vocal language. We have had con-
siderable experience in the various
languages, having studied and master
ed a considerable number in our young
er days; we admired some better than
Others. In studying the Hebrew,
Greek and Latin language we found
. .l.e,u aYrglits Interesting, also the Span
| iSh and nuSSisu, que -IV5Tu1ferF--
German and French language We
must admit that we are partial to the
English language and we believe that
il shall some day be the leading Ian
guage of the world. Before conclud-
ing let me repeat that to fix time
and place of the beginning of vocal
language is something very difficult:
if we could determine the exact period
in which man appeared upon the world
we might arrive at a more definite con-
clusiOn Of the commencement of Ian
gnage. Mankind has long differed as
To the age of the world and of that
which it inherits. Our geologists and
paleontOlogists have taught that the
world has existed for many thousands
of years and has passed through trans
formations and phenomenal changes
and that it had existed for number
of periods of time before man appeared
But | shall not take your time TO com
ment on such science as anthropogeny
and photography. Perhaps | have al
ready occupied more of your time than
| should, so shall close aud you can
proceed with your regular discussion
and criticism"
After Chairman Price had concluded
short speeches were made by ParsOn
Peveler, DR.. Fades and Professor Hick-
man in way of comment which will
be reported next week. RONDO.