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that of all . 3 . There are no wotos Primarily and properly iasignificant . Tfeere are many words that have ceased t be significant , as they are commonly emp loyed . Many of the particles , including affixes and prefixes , conjunctions , prepositions , articles , &c . are of this description , and may be termed the
mummies of language . 5 . Every word that cannot be identified with the name of a sensible object , is either partly or wholly miimmifiecl . 6 \ The use of insignificant words , or using words insignificantly , is the chief , if not the only cause of verbal , that is metaphysical imposture ; and all
unintelligible or false reasoning is merely metaphysical imposture . Metaphysics as a science could have never existed but for the wammies of language , and the relics and ghosts of meaning . 7 . All words are primarily and properly metaphorical ; jot to vary the expression , —language whether spoken or written , originated in simile ; aod metaphor is commonly explained to
be— « a simile comprised in a word . The author does not wish to dispute about such unmeaning or half-meaning terms as metaphor , &c . ; but he wishes it to be distinctly understood , that the vulgar errors—he means the errors of the literary vulgar , respecting metaphorical and literal terms , are the cause of much metaphysical
imposture , much critical , logical , grammatical and rhetorical nonsense . What are called literal terms , such as time , space , mind , spirit . &c , arc like worn oat coin , or effaced inscriptions , the meaning or value of which , being never ascertained , occasions everlasting conjecture and controversy . 8 . Almost every
sentence is elliptical . 9 . Almost every word is put elliptically . 1 0 . Almost every word is a compound of two or more words . 11 . All words are resolvable into a few primitives ; or thus , all the seeming multitude of words are merely various
spellings and pronunciations of the names of a few striking and familiar objects ; as the head , foot , hand , eye , ear , mouth , &c . ' 2 . As all words are resolvable into the tetters of the alphabet , so all the letters of the alphabet are resolvable into one
primary form . 18 . That primary form was employed as a sign or representation « viable objects . 14 . This method of ^ gnificancy by similitude , is the origin of "I written language . 15 . There are very ew words , which were primarily unwritl or which originated in an imitation ° i natural sounds . If these principles can be overturned , ** philology of the siuthor will prove of «* ne a baseless fabric . " Introd . pp . lxa -xxii .
^ Vhas been and still the opinion ^ 99 y men of sound understanding
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and not more guilty of fanaticism than our author is of modesty , that language had a divine origin . Since it is plain that man must soon have perished had he been thrown at his creation naked upon the earth , abandoned to the unassisted efforts of his
own untutored powers , it might seem to require no great stretch of faith to believe that the Being who fostered him , gave him also language . JBut an opinion so un philosophical and childish our author has refuted in his arrogant and easy way , simply by declaring that " as for those who still
continue to consider language as arbitrary , or as invented and taught by the Deity , they must not be offended if I teH them that they are unworthy of notice . " We may venture to assure the writer that they will not- be offended . Their vanity must exceed , if possible ,
the measure of his own , could they be offended , that they are - * iot thdught worthy of notice bv a man . of such lofty genius that to nis mind *** ' Virgil is a dull versifier , and Tully a petty rhetorician ;\ and whose taste is so exquisite , that he is able to
say" Twenty times have I , attempted to read the writings of Addison , but I could never succeed in getting through a single volume . I did get twice through Virgil by the gracious aid of an etymological motive ; but I believe twenty etymological motives would not drag me through the volumes of- Addison ; and I declare , upon
my honour and conscience , as an author , that I would rather fairly eat them up and digest them down , ( all , saving and excepting the boards , ) than give them my precious days and nights . "—P . 215 . In reviewing a work written in the intolerant and supercilious manner of our author , it is difficult to refrain
from making at every step such remarks upon the spirit and style of the production as may create prejudice against the substance and argument of the book . Since , however , it is to the interest of knowledge , that , if any
advance hae been made in illustrating the principles and history of language * the discovery should be known , and circulated as soon as -possible , we shall present our readers with a * few extracts that will shew what has been
done or attempted in the ; present treatise on grammar "; having first taken leave of the writer by reconv mending to his notice ' what his faibh . and caJJUng must hare taxtgfrt him to f « -
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TW * i . 4 a
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Review . —Gilckrisfs Philosophic Etymology * 541
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Sept. 2, 1816, page 541, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2456/page/41/
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