H.

I thought I had laid down in the beginning, the principles upon which we were to proceed in our inquiry into the manner of fignification of words.

Which do you mean?

B.

H.

The fame which Mr. Locke employs in his inquiry into the Force of words: viz.-The two great purposes of

fpeech.

B.

And to what distribution do they lead you?

H.

1. To words necessary for the communication of our Thoughts. And

2. To Abbreviations, employed for the fake of dispatch.

B.

How many of each do you reckon? And which are they?

H. In

H.

In what particular language do you mean? For, if you do not confine your queftion, you might as reafonably expect me (according to the fable)" to make a coat to fit "the moon in all her changes."

B.

Why? Are they not the fame in all languages?

are.

Those necessary to the communication of our thoughts

H.

B.

And are not the others alfo ?

No. Very different.

H.

B.

I thought we were talking of Univerfal Grammar.

H.

I mean fo too. But I cannot anfwer the whole of your queftion, unless you confine it to fome particular language

with which I am acquainted. However, that need not disturb you: for you will find afterwards that the principles will apply univerfally.

B.

Well. For the present then confine yourself to the necessary Parts: and exemplify in the English.

In English, and in åll Languages, there are only two forts of words which are neceffary for the communication of our thoughts.

And they are?

H.

I. Noun, and
2. Verb.

B.

H.

B.

These are the common names, and I fuppofe you use them according to the common acceptation.

H.

I should not otherwife have chofen them, but becaufe they are commonly employed; and it would not be eafy

to

to difpoffefs them of their prescriptive title: befides, without doing any mifchief, it faves time in our difcourfe. And I use them according to their common acceptation.

B.

But you have not all this while informed me how many Parts of Speech you mean to lay down.

H.

That shall be as you please.

or more.

Either Two, or Twenty, In the strict sense of the term, no doubt both the neceffary words and the Abbreviations are all of them Parts of Speech; because they are all useful in Language, and each has a different manner of fignification. But I think it of great confequence both to knowledge and to Languages, to keep the words employed for the different purposes of speech, as diftinct as poffible. And therefore I am inclined to allow that rank only to the necessary words and to include all the others (which are not neceffary to speech, but merely fubftitutes of the first sort) under the title of Abbreviations.

* "Res neceffarias Philofophus primo loco ftatuit: accefforias autem & « vicarias, mox.”

3

I. C. Scaliger de Caufis L. L. cap. 110.

B. Merely

B.

Merely Substitutes! You do not mean that you can difcourse as well without as with them?

H.

Not as well. A fledge cannot be drawn along as smoothly, and easily, and swiftly, as a carriage with wheels; but it may be dragged.

B.

Do you mean then that, without using any other fort of word whatever, and merely by the means of the Noun and Verb alone, you can relate or communicate any thing that I can relate or communicate with the help of all the others?

H.

Yes. It is the great proof of all I have advanced. And, upon trial, you will find that you may do the fame. But, after the long habit and familiar use of Abbreviations, your first attempts to do without them will feem very aukward to you; and you will stumble as often as a horse, long used to be fhod, that has newly caft his fhoes. Though indeed (even with those who have not the habit to struggle against) without Abbreviations, Language can get

H