JB_102_241.xml

Title: [1831 Sept 21 Language Introduction]

Description: 1831 Sept 21

Language

Introduction or Preface or Beginning

Ch.1.- Language in general

'2 Ends in view

On this occasion as on every other, of which I [...?] the end in view is the maximisation of happiness, corresponding principle, the greatest happiness principle - corresponding rule, do what depends upon you, towards giving encrease to the aggregate composed of happiness and more particularly human happiness.

On the present occasion, by the end in view was suggested the idea of the distinction observable in the meaning of the word language, according to the occasion on which it was employed and brought to view.

Happiness the end in view. Logic by some called Noology by other[?] Metaphysics, the instrument employed on the occasion of the labour employed in the endeavour to contribute to that end.

 Go on copying the last column on the page of Rudiments.

It has occurred to me that among the operations performable by the unassisted labours of individuals acting singly, there are several by which, if performed in the field of language, addition might be made to the aggregate quantity of human happiness: and in particular it seemed to me that I myself was of the number of the individuals by whom service in this shape might perhaps be rendered: and that, if, of the suggestions which had presented themselves in the view, publication was made in my life-time, I might possibly receive for my reward the view of some advance already made to the acquisition of so desirable a result.

1831 Sept. 29

Language

Introduction Preface or Beginning

Ch. 1 Language in general

'2 Ends in view

In this view, travelling in idea over the whole field of language, I have looked into every part of it, for the purpose of seeing whether I could not in some way, and if yes in what way, make addition to the quantity of happiness actually derived from the application of this instrument: or in other words, to the use made of it.

Any use made of this instrument will have for its efficient cause addition made to one or other of the {desirable} properties which in a degree proportioned to the use capable of being made of it, will be seen to belong to it: in so much as that if any addition be given to the quantity of the use at present made of it, it will be causing it to possess one or more of these same properties in a greater degree than at present.

{But, before it can be clearly understood what these properties are, it will be necessary to bring to view three different occupations in which the word language is in use to be employed.}

[102-243r]

1831 Aug. 7

Logic and Languag.

1 o

Ch. Language in general

'2 Ends in view

'2. Ends in view in regard to language.

Of language, as of every thing else.- Of what is said or written on this subject, as of what is said or written on any, the only proper use is the maximization of the happiness of every sensitive being.

But by whatever addition is made to the happiness of any one such being, encrease is is given to the aggregate composed of the happiness of all, unless substraction to equal or greater amount is made from the happiness of some other: and without special and sufficient reason assigned, no such substraction, can reasonably be assumed to have place.

As between the human animal on the one part, and other animals taken together on the other part, a human animal has not for forming a judgment of the effect produced by any cause on the happiness of an animal of any other species, means so probative, as for forming a judgment of the effect produced by that same cause in one animal of his own species.

By whatsoever addition is by any cause made to the happiness of the individual in question on any one occasion during any portion of present time, encrease is given to the aggregate compound of the happiness of that same individual, unless by that same cause, substraction to an equal or greater amount will be made from the happiness of that same individual at some point of future time; and without special and sufficient reason assigned, [...?] no such substraction can reasonably be assumed to have place.

[102-244r]

1831 Aug. 7

Logic and Language

1 o

Ch.1 Language in general

'2 Ends in view

Of the present work the {object or say} end in view is to make what addition can on this occasion be made, to the aggregate or say sum of human happiness by shewing as far as may be, by what means language taken in the aggregate may most effectually be adapted to this purpose.

1826 Oct. 23

Language

Ch.│ │ Properties desirable

The properties desirable in language in general are the properties desirable on the part of the aggregate of the several portions of the matter of language employed or employable in the scant[?] occasions to useful purpose by the aggregate of the several individuals of which the human species is composed in the pursuit of their respective /the aggregate/ objects of desire, or say instruments and means of happiness - that is to say of pleasure in all its shapes and exemption for pain in all its shapes.

Reference had to whatever purpose and the occasion, the properties desirable will be found referable to these several heads; to wit

1. Clearness.

2. Correctness.

3. Comprehensiveness: in respect of the extent of their words and combinations of words employed.

4 Conciseness.

5. Copiousness: in respect of the number of words and combination of words at common[?] and employed accordingly.

Considered in respect of its subservicency to its purposes of discourse. A mass of language in use in any community may be considered with reference to the demands either of those who are already in the habit of making use of it, or of those who not being in possession of that habit, are desirous of acquiring it.

Considered with reference to the demands of this class of persons - of persons thus circumstanced, another property which it presents as desirable in it is termed [...?] Discibility[?] - facility of being learnt.

This property as will be seen is not in the direct but in the inverse rate of copiousness: in respect of words of certain classes.

[Attached sheet]

Conjugates - Prefixes.

1. Non-

2. Quasi-

3. Vice-

4. Ex- functioning Female[?]

5. Sub-

6. Super-

7. Anti

8. Part-and-parcel

9. Son-in-law, &c.

JB_102_318.xml

Title: [1831 Sept. 28 M Language 3]

Description: 1831 Sept. 28 M

Language

3 1

Ch.1 Language in general

'.4 Properties desirable

Properties desirable in the information, for the communication of which language is employed: that is to say, whatsoever be the language by means of which it is endeavoured to convey it, the persons by whom, the persons to whom, the occasions on which, and the purposes for which, it is endeavoured to be conveyed.

1. Clearness: as opposed to 1. Obscurity. 2. Ambiguity. 3. Undefinedness: i.e. want of distinctness between the limits of the idea designated by the word in question, and the several circumjacent ideas.

2. Correctness.

3. Copiousness, as opposed to scantiness.

4. Completeness, or say, all-comprehensiveness.

5. Non-Redundance - i.e. exemption from useless terms, inflections, and modifications, as opposed to abundance in useless terms, inflections, and modifications.

6. Conciseness, or say, compactness or compressedness, as opposed to diffuseness.

II. Properties desirable in a language, in comparison with other languages: meaning here by a language and the language, the aggregate composed of all the words habitually employed by a certain aggregate of persons, in whose instance this habit of employing the same aggregate of words for all purposes of social intercourse, causes them to be spoken of as having the same language.

1. Pronunciability.

2. Melodiousness.

3. Discibility, or say, capacity of being easily taught.

5. Meliorability, or say, perfectibility, capacity of being easily improved.

6. Decorability, or ornamentability, as opposed to baldness.

III. Properties desirable - this or that one of them or this or that other of them in the language or say discourse, employed according to the occasion on which, and purpose for which, it is employed.

1. Impressiveness.

2. Dignity.

3. Patheticalness, or say, aptitude for exciting tender emotions.

Desirable properties of the second order: that is to say, as being conducive to the investing the language with this or that property of the first order, as above.

1. Subservient or say conducive to the primary properties of discibility and docibility.

1. Giving expression by means of a small as effectually as by means of a larger number of inflections to the idea in question.

2. Facility of admitting the junction of two or more words into one.

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JB_102_344.xml

Title: [10 Aug. 1813 M Logic Language]

Description: 10 Aug. 1813 M

Logic

Language

'. Copiousness. Conciseness

Tractability

1

Ch. II. Copiousness - Conciseness - Tractibility -

Of language the use and the sole use - being the communication of ideas - in proportion to its copiousness will be the usefulness, and in so far the excellence of every language.

But be the particular language what it will, at no one point of time will it contain within itself a stock of words, such as, without prejudice to the perfection of all these other desirable properties, shall be capable of giving expression to all the ideas for the expression of which a demand is capable of having place at a succeeding point of time. Hence in the property of copiousness, if considered as a constantly existing property or quality, the idea of tractibility is necessarily included.

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