date

26 Aug. 1814 '.1 Logic Ch.
26 Aug. 1814 '.1

Logic

Ch. Language

Improvement : 1. Copiousness

'.1 Copiousness good

1

1

Ch.

Of the Improvement of Language in respect 1. of Copiousness.

'.1. General Rule - The more copious a language the better.

New words and new combinations, under /to/ one or other of these may every improvement of which language is susceptible in respect of copiousness be comprehended /referred/.

In whichsoever mode the /one/ /any/ addition is made to the existing /pre-existing/ state of instruments of discourse, the addition may /is/ prima facie, and saving particular exceptions, entitled to be set down to the account of improvement.

Particular reasons apart, for the same reason that the first word that was ever invented was an addition to the stock of instruments of enjoyment and security; in a word, to the instruments of wellbeing, so has every other been, and so will every other be.

On this head, therefore, the general rule is, The

more copious a language is, the better: - the better adapted to the purposes of language.

But to this general rule particular exceptions are not wanting. As to the grounds of these exceptions, and thence as to the rules in cases of exception that have place under this general rule, their place will be found under the head of the next-mentioned article upon the list of qualities desirable in language, viz. simplicity.

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