[paper dated 1826 - who wrote this ?]

Logic

B.II. Operations

Ch.II. Modes of Exposition

1. Representation

2

easy and consist merely in the pointing to the object in question and pronouncing at the same time the word which it is wished to be attached to it as its name. This is exposition by signs and may be termed representation. Among persons who have no common language by which they can communicate their ideas this is at first the only practicable method and we see it continually exemplified when we either teach a child to speak, or instruct in our own language a foreigner who can understand no words with which we are acquainted, and who does not possess, or cannot make use of dictionaries or any other written explanation of our words.

Next to these names of real entities, perceptible and present, those which are the most readily expounded by representation, are names of collective fictitious entities. By representing successively a number of objects comprehended in the collective fictitious entities, - book, plant, &c., we may easily succeed in attaching to those words in the learner's mind, a general idea of the sense we attach to them, and which, though at first very vague and imperfect, will, at any rate, serve as the groundwork of the discourse by which a clearer and more correct exposition may subsequently be given.

A generic idea once formed, the meaning of words indicative of specific differences, may be deduced from it; still, by mere representation, not perhaps the substantive names of that class of fictitious entities called relations, but those abbreviate words called adjectives, which designate at once the relation or property, and the fact of its being attributed to the object represented. A great book, a little book, a yellow flower, a red flower, &c., may be thus expounded, whilst the explanation of the words greatness and smallness, colour, &c., may require one or other of the species of discourse which are comprehended among the other modes of exposition.

As yet, however, we have but substantives and adjectives, and without verbs, no discourse can be held, - no farther

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