1826 Oct. 29 Seen 7 Aug. 1831

Logic Language

Practical

Ch. 1 Language in general

' │ │ Properties desirable

'. │ │ Properties desirable in language.

Of this instrument of human converse, the special-end in view is the giving to it on each occasion all such properties by which on that same occasion it will be rendered in the highest degree conducive to the universal end in view, the maximum of happiness by means of the particular use and application on that same occasion made of it by the individual by whom it is employed.

 [...?] this here or below?

But of this same instrument, on no occasion by any individual, can any use be made any otherwise than by adoption made of the appropriate part of the aggregate body of signs, audible or visible of which the language in the use[?] in conversing or as[?] otherwise employing is composed. This language will be a language which is or have been in use in some one or more of the nations into which the population of our globe is divided.

Whatever be the occasion of the language employed by him, the words will be open to his choice: and upon that choice will depend the aptitude of the so-employed words, with reference to the purpose for which they are employed: the aptitude of these same words, which is as much as to say the degree in which the aggregate of them stands invested with these properties which in words so employed are, as above, desirable.

As to the nascent[?] language in general it will not be open to his choice: it will to that and this alone[?] the use of which ever since birth he has been accustomed. But on some occasion in the instance of some persons it will be open to choice: and proportioned to the degree in which it does is the utility of any enquiry as to the degree in which among all the languages in use this or that language contains within itself the means of [...?] those who use it to give to their[?] discourse such of the properties desirable in language as are desirable on the individual occasion on which that discourse is employed.