An essay towards a real character, and a philosophical language by John Wilkins ...

CHAP. III. How this Real Character may be made effable in a distinct Lan∣guage, and what kind of Letters or Syllables may be conveni∣ently assigned to each Character.

BY what hath been already delivered, it may sufficiently appear, how any thing or Notion, which falls under humane Discourse, may be expressed by such a Character as shall be legible to men of all Nations and Languages.

I come now to shew how this Universal Character may be made effa∣ble in a distinct Language: The unfolding of which (supposing what hath been said about the Character and Grammar, to be well under∣stood) will need but little time and pains.

The Qualifications desirable in a Language, should have some ana∣logy and proportion to those before mentioned concerning a Character or way of Writing; Namely,

1. The words of it should be brief, not exceeding two or three Syl∣lables; the Particles consisting but of one Syllable.

2. They should be plain and facil to be taught and learnt.

3. They should be sufficiently distinguishable from one another, to prevent mistake and equivocalness; and withal significant and copious, answerable to the conceipts of our mind.

4. They should be Euphonical, of a pleasant and graceful sound.

5. They should be Methodical; those of an agreeable or opposite sense, having somewhat correspondent in the sounds of them. The order to be observed in the assigning of Letters and Sounds to these Characters, must be after the same manner with the Method before made use of, in treating concerning these Characters: Beginning first with Integrals, according to their several Varieties, and then proceed¦ing to the Particles.

The Integrals may be considered, either as they are Radicals, placed in the Tables, either more direct, whether Genus, Difference, or Species; or else Laterally, either by way of Affinity or Opposition.

And next to the Words or Sounds appointed for each of these Radi∣cals, it is to be considered, by what kind of Changes or Varieties, the several Derivations and Inflections may be expressed.

The first thing to be stated in such an Institution, is to assign several Letters and sounds for the 40 Genus's. It were not difficult to offer great variety of these; but to pitch upon that which upon all accounts would be the best, will require so much consideration, and practise, and so many Trials as I cannot pretend unto.

That which at present seems most convenient to me, is this;

• Transcend.
  • General Bα
  • Rel. mixed Ba
  • Rel. of Action Be
• Discourse Bi
• God Dα
• World Da
• Element De
• Stone Di
• Metal Do
• Herb consid. accord. to the
  • Leaf Gα
  • Flower Ga
  • Seed-vessel Ge
• Shrub Gi
• Tree Go
• Animals
  • Exanguious Zα
  • Fish Za
  • Bird Ze
  • Beast Zi
• Parts
  • Peculiar Pα
  • General Pa
• Quantity
  • Magnitude Pe
  • Space Pi
  • Measure Po
• Quality
  • Power Nat. Tα
  • Habit Ta
  • Manners Te
  • Quality sensible Ti
  • Disease To
• Action
  • Spiritual Cα
  • Corporeal Ca
  • Motion Ce
  • Operation Ci
• Relation
  • Oecon. Co
    • Posses. Cƴ
    • Provis. Sα
  • Civil Sa
  • Judicial Se
  • Military Si
  • Naval So
  • Eccles. SƳ

The Differences under each of these Genus's, may be expressed by these Consonants in this order;

• B, D, G, P, T, C, Z, S, N.
• 1 2 3 4 5 6 7.8 9.

The Species may be expressed by putting one of the seven Vowels after the Consonant, for the Difference; to which may be added (to make up the number) two of the Dipthongs, according to this order

• α, a, e, i, o, {ou}, ƴ, ƴi, ƴ{ou}.
• 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9.

For instance, If (De) signifie Element, then (Deb) must signifie the first difference; which (according to the Tables) is Fire: and (De∣bα) will denote the first Species, which is Flame. (Det) will be the fifth difference under that Genus, which is, Appearing Meteor; (Detα) the first Species, viz. Rainbow; (Det••) the second, viz. Halo.

Thus, if (Ti) signifie the Genus of Sensible Quality, then (Tid) must denote the second difference, which comprehends Colours; and (Tida) must signifie the second Species under that difference, viz. Redness: (Tide) the third Species, which is Greenness, &c.

Thus likewise, if (Be) be put for the Genus of Transcendental Relati∣on of Action, then (Bec) must denote the sixth difference, which is Ition; and (Bec{ou}) will signifie the sixth Species, which is Follow∣ing.

As for those Species under Plants and Animals, which do exceed the number of Nine, they may be expressed by adding the Letters L, or R, after the first Consonant, to denote the second or third of such Combinations. Thus, if Gαde be Tulip, viz. the third Species in the first Nine, then Glαde must signifie Ramson, viz. the third in the second Nine, or the twelfth Species under that Difference. So if Zana be Salmon, viz. the second species in the first Nine, them Zlana must signifie Gudgeon, viz. the second in the second Nine; or the ele∣venth Species under that Difference.

It must be granted, that there is one inconvenience in this Contri∣vance for the supernumerary Species, namely, that according to this way of expressing them, they are scarce capable of the derivation of Adjective: But this is more tolerable, because in such matters, where this will happen, there is no necessary occasion for this deriva∣tion.

Those Radicals which are joyned to others by way of Affinity, may be expressed; 1. In Monosyllables, by repeating the Radical Vowel before the Consonant. For example, if (De) signifies Element, then (Ede) must signifie that which is joyned to it by way of affinity, viz. Meteor. If (Di) be Stone, then (Idi) will signifie Concretions, &c. 2. In Dyssyllables, by repeating the second Radical Consonant after the last Vowel: Thus, if (Dade) be Planet, (Daded) will signifie Co∣met. If (Dego) be Ice, (Degog) will signifie Snow, &c.

Those Radicals which are paired together upon the account of sin∣gle Opposition, may be expressed,

1. In Monosyllables, by putting the opposite Vowel before the first Consonant, according to that order of Opposition before set down; namely, of

• α
• a
• e

to

• ι
• o
• {ou}

or ƴ.

Thus, if (Dα) be put to signifie God, then (idα) must signifie that which is opposed, namely, Idol. If (Dab) be Spirit, (odab) will be Body. If (Dad) be Heaven, (odad) will signifie Hell.

2. In Dyssyllables, by adding the Letter (S) to the last Vowel: Thus if (Pida) be Presence, (Pidas) will be Absence. If (Tad{ou}) be Power, then (Tad{ou}s) will be Impotence.

As for those double Opposites by way of Excess or Defect, which some∣times occur, as they are to be represented in writing by the Transcen∣dental Points of Excess or Defect, on the top of the Character, so are they to be expressed in speaking by those Syllables appointed to these Characters, which must be added to the termination of the word: Thus if (Teba) be Iustice, (Tebas) will signifie the Opposite Common; namely, Injustice: And (Tebasla) the Opposite by way of Excess; namely, Rigor, and (Tebaslo) the Opposite by way of Defect, viz. Remission.

• Tepα Veracity.
• Tepαs Lying.
• Tepαsla Over-saying.
• Tepαslo Vnder-saying, Detracting.

Adjectives should be expressed by changing the first radical Conso∣nant, according to this establishment;

• B, D, G, P, T, C; Z, S, N.
• V, D{ou}, G{ou}, F, T{ou}, C{ou}, Zh, Sh, Ng.

Thus, if,

• Dα
• De
• Do

do signifie

• ...God
• ...Element
• ...Stone

then

• D{ou}α
• D{ou}e
• D{ou}o

must si∣gnifie

• Divine.
• Elementary
• Stony.

Adverbs may be expressed by turning the first Radical Vowel into a Dipthong. So Dαι is Divinely. (Sƴιb) is Religiously. (Sƴιgas) is Schismatically.

Abstracts may be expressed, 1. In Monosyllables of the Genus, by ad∣ding the Letter (r) after the first Radical Vowel. So Dαr is Deity or Divinity.

In Monosyllables of the Difference, and Dissyllables of the Species, by changing the second Radical Character Consonant thus;

• B, D, G, P, T, C, Z, S, N.
• V, Dh, Dzh, F, Th, Tsh, Zh, Sh, Ng.

The Letters Dzh, and Tsh, being the same power which we English∣men give to the Letters G, and Ch, in the words Ginger, and Charity. Thus

• (Bαd) is Cause; (Bαdh) is Causality.
• (Saba) is King, (Sava) is Regality or Majesty.

There are only two things noted in the Character belonging to the Inflection of words; namely,

1. The Active and Passive voice, to be expressed by the Letters L, and N, after the first Vowel: thus (Salba) is Regnation; and (Samba) is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 regnari.

2. The Plural Number in Substantives, which is sometimes likewise affixed to Adjectives, when they are used substantively, by reason of any transcendental Mark joyned to them. And this may be done by prolonging the first Vowel, which upon all other occasions, is to be pronounced as being short. But because it will be difficult to prolong this Vowel in Monosyllables of the Genus, when no Consonant doth follow; therefore in this case it may be proper to add the Vowel {ou} to the Radical Vowel. So if Dα be God, Dα{ou} will be Gods.

According to this establishment, every Radical Genus Difference and Species, may be expressed by such words as are facil and pleasant. Those words that are most harsh and difficult, will happen amongst such of the Derivations as are seldom used; as in some of the Active or Passive Adverbs, and in some of the Abstracts.

By these Instances it will be easie to understand all the rest.

The Particles may be expressed either by simple Vowels or Dip∣thongs, or by some of those Monosyllables, not used for any of the Genus's or Differences.

Amongst the Grammatical Particles, the more principal are, the Copula, Pronouns, Interjections, Prepositions, Adverbs, Conjuncti∣ons.

1. The Copula, or Verb Sum, according to its threefold place in the Character, may be expressed by these Dipthongs

• 〈☐〉〈☐〉 ια.
• 〈☐〉〈☐〉 ιa.
• 〈☐〉〈☐〉 ιe.

2. The Pronouns, according to their several kinds, may be expres∣sed by these Vowels and Dipthongs;

〈☐〉〈☐〉	α 〈☐〉〈☐〉	αι 〈☐〉〈☐〉	ι 〈☐〉〈☐〉	o 〈☐〉〈☐〉	α{ou} ∴	oι.
〈☐〉〈☐〉	a 〈☐〉〈☐〉	aι 〈☐〉〈☐〉	{ou} 〈☐〉〈☐〉	ƴ 〈☐〉〈☐〉	a{ou} ∴	{ou}{ou}.
〈☐〉〈☐〉	e 〈☐〉〈☐〉	eι 〈☐〉〈☐〉	ƴι 〈☐〉〈☐〉	ƴ{ou} 〈☐〉〈☐〉	e{ou} ∴	ι ι

Possessive Pronouns by prefixing (H.) Reduplicative, by interposing (L.) So Hα is mine, Hαlα is my own.

3. The Interjections, being Natural sounds themselves, need not have any assigned to the Characters of them, than what are General. So

〈☐〉〈☐〉

• Heigh
• Hm, Hu.
• Pish, Shu, Tush

〈☐〉〈☐〉

• Ah, alack, alas.
• Ha, ha, he.
• O, O that.

〈☐〉〈☐〉

• Vauh, Hau.
• Hoi, ah, oh.
• Phy.

〈☐〉〈☐〉

• Oh, soho.
• Ho, oh.
• Eja, now.

〈☐〉〈☐〉

• St, hush, mum, whist.
• Ha.
• Vae, wo.

4. The Prepositions may be expressed by Monosyllables framed of L, and R; after this manner.

〈☐☐〉〈☐☐〉

• Lα, Li.
• La, Lo.
• Le, L{ou}.

〈☐☐〉〈☐☐〉

• Rα, Rι.
• Ra, Ro.
• Re, R{ou}

〈☐☐〉〈☐☐〉

• Lαl, Lil
• Lal, Lol
• Lel, L{ou}l

〈☐☐〉〈☐☐〉

• Rαl, Ril
• Ral, Rol
• Rel, R{ou}l

〈☐☐〉〈☐☐〉

• Lαr, Lir
• Lar, Lor
• Ler, L{ou}r

〈☐☐〉〈☐☐〉

• Rαr, Rir
• Rar, Ror
• Rer, R{ou}r

5. Adverbs may be expressed by Monosyllables, with the initial Let∣ter M. after this manner;

〈☐☐〉〈☐☐〉

• Mα, Mi
• Ma, Mo
• Me, M{ou}

〈☐☐〉〈☐☐〉

• Mαl, Mil
• Mal, Mol
• Mel, M{ou}l

〈☐☐〉〈☐☐〉

• Mαr, Mir
• Mar, Mor
• Mer, M{ou}r

〈☐☐〉〈☐☐〉

• Mαs, Mis
• Mas, Mos
• Mes, M{ou}s

〈☐〉〈☐〉

• Mƴ.
• Mƴι.
• Mƴ{ou}

6. Conjunctions may be expressed by Monosyllables, with the Initial Letter N, after this manner;

〈☐☐〉〈☐☐〉

• Nα, Ni
• Na, No
• Ne, N{ou}

〈☐☐〉〈☐☐〉

• Nαl, Nil
• Nal, Nol
• Nel, N{ou}l

〈☐☐〉〈☐☐〉

• Nαr, Nir
• Nar, Nor
• Ner, N{ou}r

〈☐☐〉〈☐☐〉

• Nαs, Nis
• Nas, Nos
• Nes, N{ou}s

The more servile Particles are of three kinds; Articles, Modes, Tenses.

1. The Articles being but two, may be thus expressed,

• 〈☐〉〈☐〉 el.
• 〈☐〉〈☐〉 αl.

2. The Imperative Mode, according to its threefold difference of Petition, Perswasion, Command, may be expressed by these Dipthongs, ιo, ι{ou}, ιƴ.

The Secondary Modes, by Dipthongs or Tripthongs, according to their differences of Absolute or Conditional. So the Mode of

• Power
• Liberty
• Will
• Necessity

whether Absolute or Conditional, is to be expressed by

• {ou}α, {ou}αι.
• {ou}a, {ou}aι.
• {ou}e, {ou}eι.
• {ou}o, {ou}oι.

3. The Tenses, Past, Present, and Future, may be expressed by these Dipthongs, {ou}ι, {ou}ƴ, {ou}ƴι.

The Transcendental Particles, to be added by way of Composition in the termination of words, may be expressed by these Syllables,

〈☐☐〉〈☐☐〉

• ια, ιa, ιe
• ι{ou}, ιo, ιƴ

〈☐☐〉〈☐☐〉

• {ou}α, {ou}a, {ou}e
• {ou}ι, {ou}o, {ou}ƴ

〈☐☐〉〈☐☐〉

• Mα, Ma, Me
• Mι, Mo, M{ou}

〈☐☐〉〈☐☐〉

• Mαl, Mal, Mel
• Mil, Mol, M{ou}l

〈☐☐〉〈☐☐〉

• Nα, Na, Ne
• Nι, No. N{ou}

〈☐☐〉〈☐☐〉

• Nαl, Nal, Nel
• Nil, Nol, N{ou}l

〈☐☐〉〈☐☐〉

• Lα, la, le
• Lι, Lo, L{ou}

〈☐☐〉〈☐☐〉

• Rα, Ra, Re
• Rι, Ro, R{ou}

In which Constitution, the Marks made use of before, either for Pre∣positions, Adverbs, or Conjunctions, have the same Syllables assigned to them.

It is here to be noted, that as Numbers are provided for in writing, by distinct Characters from the rest, so should they likewise have some sutable provision in speaking. And because there are two waies before suggested for the expression of Numbers by writing, namely, either by words at length, or by Figures, there should therefore be some provi∣sion answerable to each of these for speaking.

1. The Words at length for the nine Digits, are to be made off from the Tables after the same manner as all other Species are; and as for the other Numbers above this, viz. Ten, Hundred▪ Thousand, Milli∣on, they may be expressed by adding the Letters L, R, M, N. after the last Vowel; according to these Examples:

Pobαl 10.	Pobal 20.	Pobel 30.
Pobαr 100.	Pobar 200.	Pober 300.
Pobαm 1000.	Pobam 2000.	Pobem 3000.
Pobαn 1000000	Poban 2000000.	Poben 3000000, &c.

Pobαm	Pob{ou}r	Pob{ou}l	Pob{ou}.
One thousand	Six hundred	Sixty	Six.

2. The Figures of Numbers, may be most conveniently expressed in Speech,* 1.1 in that way suggested by Herrigon; namely, by assigning one Vowel or Dipthong, and one Consonant to each of the Digits, sup∣pose after this manner,

• 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0.
• α, a, e, ι, o, {ou}, ƴ, ι{ou}, ƴι, ƴ{ou}.
• b, d, g, p, t, c, l, m, n, r.

According to which constitution, a word of so many Letters, may serve to express a number of so many places. Thus either of these words, αc{ou}c, α{ou}c{ou}, b{ou}c{ou}, will signifie 1666; which is as much a better and briefer way for the expressing of these numbers in speech, as that other is for writing, betwixt Figures and Words at l••ngth.

The Grammatical Variations belonging to Number, whether Deri∣vations or Inflexions, may for the nine Digits be framed according to common Analogy. For greater Numbers, it may be convenient to prefix the Difference denoting number in general; namely, Pob be∣fore the wo••d▪ for any Particular; as suppose αc{ou}c be the word for the number, let it be made

• Pobαc{ou}c
• Pobαc{ou}l

for the Cardinal Number

• 1666
• 1667

then

• ...Fobαc{ou}c
• ...Fobαc{ou}l

will be the Ordinal, or Adjective Neuter, denoting the

• 1666^th
• 1667^th &c.

By what hath been said, it is easie to conceive, how this Character may be made effable as to all the Species of things, together with their Derivations and Inflexions. As for Individuals, I have shewed before, how the names of them are to be expressed by a Literal Cha∣racter.

But these things will more distinctly appear by instance of something written in this Language: In Order to which, I shall offer an Exam∣ple of it in the Lords Prayer and the Creed.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Arithmet. Pract. cap. 17.