LANGUAGE, (from the French Languc, and that from the Latin Lingua, " th.; tongue,") in its proper sense, means " the e.yression or enunciation of human th nights and sentiments, by means of the articulate sounds of the hu•nan voice." It has usually, however, been extended to corn rehench in general, 1, all the means of expressing or announcing thought and feeling by sensible signs." Taken in this extended sense, language may properly be distinguished into Xaturnl or Instinctive, and .4rtificial or Conventional ; as the sensible signs, by which the annun ciation is made, may be either suggested immediately by nature, or formed by human skill and intention.
The power of communicating the inward thoughts and feelings must be essential to a being destined to live at all i n society. Without this power, each individual must for ever remain insulated and solitary, incapable of either lin parting or receiving social aid or enjoyment. Nature has accordingly provided means fur such communication, suf ficient, in all cas-s, for that degree of social union in which each class of animals is to subsist. The inferior species accomplish it by certain signs and gestures, and, above all, by peculiar sounds or cries, wholly taught by instinct, and understood also, as far as necessary, by immediate instinct, , without instruction, and independent of experience. This limited extent of the power of communication is sufficient for the purposes of their being ; but for man, a rational as well as social being, much more was requisite. In com mon with other animals, indeed, he is furnished by nature with certain powers of employing the limbs or the voice, so as to denote, in a manner recognised instinctively by all his fellow men, many of his inward feelings, emotions, and desires: these, therefore, often -serve as natural signs, for imparting to one man what passes in the mind of another. But these natural signs are few, and extremely limited in their application. They may intimate a few of the more simple feelings ; but by far the greater part of what passes in the mind, cannot thus be made a subject of exhibi tion. If men are to hold a communication co-extensive with their faculties as rational beings, a far more extend ed class of signs must be formed and employed, by the conventional use of which, all the various thoughts, feelings, and emotions of the mind, may he specifically declared. This necessity gives rise to what is termed ./Irtificial or Conventional, in contradistinction to JVatural Language.* .Vatural Language.
has established a connection between many of the feelings and passions of the human heart, and certain motions or changes in the external appearance, universally known and recognised. The angry countenance, the scowling eye, the indignant frown, mark with precision what is passing within ; the placid look, the composed mien, the benignant smile, give universal pleasure. The same is the case with many other feelings. These natural signs are interpreted without reasoning ; neither the savage nor the polished citizen are at a loss for their meaning. They arc applicable, however, chiefly to the feelings and emo tions, though they may occasionally be made to express also the dictates of the understanding.
The natural signs, by which the inward thoughts and feelings c.ni thus be externally announced, arc of three clashes : Modifications of the features of the face; variations of the limbs or gestures of the body; and modulations of the voice. These constitute a primitive and uniform language, to which recourse can be had in every society, when con ventional signs arc unattainable, or inadequate to•the parti cular occasion.
The expression of mental feelings by the features of the face is a matter of general observation. From this expres sion, it has been justly remarked, much of the excellence of the art of the painter, and not a little of that of the sta tuary, is derived. A familiar acquaintance too with this class of signs, is of the highest importance to the actor ; and, on many occasions, the orator will find his advantage in cultivating it. All this holds true of the expression of feelings and passions. These are often fully exhibited in the features. But not satisfied with this, many have gone farther, and maintain the countenance to be an index, not of passion only but of character. Hence has arisen. what has been termed the science of physiognomy. It is well known how much this has. in all ages. engaged the attention of ingenious men, and to how nwnv discussions and investiga tions it has given occasion. The examination of these be longs to the article of PHYSIOGNOMY. It is sufficient to re mark at present, that it is evident from universal expe rience, and even limn the speculations, however fanciful, of the physiognomist, that a class of natural signs, indi cating many of the emotions of the mind, does unquestion ably exist ; and this forms one branch of natural language. The particular detail of these signs themselves, constitutes the chief part of the physiognomical science.