In this and other ways the understanding of a word often comes to be quite free from imagery; but in first learning the use of language it would seem that imagery always plays a very important part.
But it is unnecessary to prolong the catalogue of the uses of language in thought.
It is easy, however, to be misled by grammar, particularly if all the languages we know belong to one family.
Sayce maintained that all European philosophy since Aristotle has been dominated by the fact that the philosophers spoke Indo-European languages, and therefore supposed the world, like the sentences they were used to, necessarily divisible into subjects and predicates.
In the German it is true that by some oversight of the inventor of the language, a Woman is a female; but a Wife (Weib) is not--which is unfortunate.
There are some exceedingly useful words in this language. SCHLAG, for example; and ZUG.
"ALSO!" If I had not shown that the German is a difficult language, I have at least intended to do so.
It seems to me that the Germans could do worse than import it into their language to describe particularly tremendous explosions with.
Having pointed out, in detail, the several vices of this language, I now come to the brief and pleasant task of pointing out its virtues.
For instance, those which describe lowly, peaceful, and affectionate home life; those which deal with love, in any and all forms, from mere kindly feeling and honest good will toward the passing stranger, clear up to courtship; those which deal with outdoor Nature, in its softest and loveliest aspects--with meadows and forests, and birds and flowers, the fragrance and sunshine of summer, and the moonlight of peaceful winter nights; in a word, those which deal with any and all forms of rest, respose, and peace; those also which deal with the creatures and marvels of fairyland; and lastly and chiefly, in those words which express pathos, is the language surpassingly rich and affective.
There are people in the world who will take a great deal of trouble to point out the faults in a religion or a language, and then go blandly about their business without suggesting any remedy.
These are perhaps all I could be expected to name for nothing; but there are other suggestions which I can and will make in case my proposed application shall result in my being formally employed by the government in the work of reforming the language.
But our bards are no more,'' he said; ``our deeds are lost in those of another race our language our very name is hastening to decay, and none mourns for it save one solitary old man Cupbearer!
It is impossible for language to describe the bitter scowl of rage which rendered yet darker the swarthy countenance of the Templar.
The Templar smiled sourly as he replied, ``Beshrew thee for a false-hearted liar!'' and passing onward, as if disdaining farther conference, he communed with his Moslem slaves in a language unknown to the bystanders.