Universal Language Schemes In England And France

For Centuries Latin Served As An International Language For Scholars In EuropeYet As Early As The First Half Of The Seventeenth Century, Scholars, Philosophers, And Scientists Were Beginning To Turn Their Attention To The Possibility Of Formulating ATotally New Universal LanguageThis Wideranging Book Focuses Upon The Role That It Was Thought An Ideal, Universal, Constructed Language Would Play In The Advancement Of LearningThe First Section Examines Seventeenthcentury Attempts To Establish AUniversal 'common Writing' Or, As Bishop Wilkins Called It, A'real Character And Philosophical Language.' This Movement Involved Or Interested Scientists And Philosophers As Distinguished As Descartes, Mersenne, Comenius, Newton, Hooke, And LeibnizThe Second Part Of The Book Follows The Same Theme Through To The Final Years Of The Eighteenth Century, Where The Implications Of Languagebuilding For The Progress Of Knowledge Are Presented As Part Of The Wider Question Which So Interested French Philosophers, That Of The Influence Of Signs On ThoughtThe Author Also Includes AChapter Tracing The Frequent Appearance Of Ideal Languages In French And English Imaginary Voyages, And An Appendix On The Idea That Gestural Signs Might Supply AUniversal LanguageThis Work Is Intended As AContribution To The History Of Ideas Rather Than Of Linguistics Proper, And Because It Straddles Several Disciplines, Will Interest AWide Variety Of ReaderIt Treats Comprehensively ASubject That Has Not Previously Been Adequately Dealt With, And Should Become The Standard Work In Its Field.
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