THE GROUNDWORK, OR FOUNDATION LAID, (or so intended) For the Framing of a New Perfect LANGUAGE: And an Universal or COMMONWRITING. And presented to the consideration of the LEARNED, By a Well-willer to Learning. Printed, Anno MDCLII. The Introduction. THe expression of the mind or thoughts, is either by the Tongue or Pen most generally performed, in both these, as at present used, I have observed these inconveniencies. 1 Concerning language, which, for the common use it hath with rational creatures, should be in rules certain and easy, the contrary of which I have observed in most Languages at present in use amongst the Nations of these Western parts of the World, and more especially in those called Learned Languages, which are, as it were, become common Languages, by reason of the knowledge and learning by them divulged; and which should in all reason be the easiest and certainest, both for the truer description of things, and the easier attaining of the said Languages, which are but as the gates to Sciences, and therefore should admit easy and quick entrance to the things themselves, else it proveth a greater discouragement in Students, or at best, a loss of precious time. The difficulty appeareth in the multiplicity of forms of the variations of the Verb in its Moods, Tenses, Persons and Numbers: of the Noun in its Cases, and of the Derivatives from the Radix, distinguished by their Terminations. The uncertainty is manifested by those many Anomalies which the Grammar mentioneth after its Rules, where having first taught Rules for speech, proceedeth to the increasing of them by the manifold Anomalies. The expression by the Pen is either real representations of things, or notional, or accidental. Real, is when to express a man, we draw the picture of a man, etc. notional or Relative, when we represent fierceness by the figure of a Lion, Watchfulness by a Dog, etc. Accidental, is by figures stated at pleasure, to signify such things as the figures thereof have no relation thereto, and that is twofold: either literal, as when we represent the single sounds whereof words are composed by Characters at pleasure: Or secondly, when whole words, or rather things, their actions, qualities, with circumstances are described, and not sounds. The former of these two is the most common in use, and of easiest attaining, yet having its inconveniences, as wanting in extensiveness, being limited to the Languages, and jointly travelling with them; so that what is written according to the sound of any Language, is not understood without the knowledge of the said Language. But the latter hath this advantage, that what is written thereby, is understood by all alike; who notwithstanding understand not one the others Language, the Characters intending by a general content, the representations of things, and not of sounds. Which we see plainly demonstrated by the figures of Number in Arithmetic, as likewise in other common received Characters, as of Weights used by Physicians, etc. The preference of this last is here likewise recommended, and the Groundwork of both this and a new Language here following laid down, or at least so intended, all which is presented to the consideration of the Learned. If what is done prove only a motive to others of effecting the aim and design of the Author, he hath his desire, and remaineth their well-willers. THE BEGINNING. ALL words of speech may be comprised under three heads, As words of Action, Quality, Help, and these either Primitive, or Derivative. By words of action, we mean such as are distinguished by the word [Verb,] or by circumlocution, words signifying with time, as the words to move, to live, to eat, to suffer. The denomination of words of action may seem somewhat unproper, because some words coming thereunder, have rather a passive signification, as to suffer, etc. but we shall not herein be too nice, it bearing no great inconvenience to our intended purpose. By-words of quality, we intent such as express any circumstance of a thing, or that which distinguisheth one substance from another, as hot, cold, dry, sharp. By words of help we intent such as express time, place, person, etc. as now, then. where, who, etc. The primitive words are such, as are of the first and simplest position, as love, long, when, etc. Derivatives are those as come from the said Primitives, and that either by adding some common prepositions or terminations, or by conjunction of two or more radixes together. Concerning words of Action. The Primitives of those words we suppose to be such as are indefinite neither to Verb or Noun, or something that is neither Verb nor Noun, but that out of which both proceed; for instance, the Latin Radix or primitive am, is indifferent to Verb or Noun, and is made either by the additions, as am-o am-as am-or am-icus, etc. Of the Primitives, for abbreviation, there might be a derivation supposed, as that of those which in the main end agree, but differ in Quality, Proportion, etc. that which seemeth in signification to be the simplest, to be placed as the Radix, and the rest as derivatives. For instance. 1 Those which are in signification directly opposite, the worthier put for the Radix, as to Curse, to Feed, to Live, to Bless, to Fast, to Die. 2 Those which have a gradual difference, as to Go, Run, Trot, Amble: to Speak, Read, Preach, Call: to Smile, Laugh, etc. Unto these might be added a derivation in respect to these following consignifications. 1 a custom to act, as to be accustomed to swearing. 2 a similating of action to imitate crying or singing. 3 an inchoation, to begin to do a thing. 4 an incoination or desire Esurio Lat. 5 a diminution, to sing low. 6 a negation, not to sing. More of like consignifications might be added, of which these may serve as instances. The Verb, the first derivation hath under it the distinction of Mood and Tense. Mood is the manner of expression, which is either Indicative or Imperative, as for those other Moods, namely, the Optative, Potential, and Subjunctive, they may be all supplied by the Indicative, with their signs added; as that, when. The Imperative Mood is discernible without variation, from the Indicative Mood thus. 1 By a post-posing of the personal auxiliary word, which in the Indicative should be preposed; as Imperative Go thou, Go we, Indicative Thou goest, We go. 2 By standing without the personal word; as Go to the door. The Infinitive Mood may likewise be known by the sign [too] as teach him [too] read. The Tenses are three, Past, Present, Future. The Present Tense being the first, will need no distinction in respect to the other Tenses, namely, the Past, and the Future, which may have their distinctionall additions.— The Past Tense is commonly distinguished in three parts; Preterite. imperfect, Perfect, Plus perfect. The Imperfect and Perfect might without inconvenience be united in one, and so have one distinctionall addition.— The Plus perfect may remain distinguished, yet as a sub distinction unto the Perfect Tense. Unto the Future might be added a sub-distinction, and named the Conditional Future; for instance, If he had done that I should have loved him. The distinction for Person and Number in the Verb is needless, it being sufficient when the same is performed in the Noun, for instance, I love, we love, ye love, they ●ove. What with more is needless. Of Nouns. The Noun, the second derivation, is either Common or Proper. By Common, we understand those Nouns which are not proper names of things, but common Derivatives from most Verbs, as Lover, Loved, Love, Loveliness, etc. By Proper names we understand those names of substances, whether real or fictitious, whereby they are distinguished in their species or individuums, as Man, Horse, Table, House, etc. Peter, Thomas, Pretty, Palace, etc. The common Nouns I have distinguished in nine distinctions, as follow. 1 The action denominated. Amor Lectio Visio 2 That acteth. Amator Lector 3 On whom acted. Amatus 4 Inclination to action. Amorosus Audax Communicativus 5 Qualification to receive the action. Amabilis Legibilis 6 The excess of the action. Amabundus Drunk 7 Of or belonging to an action or thing. Doctrinalis 8 The abstract of denomination. Amorositas Docibilitas 9 The manner of being or acting. Amorosè Docibiliter. Note that the eighth and ninth distinctions are double derivatives, and appliable to the fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh distinctions.— The seventh distinction is likewise appliable to words proper, as to denominate any one from the place of his birth, as from Rome a Roman, Naples a Neapolitan, etc. Or from his Calling, as a Clothier from Cloth-making, a Barber from Cutting of beards. There are four distinctions more, which because they seem more as Proper names then Common names, we have placed them by themselves, as 1 The instrument wherewith is chief acted, as from to See the Eye 2 The time of action the hour of Dining Supping 3 The place of action, as of drinking wine. a Tavern of beer or ale, an Alehouse. 4 The substance of the action Meat Drink Of the nine distinctions of Nouns Common, the first, second, and eighth are only Substantives, the rest all Adjectives; the four last distinctions are all Substantives. No distinction for Number is needful to the Nouns Adjectives, for their number is sub-understood in the Substantives unto which they relate. The substantives need likewise no distinction of Number, except they intent a plural number Indefinite; as There were Men, which because no by-standing word will express the plurality according to our position, therefore the plurality is ro be distinguished by addition in the word Man. But if the plurality be defined by the words, One, Ten, many, etc. as ten pound, many pound. the distinction in the words defining are sufficient without more. The Verb passive is made of the third distinction of Nouns common before mentioned, with the aiding Verb, to be; as I am beloved, Thou shalt be beloved. The proper names of things to give them signification, is the work, we suppose, of a sound Philosopher, who from the knowledge of things and their order in nature, should give them names accordingly, describing that in them by their name, by which in the naming they may be known. The Cases of Nouns, as the Genetive, Dative, and Ablative may be distinguished by the signs, of, to, from, adjoined. The Passive or Accusative will be known by its place in the order of Words, as hereafter. The second fort of Radixes Are those of quality; as, hot, cold, etc. The number of which might be diminished by a subordination as before in the Verbs was noted, for instance, First, the opposition in signification, as Hot, Cold, Soft, Hard, etc. Secondly, the gradual difference, as Hot, Warm: Wet, Moist, etc. Of these Qualitative words may proceed Verbs signifying action, using only the Radix, without any consignificative words adjoined; as, I hot, or make hot, or heat, I cold, or makis cold, etc. Secondly, Verbs passive, but with a distinctionall addition; as, I become Hot, Cold, etc. Unto these Verbs might likewise be appropriated the consignifications before mentioned; as, I am accustomed to make hot, to become hot, I begin to make hot to become hot, etc. Those Qualitative words have derivatives of the same nature with the eighth sort of Nouns common; as, Hotness, Coldness. Unto these Qualitative words, as unto the former names appellative, belongeth an augmentation and diminution, with their comparative and superlative degrees, as Positive, Comparative, Suparlative Diminution, Augmentation. Diminution, Augmentation. Diminution, Augmentation. a little man, a great man. a lesser man, a greater man. least man, greatest man. The Auxiliary Words. The third sort of Radical words which are according to Grammar nominated, Pronouns, Adverbs, Prepositions, Interjections, and Conjunctions. The Pronouns, I, thou, he, this, that, may be radical: the Plural, we, ye, they, these, those, may have an additional sign of plurality: From these may derivatively proceed of the eighth sort of Common names: Ego-itas ipse-itas, &c The other following sorts may be reduced to a certain number, and the number probably lessened by a subordination as before. The Nouns numeral might be thus described in Language. Suppose nine single consonants for the nine first numbers from one to nine inclusive; and nine Vowels for nine dignities, each increasing ten times the value of the other; the first Vowel to consignify only the single value of the nine Consonants, in which place the second Vowel coming to consignify the decimal dignity; the third, the Centenall; and so forth, this in conjunction you may express in few syllables, and without reiteration a very large number. The principles or Groundwork of our new Language and Writing proposed, the application we thus prescribe. First, we prescribe a collection of all the Radixes of the three sorts of words before mentioned, wherein care should be had to ordain for Radixes none but those which are really such. Secondly, rightly to order a subordination of them as is before required; the same thus ordered should be the contents of the first part of the Lexicon, and for the wording of those radical significations, it will be pre-required to have ordained a certain number of single sounds both of Vowels and Consonants, really such, and which may constantly keep their stated sounds without alteration, out of which the foresaid Radixes should be worded. Thus might these Radixes be ordered and ranked, first, in their sounds in any known Language, thereto adjoining the new invented words for the same.— The second part of the said Lexicon should contain all the proper names of things, given them according to the forementioned requisites.— The second Book required to be the Law of this new Language and Writing, wherein all the Rules aforementioned to be set down with such more as shall be found requisite, which should be constant, never sufferieg the least deviation when once stated: these Rules thus being not many, and being constant without any Anomalies or exceptions, would be no great burden to memory.— Note, For the wording of the Radixes, our advice would be, that all such ordained words should be Monosyllables, containing a certain number of letters, among which but one Vowel, and that never used but in the Radix, and in all Radixes. Secondly, that all the distinctionall additions significative; be all Consonants, and the Vowelling of them to be left at pleasure; also to place them where he please, & to make one or more syllables as he shall please, only that in so doing of them, he seem not to divide them in more words than one. Secondly, that he divide not the Radix: Our reason for this liberty is, that from the vowels have proceeded the greatest variations of Languages, whose force therefore in this Language we advise to be abated.— The different placing of words in several Languages, hath produced no small inconvenience to the learners of a new Language, who in that new learned Language remain still subject to observe the order of their first known Language, from whence often proceedeth a harshness to the understanding of such misordered sentences: To prevent which inconvenience, and to maintain, if possible, the constancy of our new Language, we have endeavoured by a collection of the most, if not all the sentences or forms of speech, & in them propounded an order for all the words; which, or a better, when obtained, we would recommend as a constant rule to be observed, and to have its place in our Grammar or Law of Language. Sentences as we ordinarily express them. The same according to our proposed order. Their distinction. John who loveth Mary. John loveth Mary who 1 The Noun Agent or Relative. 2 The Verb. [Relative. 3 The Noun Patient. A short stick Stick short 1 the Thing. 2 Its description or relation. A rod of Iron Rod of Iron His Book Book his John's Book Book john's Is loved Is loved 1 The Auxiliary Verb. 2 The Noun Adjective. Is spent Is spent This man This man 1 The demonstrative. 2 The demonstrated. That thing That thing I have seen the thing I have seen thing The word the left out. It was done Was done The word it, there, left out. It happened Happened There happened Happened William is loved of his father William is loved of father his 1 The Noun Patient. 2 The Verb, 3 The Noun Agent. John and Peter traveled together to Rome, Peter ran hastily to London John and Peter traveled together to Rome, Peter ran hastily to London 1 The Agent. 2 The Verb. 3 The Manner. 4 The place. Thomas is much loved of his Father Thomas is much loved of Father his 1 the Noun Patient. 2 the Verb. 3 the manner. 4 the agent. Thomas did beat his man very hard on the back with a stick Thomas did beat man his very hard with stick on back 1 the Noun Agent. 2 the Verb. 3 the Noun patiented. 4 the manner. 5 the instrument. 6 the part suffering. Yesterday John went to France idem When time is expressed, it should always precede the action, etc. With him, idem The Auxiliary words, with, to, from, etc. to precede the object. From him, To Spain. I love him not. I love not him. 1 The Agent. 2 The Verb. 3 The Negation. 4 The Patient. Did use to say. idem 1 The Verb. 2 The Infinitive Mood. There are people in the yard. In yard are people. 1 The place where. 2 The Auxiliary Verb. 3 Who. I give thee this. I give this to thee. 1 The Agent. 2 The Verb. 3 The Patient. 4 on, to, from, etc. He held his hand on them He held hand his on them. Do ye help them? Interrog. Help ye them 1 The Verb. 2 The Agent. 3 The Patient. Help ye them. Imperat. Help ye them Whom ye know. idem 1 The Relative. 2 The Agent. 3 The Verb. For the plainer expression, and easier understanding of speech, it were best to convert all participles in other manner of expression, neglecting the use of them. So much for application of the principles or grounds before proposed to our new Language, now followeth their application to our new writing: which as in this Introduction is not to have relation to sounds but things, wherefore, for all the radical words of the three sorts as they stand, for such in the Lexicon are to have characters assigned them, which may be described anent the words there set down. Then in the Grammar are to be described those additional marks for the derivative distinctions, with rules for the use of them.— Now that the Characters might be known, and readily found in the Lexicon, when the signification of any of them are desired to be known, we have pitched on this invention. First, that ten single figures be invented, whereof, nine to signify the nine single numbers, and one of them the cipher. Suppose these or the like. 1 ‑ 2 / 3 \ 4 — 5 (6 ) 7 ∪ 8 ∩ 9 ○ 0  Out of these might be framed Characters signifying any number more or less, as thus. signifying 235 3568 9050 Or else instead of the Character for the cipher, you might draw a stroke through the Character of which the cipher is to follow, thus 10 20 30 40 ✚ 50 60 70 80 90 ○. And then if two Ciphers follow immediately one the other, then might you describe the first of them this way, and the second as before, as for 900 for 9065 The End.