A philosophicall essay for the reunion of the languages — Background and Themes

The Organ-Based Classification of Sounds

Besnier builds his linguistic system on the physical mechanics of pronunciation. He divides consonants into orders based on which organs produce them: labial letters (M, B, P, V, F) easily replace one another, while dental or lingual letters (D, T, Z, S) form a separate group tied to the tongue's contact with the teeth. The letter H is treated as both a guttural and an aspiration, showing that some sounds involve multiple organs. This classification is not arbitrary; Besnier insists that only changes grounded in organ affinity are admissible within his art, rejecting methods that lack a 'regular and constant analogie.'

Vowels as Fluid and Interchangeable

In contrast to consonants, vowels are treated as nearly negligible in Besnier's system. He states that any vowel can be shifted into the place of another, either immediately or by degrees. To support this, he cites the example of the Latin verb capio and its derivatives cepa, incipio, and occupo, arguing that vowel changes alone account for these variations. He aligns this principle with the practice of 'orientalists,' who formed most of their words by altering vowels. This fluidity of vowels is a cornerstone of his method for reducing the complexity of language learning.

From Sound to Signification: Words as Bodies and Souls

Having treated the physical sound of words, Besnier moves to their signification, which he calls 'the soul of a word, as the sound is its body.' He argues that words express thoughts, which in turn represent objects, and that different nations frame different conceptions of the same objects. This leads him to explain the 'intire sequel, and naturall dependances of our Ideas,' a task he claims the world has yet to receive a full account of. He introduces the notion that most words, when traced to their origin, are metaphors—either of attribution or proportion—that form 'almost the intire body of the Language.'

The Role of Metaphor in Language Structure

Besnier asserts that the greatest share of words are figurative, representing objects through terms proper to something else with which they have agreement or relation. He distinguishes between metaphors of attribution and proportion, which together constitute not only the beauty but the substance of language. This metaphorical foundation is presented as a universal principle, applicable across languages. By understanding these metaphorical transfers, the learner can grasp the underlying logic of vocabulary, making the mastery of one language a key to unlocking others. The essay thus moves from concrete phonetics to abstract semantics, building a coherent system for linguistic unity.

Besnier's essay is best approached as a rational blueprint rather than a practical handbook. Readers should attend to how he moves from the physical to the conceptual, and how each step—organ classification, vowel fluidity, metaphorical derivation—supports his central claim that one language can serve as a key to all. The work rewards those who follow its sequential logic and note the recurring emphasis on analogy and system.

There’s something touching in Besnier’s old dream—that one language might hold the key to all the others. I felt that same quiet ache lately, flipping through The Intelligence of Woman — Text and Context, wondering if understanding one way of knowing might, somehow, open the rest.