This collection of essays by two influential nineteenth-century scholars explores the nature, history, and philosophy of language, with a particular focus on comparative linguistics and the study of ancient texts. It includes discussions of such topics as the origins of language, the development of writing systems, and the relationship between language and thought. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.