Augustine: Earlier Writings
THE TEACHER ^y
to hesitate. Aug.—Don't let that trouble you. In all cases where words are employed and something is signified we speak of signs universally and without qualification. On the other hand, we speak of military signs which are properly called signs because words are not used. If I were to say to you that just as every horse is an animal but every animal is not a horse, so every word is a sign but every sign is not a word, you would not hesitate, I believe. Ad,—Now I understand and agree that there is the same difference between a word, universally, and a name as between animal and horse.
10. Aug.—You know that when we say "animal," that trisyllabic name pronounced by the voice is a different thing from that which it signifies? Ad.— We have admitted that is true for all signs and "significables." Aug.—Do you think that all signs signify something different from themselves, just as the three syllables of the word animal cannot signify the word itself Ad.—Not altogether. For when we say the word "sign" it signifies not only all other signs but also itself For it is a word, and all words are signs. Aug.—Does not the same thing happen when we say the word verbum? If that word signifies every meaningful articulate sound, it is itself included in that category. Ad.—It is. Aug.—Isn't it the same with the word "name"?
It signifies names of all categories, and is itself the name of no category. If I were to ask you what part of speech is a name, could you answer correctly except by saying it is a noun? Ad.— No, indeed. Aug.—There are therefore signs which signify themselves as well as other signs. Ad.—There are. Aug.—Do you think that the same is true with the quadrisyllable sign "conjunction" when spoken? Ad.—By no means. It is a name, but the things it signifies are not names. v, II. Aug.—You have been most attentive. Now consider whether there are signs which signify each other mutually, the one being signified by the other. This is not the case with the word "conjunction" and the words signified by it, such as, if, or, for, unless, therefore, since, and the Uke. All these are signified by that one word, but by none of them is that word (signified. Ad.—I see. And I should Hke to learn what signs sigjnify one another mutually. Aug.—When we say "name" and "word" we use two words. Ad.—Yes. Aug.—And when we use these two words we at the same time use two names. Ad.—Yes. Aug.—So that "name" signifies "word" just as "word" signifies "name." Ad.—I agree. Aug.—Can you say how they differ except that they sound differently and are spelt differently?