This classic work offers a comprehensive overview of the principles of linguistic science. Author William Dwight Whitney provides detailed analyses of the structure and growth of languages, as well as discussions of the relationship between language and culture, the development of writing systems, and the connection between language and thought. A foundational work in the field of linguistics. 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.