THEAETETUS: What do you mean?

STRANGER: I mean that words like 'walks,' 'runs,' 'sleeps,' or any other

words which denote action, however many of them you string together, do

not make discourse.

THEAETETUS: How can they?

STRANGER: Or, again, when you say 'lion,' 'stag,' 'horse,' or any

other words which denote agents--neither in this way of stringing words

together do you attain to discourse; for there is no expression of

action or inaction, or of the existence of existence or non-existence

indicated by the sounds, until verbs are mingled with nouns; then the

words fit, and the smallest combination of them forms language, and is

the simplest and least form of discourse.

THEAETETUS: Again I ask, What do you mean?

STRANGER: When any one says 'A man learns,' should you not call this the

simplest and least of sentences?

THEAETETUS: Yes.

STRANGER: Yes, for he now arrives at the point of giving an intimation

about something which is, or is becoming, or has become, or will be.

121

Sophist