Introduction & Resources | Dictionary | Additional Forms | Organization of the Essay | Synopsis (Summary Table) | Pronunciation & Character Components | All the Real Characters

The Universal Language of John Wilkins:
the General Scheme

The Essay indicates the relations of the forty genera on page 23, reproduced here along with the real characters for each genus. To see every real character under each genus, see the charts here.

Transcendental / Predicament I
Things Called Transcendental Transcendental Relations Mixed II
General Transcendental Relations of Action III
Words Discourse / Language IV
Creator God / Idol V
Collectively World VI
Inanimate Elements / Meteor VII
Imperfect, as Minerals Stones / Earthy Concretions VIII
Special Metal IX
Extended Forms
Vegetative Herbs Considered According to Their Leaves X
Herbs Herbs Considered According to Their Flower XI
Herbs of Perfect Flowers Considered According to Their Seed-Vessels XII
Creature Substance Perfect, as Plant
Shrubs XIII
Species Trees XIV
Exanguious Animals / Insect XV
Animate Sensitive Fish XVI
Sanguineous Birds XVII
Beasts XVIII
Distributively Parts Peculiar Parts of Animate Bodies XIX
General Parts of Animate Bodies XX
Magnitude / Extension XXI
Quantity Space XXII
Measure / Proportion XXIII
Natural Powers / Impotencies XXIV
Habit / Disposition XXV
Quality Manners / Conversation XXVI
Sensible Quality / Occult Quality XXVII
Sickness / Health XXVIII
Accident
Spiritual Action XXIX
Action Corporeal Action XXX
Motion / Rest XXXI
Operation / Play XXXII
Oeconomical Relation XXXIII
Private Oeconomical Possessions / Revenue XXXIV
Provisions XXXV
Relation
Civil Relation / Anarchy XXXVI
Judicial Relation XXXVII
Publick Military Relation / Peace XXXVIII
Naval Relation XXXIX
Ecclesiastical Relation / Temporal Relation XL


Created by Aidan Wakely-Mulroney

© All rights reserved, May 2026.