AMERICAN LANGUAGES. 71 



abnormal character of American forms of speech may be much modified hereafter, 

 that the number of distinct dialects may be reduced, and that their apparent con- 

 trast to the grammatical systems of other nations may prove to be less marked 

 than has been imagined. 



It was suggested by Alexander Von Humboldt (who, although devoting less 

 attention to philological studies than his brother William, shared with the latter 

 his interest in American languages, and supplied a portion of his materials), that 

 the rigid distinction between development by inflexion and the combination of 

 agglutinated particles might not always bear the test of scrutiny. 1 



There are recent indications that the verb substantive, even as an auxiliary, may 

 be discovered to exist in effect where it has been believed to be wanting. The 

 indefinite article, and the masculine and feminine genders, are also claimed for 

 some dialects. 2 



There are very few points asserted by any one philologist that are not questioned 

 by some other. Mr. Gallatin's illustration of the permanency of dialects, derived 

 from the supposed fact that the earliest vocabularies could still be used in com- 

 municating with the Indians, is opposed to the observation of Colonel Smith, who 

 mentions having learned on the spot that the catechisms printed in the Huron and 

 other languages, not quite a century ago, are now understood only in consequence 

 of daily repetition and careful explanation. 3 



But notwithstanding contrarieties of opinion and testimony, the archreological 

 inferences of principal importance that have been drawn from such inquiries are 

 not materially disturbed. These are that the ancestors of the present Indians must 

 have occupied this country, or have been separated from other nations, at a very 

 remote — perhaps the remotest — period of history, and that proofs of connection 

 with more civilized races are not manifest in their dialects. 



Whatever discoveries may be claimed, or suggestions ventured, by partial 

 observers, at variance with the judgment of those who have made the whole subject 

 a matter of study, they cannot be regarded as entitled to similar confidence until 

 they have received the sanction of investigations equally prolonged and extended. 



A greater reliance may be placed upon the general uniformity of structure among 

 the American languages, and a general diversity from those of the eastern hemi- 



1 Personal Narrative, 2d Lond. ed., Ill, 263-4. 



See " Grammar of the Dakota Language," by Rev. S. R. Riggs, Smithson. Contrib. IV. 



Rev. Dr. Hawks, whose translation of the work of Rivero and Von Tschudi on Peruvian antiquities 

 was published in 1853, says, in a note to the chapter on American languages, where the writers adopt 

 and confirm from their own observations the conclusions of Duponceau and Gallatin : " He who has 

 studied these most carefully will be most cautious in making general conclusions." And he cites, 

 in confirmation of this view, the opinion of Mr. Wm. W. Turner, who has devoted a good deal of 

 attention to the subject of American languages, and according to whose suggestions the Dakota gram- 

 mar of Rev. S. R. Riggs was entirely remodelled before publication. 



In another place, Dr. Hawks informs the reader that he is himself engaged in researches for "a work 

 on the antiquities of America generally." Its completion will be looked forward to with interest. 



3 Nat. Hist, of the Human Species, p. 259. 



