1889-90.J 



THE DENE LANGUAGES. 



177 



every one of these attributes in each and every one of its component 

 parts. But I do affirm that we find them all in the language considered 

 as a whole. In other words the D^n^ has patent affinities with the Aryan, 

 Turanian and Semitic tongues. This I hope to prove to the satisfaction 

 of the reader in the following chapters. 



Another assertion still more common in philological writings and, in 

 the light of the D^n^ vocabulary, quite as groundless as the preceding 

 ones, is that abstract terms and words expressive of generality and col- 

 lectivity are wanting in the American languages which are represented 

 by some superficial observers as awkward in their syntax and very limited 

 in their vocabulary. I admit that we must not look to the Den^ idioms 

 as to models of phraseological conciseness. That most important pro- 

 perty of a language, the power of expressing without periphrases the 

 subtlest efforts of the human mind, is somewhat wanting in the speech of 

 our Aborigines, whilst terms expressive of those abstract ideas the accu- 

 rate rendering of which constitutes linguistic perfection are not, I must 

 confess, over numerous. Yet the philologist who wishes to propose for the 

 guidance of students a rule of general import should, it seems, previously 

 examine whether it is not too sweeping in its comprehensiveness. That 

 words expressive of abstractness are not altogether wanting in D^n^ will 

 be proved by the following nouns taken from the Carrier Vocabulary : — 



Tli, cold (as affecting human 

 body) 



Hokwoez, cold (referring to the 

 temperature) 



Soel, warmth 



Tsazoel, heat (of the sun) 



Hwozoel, heat (of the tempera- 

 ture) 



Tlo, smile 



Tso, weeping 



Ni, cares 



Sheen, witchcraft 



Poef, sleep 



Shih, French " essoiifflement " 



Qan, old age 



Tai, famine 



Noeti, effort (physical) 



Nini, pleasure 



Tsus, kiss (childish) 



"^oef, diurnal revolution of time 



Nunts^, bleeding of the nose 



Hokos, haze 



Na-k6s, snow-haze (lit. eye-haze) 



XWffis, cough 



Unih, jealousy 



Noetqoet, fear 



Tsafkoes, obscurity 



Yce^aih, daybreak 



Untd, love 



Noetai, dance 



N8y^, play 



Yathcek, talking 



Yuyuz, whistling 



Huzoef, time 



Neni, human mind 



Nezoel, human soul (animating 



the body) 

 Netsin, second self 



