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XV.—Remarks on the Siamese Language, by the Rev. Mr. Gurstarr. 
Communicated through the late Roserr Furxrerton, Esg., Governor of 
Prince of Wales’ Island. 
Read 16th July 1831. 
La Lousere, Kauprer, Fintayson, Crawrurp, and Major Burney 
have all treated upon a language, either casually or specifically, which is 
spoken from Quedah, on the western coast of the Malayan Peninsula, to 
the country of Laos ; and is surrounded by its sister languages, those of 
Camboja, Pegu, Ava, and Laos. The Siamese language is one of the prin- 
cipal dialects of the Indo-Chinese nations, and is the next link in the chain 
which the Cochin-Chinese language forms between the Chinese and the 
Indo-Chinese languages. It bears a strong resemblance to that of Laos, 
has derived much from the Cambojian, but differs remarkably from the 
Peguan and Burmese. 
The acquirement of the colloquial dialect of the Siamese language is 
difficult for an European ear ; and the study of books has been prevented by 
the want of elementary works, the scarcity of manuscripts, the jealousy of 
the government towards every intruding stranger, and the insignificance of 
the language itself. To Captain Low belongs the honour of having printed 
the first treatise upon it: his work, though imperfect, will, as being the first 
attempt of the kind, merit the praise of the scholar, and excite the student 
to further researches. 
The Roman Catholic missionaries have translated several parts of the 
Bible, the lives of saints, and the mass-book, into Siamese: they have also 
written some tracts upon religious subjects. The latter only have been 
printed in the Roman character; the former still exist in manuscript in the 
same character. These translations are too literal, and not sufficiently 
idiomatical, which, in a language so different from the Latin (from which 
the translations are made) is very natural. It may be asserted, without 
hesitation, that the Siamese language sprang from the same source as the 
Chinese, but it is difficult to trace its origin. A few obvious coincidences 
