2l(j Baron Humboldt's Essay on the Oriental Languages. 



idea which they represent. The words, of which we seek a translation in 

 different languages, often cannot be rendered except by a compound term. 

 Thus the sun in some languages is called the father, the author, the star, 

 &c. of day. It is evident, that, in these cases, we no longer compare the 

 same words, but words altogether different. To conclude : it is impossible 

 to form a correct judgment on the resemblance of sounds without having 

 carefully studied the system of sounds of each of the languages which we 

 would compare. There occur often between different languages, and still 

 more frequently between different dialects, regular transformations of letters, 

 by which we can discover the identity of words that at first view seem to 

 have but a very slight resemblance in sound. On the other hand, a great 

 resemblance of sound in two words will sometimes prove nothing, or leave 

 the judgment in great uncertainty, if it be not supported by a train of 

 analogies for the permutation of the same letters. What I have remarked 

 proves, as I think, that even if we confine ourselves to the comparison of 

 a certain number of words in different languages, it is still necessary to 

 enter more deeply into their structure, and to apply ourselves to the study 

 of their grammar. But further, I am quite convinced that it is only by 

 an accurate examination of the grammar of languages that we can pro- 

 nounce a decisive judgment on their true affinities. 



Languages are the true images of the modes in which nations think and 

 combine their ideas. The manner of this combination represented by the 

 grammar, is altogether as essential and characteristic as are the sounds 

 applied to objects, that is to say, the words. The form of language being 

 quite inherent in the intellectual faculties of nations, it is very natural that 

 one generation should transmit theirs to that which follows it ; while words, 

 being simple signs of ideas, may be adopted by races altogether distinct. 

 If I attach great importance, however, under this view, to the grammar of 

 a language, I do not refer to the system of grammar in general, but to 

 grammatical forms, considered with respect to their system and their sounds 

 taken conjointly. 



If two languages, such for instance as the Sanscrit and the Greek, exhibit 

 grammatical forms which are identical in arrangement, and have a close 

 analogy in their sounds, we have an incontestable proof that these two 

 languages belong to the same family. 



If, on the contrary, two languages do contain a great number of words 

 in common, but have no grammatical identity, their affinity becomes a 



