Indo-European Lanyuages. 299 



chronological epoch, and as it is nearest approximation that 

 can possibly be attained, it is practically identical with it, so 

 that the enunciation of the principle at which we wish to ar- 

 rive may change its wording, and now stand as follows, — 

 Languages are allied. Just in proportion as they were separated 

 from the same language in the same stage. 



Now, if there be a certain number of well-marked forms 

 (say three) of development, and if the one of these coincide 

 with an early period in the history of language, and another 

 with a later one, and the third with a period later still, we 

 have three epochs wherein we may fix the date of the sepa- 

 ration of the different languages from their different parent- 

 stocks ; and these epochs are natural, just in proportion as 

 the forms that characterise them are natural. 



Again, if each epoch fall into minor and subordinate 

 periods, characterised by the changes and modifications of 

 the then generally characteristic forms, we have the basis 

 for subordinate groups, and a more minute classification. 



It is not saying too much to say that all this is no hypothesis, 

 but a reality. There are real distinctions of characteristic 

 forms corresponding with real stages of development ; and 

 the number of these is three ; besides which, one, at least, 

 of the thi'ee great stages falls into divisions and subdivisions, 



1. The stage anterior to the evolution of inflexion. — Here 

 each word has but one form, and relation is expressed by 

 mere juxtaposition, with or without the superaddition of a 

 change of accent. The tendencies of the stage are to com- 

 bine words in the way of composition, but not to go further. 

 Each word retains, throughout, its separate substantive in- 

 dependent character, and has a meaning independent of its 

 juxtaposition with the words with which it combines. 



2. The stage wherein inflexions are developed. — Here, 

 words originally separate, and afterwards placed in juxta- 

 position with others, as elements of a compound term, so far 

 change in form, or so far lose their separate signification, as 

 to pass for adjuncts, either prefixed or postfixed to the main 

 word. What was once a word is now the part of a word 

 and what was once Composition is now Derivation, certain 

 sorts of Derivation being called Inflexions, and certain In- 



