216 
Feymology. cuous view of the laws and principles by 
es ee rors edt 
the inflections, derivations, and com 
regulated. This constitutes what is ne 
y of a particular language, forming 
triton ensuted bacnabrahvengeatl has for its obj 
the analysis and resolution prea tg with hae eo 
ee 
languages, 
or the primitive germs of human speech. For the suc- 
cessful ion of this study, a comprehensive view 
of the nature of language in general, iv regard to its 
object, its constituent parts, and the principles of its 
formation, is first of all necessary, that no i 
ne eee be brought forward inconsistent with the 
fi principles which must operate in all lan- 
Keeping these in view, and observing accu- 
wacky the structure and forms of words in the e 
to be analysed, it will not be difficult, ially in 
those of fabric, to distinguish, with sufficient 
precision, radical and primitive from what 
are only accessary and accidental. If the modes of 
posi 
if the derivative words can all be traced to primitives in 
the language itself,—and if these primitives can be ul- 
timately resolved into-roots, evidently existing in and 
proper to it, we may, without hesitation, assign to 
that language the title of primitive, and accordi ly 
proceed in our attempts to develope its remote consti- 
tuent parts, and the laws of its formation and structure. 
Such we find to be the case in the Hebrew, the Ancient 
Gothic, the Sanscrit, and some others. If, on analysing 
a » we find all these distinguishing features, we 
tly woes ~ ae wy (Fes at least, 
a8 a primitive, ou e similarit many of its 
tiene Sactheen nf smatien i cmesay ag be ein 
rivation ; in this case, both 
retained, in its new country, the primeval roots, from 
which im time emanated, by regular progress, a new 
copious language,—a , however, in which 
all the words are found to be formed from significant 
roots still existing within itself: The title of a primi- 
Sue Lenguoge may, therefore, with propriety, be given 
If, on the other hand, a language want these charac- 
teristic features of a primitive structure, it falls to be re- 
garded asaderivative, and analysedaccordingly , with con- 
gation of 
widest field for the labours of the etymologist. In the 
mation of languages alone, when other 
_ cre 
_.to. be disr 
_ally emanated. When arrived at these 
ETYMOLOGY. 
tion should first be paid tothe es in 
onal. piel as ea on hee ~ 
as be referred fo, as each of these have con- 
knowledge of vestigation 
complete. In the actual deduction of the words as 
occur, discriminating attention is often required, a 
forensic phrases, if lanted from one language 
onthe generally bear such manifest marks of their 
ipectilar Grigio, fost can at once be referred to 
their primitives ; agp -fpann wnt Saat gn ata 
icles, itions, conjunctions, are often so 
wee ie from one le to another, that it 
requires an accurate scrutiny before we can ascertain 
their - t stem. In such cases, various circumstan- 
ces for attention. The successive revolutions in the 
lan which we ae ing to 
be st ; changes, in 
ciation, gradually taking place, and t : 
considerable, that without remounting to the earlier 
stages, the connecting links would a ear. 
The varieties h one t neers fava Unto 
particularly in the vowels, whi ident may have in- 
Toduned, and halt continued ; the interchange of con- 
sonants of the same order, as certain organs of speech 
in different countries are more or less exercised, and the 
alteration of letters for the sake of more soenes* 
t variations i a All these 
apt to produce great vai in meaning. A 
itis business of a skilful etymologist to a x 
till the primitive word can be traced through all its 
changes. Examples of all kinds maybe found in eve-« 
ry modern dictionary. While the ist; by at- 
tention to these circumstances, can successful- 
ly in his labours, caution is. ni ; on the 
other hand, to avoid the fanciful and absurd deductions 
in which Jexiccgraphors and }antiquarians have too 
rashly indu tymologies far-fetched, or built 
upon resemblances purely accidental, ought in general 
; and unless historical circumstances 
ono. be Siaceie suicionh ot Sens ip ea aeued c 
connection or descent, probable, if not certain, a few si- 
milarities of would be too weak a foundation for 
a system of filiation. Occasional coincidences may arise 
in languages quite unconnected, and which have no ra- 
dical affinity ; it is only when, by following up the ana- 
lysis, we cau trace the resemblance in the radical stems, 
eras eerie le a ea 
U inciples now lai wn, etymologic 
me aa structure of different 
ight be conducted with success, proceeding by a strict 
inductive process from the derivative . ages ac- 
tually existing, to the remoter primitive tongues, 
which furnished the roots whence thee bene greta 
primitive - 
guages, it. might. still be an object of curious research 
to continue the investigation, and endeavour to analyse 
these primitive languages themselves, till some view 
could be obtained of the first elements, and subsequent 
progress of human speech. In every primitive lan- 
guage, it seems by no means improbable, that if the 
roots could be fully investigated upon just and phi 
phical principles of etymology, and the app 
