854* MAN. 



different races as, for example, Turan (or Mawerannahr) 

 by Indo-Germanic and -Finnish, but not by Mongolian 

 races. 



Languages, as intellectual creations of man, and closely 

 entwined with his whole mental development, bear the stamp 

 of national character, and as such are of the highest impor- 

 tance in the recognition of similarity or diversity of race : 

 the descent of languages from a common origin is the con- 

 dueling thread which enables us to tread the labyrinth, i-.i 

 wliicii the connection of physical and mental powers and dis- 

 positions presents itself under a thousand varied forms. The 

 brilliant progress which the philosophical study of languages 

 has made within the last half century in Germany, is 

 trable to researches on their national character ( 441 ), 

 or on that which they appear to have derived from the 

 influence of race. But here, as in all fields of ideal 

 speculation, there are many illusions to be guarded against, 

 as well as a rich prize to be attained. Positive ethno- 

 graphical studies, supported by profound historical know- 

 ledge, teach us that a great degree of caution is required 

 in these investigations concerning nations, and the lan- 

 guages spoken by them at particular epochs. Subjection 

 to a foreign yoke, long association, the influence of a foreign 

 religion, a mixture of races even when comprising only a 

 small number of the more powerful and more civilised 

 immigrating race, have produced in both continents similarly 

 recurring phenomena; viz. in one and the same race, two 

 or more entirely different families of languages ; and in 

 nations differing widely in origin, idioms belonging to the 

 same linguistic stock. Great Asiatic conquerors have been 



