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R E :m a It K 



In obtaining rtie phrases and sentences above, the student will be iiiltated into the best method of mastering an Indian tongue. Tlie attempt to 

 learn Indian words and then to construct sentence* from them will only result in failure. Learn plirase.s and sentences first, after which you may 

 easily discover the words and parts from which they are constructed. The student has also learned that the Indian tongue contaius very few synonyms 

 of English words, which is also true to an important extent in the more cultivated languages of the Indo-European stock; but the statement has a 

 much wider application wlien we speak of Indian languages. 



In proceeding further with the study of Inditn languages get words in sets as much as possible, but get the sentences before the words. 



The verbs "to go" and "to come," in all their forms and modiflcations will constitute a valuable contribution to linguistics. Generally each 

 verb will be represented by a great number of words ; for example, the verb " to go " may be represented by one word signifying to go home, another 

 to go away from home; one to go to a place other than home, another to go from a place other than hoine; one to go from this place, without reference 

 to home ; one to go up, to ascend, another to go down, to descend ; one to go around, and perhaps there will be a verb to go up a hill, another to go up 

 a valley, another to go up a river, &c. 



Purpose may be expressed in the verb, as to go on a visit, to go for water, dtc, and the manner may also be expressed, as to go on foot, to go on 

 horseback, to go in a canoe, &c. Distinct words may be used for each of these purposes, or a fewer number used, and these varied by incorporated 

 particles. In like manner the English verb to brenk may be represented by several words, each of which will indicate the manner of performing the 

 act, or the instrument with which it is done. Distinct words may be used, or a common word varied with incorporated particles. The verb " to strike," 

 which appears so ufteu in the schedule, may be represented by several words, as a word signilying to strike with the flst, to strike with a ciub, (to club,) 

 to strike with the open hand, i to slap,) to strike wl;h a whip, (to whip,) to strike with a switch, (,to switch,) to strike with a flat instrument, (to paddle,) 

 &c., itc, but tiiere may be no word which signifies to strike ir. general. 



In the phrases and sentences given above only the present, past, and future tenses are called for. In some languages there are elaborate systems 

 of tenses, denoted by inflections; in others the ter.se-system, as denoted by inilectious, is simj^le; and more complex tense distinctions are given by 

 the use of adverbs. 



There are about five hundred Indian languages spoken in the United States, but only a few of them have been carefully studied, and it is no 

 easy task to give all the characteristics even of these languages which are known ; but certain general facts will be obsei-ved in all, namely : 



The parts of speech are meagerly differentiated— that is, one word may contain within Itself two, three, or more parts of speech. A noun with 

 its qualilications and limitations may lorm but one word; and tlie verb with its qualifications and limitations, with its subject, and with its direct 

 and indirect object, may be but one word. Words may be used now as one part of speech, then as another. Adjectives may be declined as adjectives 

 or conjugated as verbs. 



By the use of all the other parts of speech as verbs the copula, or predicant, expressed in JEnglish by the verb "to be," becomes unnecessary, 

 and such verbs are not found. 



Incorporated particles are used to a great extent for a variety of purposes, and especially incorporated pronouns, the latter giving to many of the 

 languages what has been known as a s.vstem of "transitions." These particles point out with special care the person and number and other class 

 pecuiiarities of botli the subject and object. 



As an Indian word may be exceedingly com.ple.x or synthetic, containing in itself many parts of speech, when new ideas are to be expressed and 

 lieuce new words coined, these new words may contain many elements, so that oiten their words seem to be excessively compounded. The circum- 

 stances under which we study Indian languages serve to exaggerate this characteristic. With the advent of civilized people among them new objects 

 were seen, new ideas and thoughts were entertained, and new words needed for their expression. Such nev.' words are often found to be elaborately 

 compounded. Again, the missionaries or teachers among the Indians, having to convey to them ideas and thoughts new to the Indian mind, and for 

 the expression of which the Indians had no adeifuate words, were compelled to coin such words, so that in many Indian languages there are words 

 which have been introduced among them by missionaries or teachers coined from pre-existing words, and these also are often elaborately compounded. 

 Such facts led tlie earlier students of Indian languages to classify them as distinct from all others, and they were called agf/lutinated. 



Still another characteristic must be mentioned. Indian languages are elaboi'ately inflected. Is'ouns, adjectives, and adverbs are declined, verbs 

 are conjugated, and when diflerent parts of speech enter into one word the different methods of inflection belonging to each appear in the single 

 locution. 



Indian languages then are excessively synthetic, excessively compounded, excessively inflected, many incorporated particles are used, and there 

 Is no verb used as a copula; all of which simply means that the parts of speech are very imperfectly dilTerentiated. In these characteristics they 

 differ not in kind, but only in degree, from the Indo-European tongues. 



