OF THE INDO-CHINESE NATIONS. l63 



The Indo-Chinese languages may be considered in 

 the following order. 



Polysyllabic languages. Monosyllabic languages, 



1 Ma%u, 7 Rukiieng, 



2 Jawa, 8 Banna, 



3 Bugh, 9 M6n, 



4 Binia, 10 T'liay, 



5 Balfa, 11 Kl.dhni^n, 



6 Gala, or Tagdla. 12 \Aw, 



13 Aiiam. 



The learned lano-uas^e. 



14 Pali. 



I. Ma LA Yu.— The Malayu language, so pro- 

 nounced in the Malaya peninsula, but by Europeans 

 generally denominated Malay, is used by the nume- 

 rous and enterprising nation of that naniCj who are 

 termed Khek by tlpc Siamese, and Masu^ by the Bai^- 

 mas. This language, which from its sweetness, has 

 been termed the Italian, and from its widely extended 

 use, the Hindostani of the j^ast, though it coincides 

 with the monosyllabic languages in its general con- 

 struction and analogies, is properly polysyllabic in 

 its form. Having spread itself over a o-reat extent 

 of countr}^, not only in the Malaya peninsula, but 

 far among the eastern isles; and having been propa- 

 gated by a race more skilled in arms than in letters, 

 it has branched out into almost as many dialects as 

 states, by mixing in different proportions with the 

 native languages of the aboriginal races. This is the 

 circumstance which renders the investigation of the 

 origin and relations of the Malayu language a matter 

 of difficulty, as it becomes necessary to examine the 

 history of the nation, as well as the structure and 

 composition of the language itself. Though used 

 jby a nation of comparatively late origin, at least with 



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