OF THE INDO-CHINESE NATIONS. IGQ 



as a distinct tongue, is certainly not derived from 

 the Sanscrit. 



With respect to the connection between Arabic 

 and Malaifu, jNIarsdExV observes, that the latter lan- 

 2:uai>e abounds with Arabic words, which writers 

 affect to introduce, because this display of literary 

 skill is, at the same time, a proof of their religious 

 knowledge. He adds, that these words are generally 

 legal or metaphysical terms, borrowed from the Koran 

 or its commentaries, that they are never expressive 

 of simple ideas, are rarely used in conversation, and, 

 with few exceptions, seem never to have been 

 thoroughly incorporated into the language. This 

 account of the introduction of Arabic into Malayu 

 is unexceptionably just, excepting with respect to 

 the use of Arabic terms in conversation, which is 

 affected by all Malays who have any pretensions to 

 literature. The number of Arabic vocables too, that 

 have been introduced into 7li<7/^jf/ compositions, though 

 certainly inferior to those o^ Sanscrit ongm, are con- 

 siderably more numerous than might be supposed 

 from this statement; or rather, as in Persic and 

 Turki, it is difficult to assign any bounds to their 

 introduction, but the pleasure of the writer. It may 

 also be observed here, that in the Malayu language, 

 Arabic plurals are very commonly used as singulars, 

 as often happens in Turki, and other dialects which 

 admit of a mixture of Arabic. Marsden has men- 

 tioned another peculiarity, in which Arabic vocables, 

 adopted by the Malayu, differ from adopted Sanscrit 

 terms. While the Arabic words retain' their peculiar 

 and harsh pronunciation, those of Sanscrit origin arc 

 softened down, and assimilated with the rest of the 

 lano'uaoe. This observation must likewise be taken 

 with many limitations ; for numerous words, of Ara- 



