[509] 



ON THE NATURE OF ROOTS AND WORDS. 



BY W. H. VAN DER SUISSE N, M.A., 

 Lecturer on German at University College, Toronto. 



The fact that Glottology is still a young science is nowhere more 

 strikingly illustrated than in that branch of it which treats of the 

 nature of primitive language and its sources. The student, standing 

 on the threshold, and approaching this subject free from all precon- 

 ceived opinions, cannot fail to observe that in this particular at least 

 the inductive stage has not yet been reached. Here facts are rarest 

 and theories most abimdant ; here disputes are hottest and loudest, 

 and the angry disputants frequently forget the courtesy of scientific 

 discussion, as was the case in the late attack of Professoi's Stein thai 

 and Max Mtiller on Professor Whitney. So unsatisfactory indeed 

 have been the results of the discussion hitherto, that many of the 

 most eminent glottologists have given up the enigma in despair, and 

 become thoroughly sceptical as to the possibility of our ever arriving 

 at any definite or positive knowledge on the subject of the origin of 

 language. Bopp, Pott, Lepsius, and many others consider the veil 

 of mystery hanging over this question as absolutely and inexorably 

 impenetrable. Benfey and Schleicher would remove the consideration 

 of this question from the jurisdiction of linguistic science altogether : 

 the former handiug it over to Psychology, the latter to Anthro- 

 pology ; * while the Societe de Linguistique de Paiis absolutely forbids 

 the admission of any communication on this subject by its statutes. 



Of late, however, a more hopeful tone has prevailed, owing largely, 

 no doubt, to the increased study of the languages of savage nations, 

 and the philosophic consideration of the phenomena presented by 

 them. For it is here we approach most nearly to primitive man 

 in the matter of language, as in point of every department of culture, 

 and from such facts as we can here gather we must make our induc- 

 ' lions as to the nature of primitive language. 



* Geiger, Ursprung der Sprache, p. 37, et segq. 



