THE SCIENCE OF LANGUAGE. 45 



sMp of the different languages may con- 

 sequently serve, so to speak, as a paradig- 

 matic illustration of the origin of species, 

 for those fields of inquiry which lack, for 

 the present at least, any similar oppor- 

 tunities of observation. Besides, as we 

 have already remarked, the difierence in 

 observing-material is merely quantitative, 

 not specific, for it is an acknowledged 

 fact that the capability of variation applies 

 in a certain degree to the animal and 

 vegetable kingdoms. 



From what we have thus far stated 

 with regard to the ramification of one 

 primitive form into several others, gradually 

 divero-incr the one from the other, it fol- 

 lows that it is impossible to draw any 

 definite and distinct lines of demarcation 

 for the different stages of human speech — 

 that is to say, for language, dialect, patois, 

 &c. The varieties indicated by these terms 



