SECT. V.] LANGUAGES. 239 



priate the results obtained in this way. When, therefore, the 

 naturalist, in opposition to the linguist (as is frequently done) 

 speaks of the absolute constancy of cranial types, and signifi- 

 cantly points to those cases in which whole nations have 

 changed their language, it looks not merely like ingratitude, 

 but like envy. 



The natural forms of intellectual life seem to be subject to 

 as many changes as the mental peculiarities of individuals ; 

 hence it was believed that a greater constancy of type is to be 

 found within the sphere of physical organization. The appear- 

 ance may possibly be deceitful, and more extensive investiga- 

 tions may exhibit an equal uniformity in the mental as in the 

 physical organization. Philology gives a certain probability to 

 this idea, for not only may we from the language of a people 

 draw some correct inferences as to its intellectual state, as 

 Crawfurd 1 has done with regard to the original state of civiliza- 

 tion of the Malays, but, generally speaking, the linguistic pecu- 

 liarities are the most important of those of intellectual life ; 

 because, on the one hand, they are in their origin as inde- 

 pendent of conscious reflection as of the influence of external 

 circumstances ; and because, on the other hand, they are trans- 

 mitted and appropriated by later generations, and thus exhibit, 

 in all essential points, a high degree of constancy. Whatever 

 is created by the conscious will is subject to multifarious 

 changes by further reflection, but not that which, like the form 

 and structure of language, is transmitted by unconscious imi- 

 tation, which is thus withdrawn from reflection. 



These general psychological considerations show the great 

 importance of linguistic researches in relation to the consan- 

 guinity of peoples. We shall, therefore, endeavour to specify 

 the claims of philology to be heard on this question. 



The two chief points which are to be considered in compara- 

 tive philology are the grammatical structure of a language, in- 

 cluding the articulated sounds, and its vocabulary. According 

 io the present state of science, both of them must correspond 

 to infer a genealogical relationship of languages. Comparisons 



* " History of the Indian Archipelago," 1820. 



