1888,] 219 (Brinton. 
cally expressed, are inadequate to convey the idea. I may quote a 
remark by Howse in his Cree Grammar, which is true probably of 
all primitive speech, ‘* Emphasis, accent and modifications of vocal 
expression which are inadequately expressed in writing, seem to 
constitute an essential, perhaps the vital part of Indian language.’’ 
In such modifications I include tone, accent, stress, vocal inflection, 
quantity and pause. These are with much difficulty or not at all 
includable in a graphic method, and yet are frequently significant. 
Take the pause or hiatus. I have already mentioned that in Tinné 
it correlates a whole series of ideas. M. Belcourt, in his Grammar 
of the Sauteux, an Algonkin dialect, states that the pause may com- 
pletely change the meaning of a word and place it in another class; 
it is also essential in that language in the formation of the tenses.* 
This is the case in the Giiarani of South America. Montoya illus- 
trates it by the example: Peru o’u, Peter ate it; but Peru ou, Peter 
came; quite another thing you will observe. t 
The stress laid on a vowel-sound often alters its meaning. In the 
Sauteux, Belcourt points out that this constitutes the only distinc- 
tion between the first and second persons in participles. In the 
Nahuatl this alone distinguishes many plural forms from their sin- 
gulars ; and many similar examples could be cited. 
With difficulties of this nature to encounter, a person accustomed 
to the definite phonology of European tongues is naturally at a 
loss. The Spanish scholar Uricoechea expresses this in relating his 
efforts to learn the Chibcha of New Granada, a tongue also charac- 
terized by these fluctuating phonetics. He visited the region where 
it is still spoken with a grammar and phrase book in his hand, and 
found to his disappointment that they could not understand one 
word he said. He then employed a native who spoke Spanish, and 
with him practiced some phrases until he believed he had them per- 
fect. Another disappointment. Not one of them was understood. 
He returned to his teacher and again repeated them; but what was 
his dismay when not even his teacher recognized a single word ! 
After that, Uricoechea gave up the attempt. 
Leaving now the domain of phonology and turning to that of 
lexicography, I will point out to you a very curious phenomenon in 
primitive speech. I have already alluded to it in quoting M. Peti- 
* Principes de la Langue des Sauvages appellés Sauteux. Introd. 
t Arte dela Lengua Guarani, 6 mas bien Tupi. Por el P, Antonio Ruiz de Montoya, p. 100. 
t Gramatica dela Lengua Chibcha. Introd. 
