58 SIDNEY H. RAY. 
ITI.—A suggested Grouping of the Oceanic Languages. 
In comparing the Oceanic languages, it has been the fashion to. 
bring forward for comparison words from all parts of the region, 
without any very definite result being arrived at, except that they 
apparently belong to one family.* Their place in that family is. 
not very definitely pointed out. It seems desirable that some 
attempt should be made to condense the multiplicity of languages. 
into certain smaller groups, and to investigate each of these 
separately. An enquiry into the relationship of the members of 
each group to one another, and also as to the evidence which each 
may, or may not afford as to the existence of earlier languages. — 
occupying the same regions, is more likely to prove of value to the 
ethnologist than a discussion of the resemblances between the 
words of the whole region or of their supposed affinities with some 
other linguistic stock. + 
The following table is put forward as suggestive of a convenient 
nomenclature and grouping of the whole of the languages of 
Oceania. It does not necessarily imply that all the languages 
therein mentioned are of the same stock. The Australian and 
Papuan, for instance, may, with fuller materials for study be shown 
to be quite distinct from the Indonesian or Melanesian. In fact 
‘the evidence possessed for the Papuan seems at present to indicate: 
that it forms a group of several distinct languages. 
The connection of the Andaman with the Australian is argued 
by Von Carolsfeld. The arrangement of the other groups is that. 
of the writer based upon a careful comparison of the grammatical. 
forms and vocabularies. 
* This is denied, however, by many, who hold that the Austr ilian 
languages are distinct from those of the Malay Archipelago, Melanesia. 
and Polynesia. The same denial is also extended to the Andaman and. 
Nicobar languages which are here called Oceanic. 
+ The Oceanic tongues have been connected with all the chief linguistic 
families of the Old World. Bopp sought to connect the Polynesian and 
Indo European. Macdonald has written to prove them Semitiz. Others 
have connected them with Indo-Chinese. The discussion of all such 
questions must be regarded as premature until we are in a position to ~ 
declare what are the roots of the primitive Oceanic speech. 
