351 
\ 
44 I value as much as any one the labours of Mr. Wedgwood 
and the Kev. F. W. Farrar in their endeavours to trace the 
origin of roots back to interjections, imitations, or so-called 
vocal gestures. I believe that both have thrown much light 
on a very difficult problem, and as long as such researches are 
confined to the genesis of roots, without trenching on etymology 
in the ordinary sense of that term, I mean on the formation and 
the history of words, Mr. Farrar is quite right in counting me 
not as an opponent, but as a neutral, if not an ally.” That is to 
say, we must not run haphazard into the matter, guided only by 
an ’arbitrary fancy, and careless whether or not we respect the 
historical principles of language, such, e. g ., as Grrimm’s Law. 
But, provided we pay due regard to the ascertained laws of 
verbal development, we may assail, on onomatopoetic principles, 
that ultimate residuum of speech which is properly outside the 
sphere of the science of language when unassisted by kindred 
sciences. Nothing could be fairer, as every reasonable supporter 
of onomatopoeia will doubtless admit. 
Dr. Tylor, with his customary cautious sagacity, takes up a 
somewhat neutral position, but observes, — 
44 It may be shown within the limits of the most strict and 
sober argument, that the theory of the origin of language in 
natural and directly expressive sounds, does account for a con- 
siderable portion of the existing cojpia verborum , while it raises 
a presumption that, could we trace the history of words more 
fully, it would account for far more.” * 
He urges the comparison of words in independent languages. 
If in this case an agreement is found, 44 then we may reasonably 
suppose that we are not deluding ourselves in thinking such 
words highly appropriate for their purpose. They are words 
which answer the conditions of original language, conforming 
as they do to the saying of Thomas Aquinas, 4 Nomina debent 
naturis rerum congruere.’ ” 
Leibniz, Herder, and Wilhelm von Humboldt all saw the 
infinite importance of sound-imitation in connexion with the 
question of the origin of speech ; and we may accept it as a fact, 
by a consensus of opinion, that imitation, in some form or other, 
and of something or other, lies at the basis of nineteen-twentieths 
of original language ; but the imitation was that of a man, not 
of a brute. No other theory of language has ever yet succeeded 
in explaining a single root-word. To originate is to be a god ; 
to imitate is the mark of a creature. 
* Primitive Culture , i. 146-7. 
