In what manner these varieties in the etymological structure of languages have arisen, has been a subject of dispute. Some have supposed that inflections had their origin from the gradual junction and amalgamation of separate terms with the radical word: thus, in nouns, the terms denoting species, recipient, or subject of action; and in verbs, the terms expressing time, volition, com mand, or dependence, being frequently in common use pronounced along with the word to which they related, came at length to coalesce entirely with the radical word, and to form the genitive, dative, and accusative cases of nouns, the tenses, moods, or voices of verbs, changes that might easily arise when a language was constantly em ployed by an active, ingenious, and animated people. To others it has appeared more probable, that the progress of language was in a different direction ; that speech be ing intended to communicate the complex feelings and impressions of the mind, at first consisted of what may be denominated mere masses of sound, significant only of these complex impressions, in which substance, qua lities, and actions were united and blended without dis tinction; that, by the operation of external objects, a modification of these impressions taking place, and the agent, the action, the effect, and the quality, becoming alternately objects of direct and specific attention, a corresponding variation to indicate these modifications took place in the significant sounds; that separate class es of sounds significant, or words, being thus formed, farther but minuter variations upon these words them selves were found necessary, to denote the relations in which they were supposed to stand, or the particular mode of operation they were believed to exert: These it was easy to supply by abbreviation, addition, or more emphatic enunciation, at the commencement or termina tion; and in this manner might be formed the cases of nouns—the tenses, moods, and persons of verbs ; from which afterwards might arise, by separation of a part, or contraction of the whole, new classes of words, denoting relation, position, or modification in general, and consti tuting the classes of adverbs, prepositions, and conjunc tions.
In which of these two tracks we are to look for the actual progress of language, is a question perhaps inca pable of complete solution, nor, as relating merely to the study of etymology, is it very material to determine it. It will be sufficient for the etymological student, in the first place, to ascertain how far the language to which his attention is turned, partakes of the more simple or more complicated structure, and then to direct his la bours so as to obtain an accurate and perspicuous view of the general laws and principles by which the inflec tions, derivations, and compositions, are regulated. This constitutes what is usually termed the etymology of a particular language, forming a radical branch of gram mar, a thorough acquaintance with which renders the subsequent progress comparatively easy.
The second branch of etymology has for its object the analysis and resolution of words, with a view to discover their remote origin, the filiation of languages, or the primitive germs of human speech. For the successful
prosecution of this study, a comprehensive view of the nature of language in general, in regard to its object, its constituent parts, and the principles of its formation, is first of all necessary, that DO particular analysis may be brought forward inconsistent with the fundamental principles which must operate in all languages. Keep ing these in view, and observing accurately the structure and forms of words in the language to be analysed, it will not be difficult, especially in those of regular fabric, to distinguish with sufficient precision, the radical and primitive parts, from what are only accessary and acci dental. If the modes of derivation and composition are found to be uniform,—if the derivative words can all be traced to primitives in the language itscl if these primitives can be ultimately resolved into roots, evident ly existing in and proper to it, we may without hesitation, assign to that language the title of primitive, and accord ingly proceed in our attempts to develope its remote constituent parts, and the laws of its formation and struc ture. Such we find to be the case in the Hebrew, the ..dncient Gothic, the Sanscrit, and some others. If, on analysing a language, we find all these distinguishing features, Nye may justly regard it, in an etymological view at least, as a primitive, although the similarity of many of its words to those of another might seem to in dicate a derivation; in this case, both languages may have been branches from the same root, or one of them, in all its parts, and in its native form, transplanted into a new soil, and there retaining all its roots, with their ear lier ramifications unchanged, may afterwards have ger minated into branches peculiar to itself. Of this the Greek affords an example. Transplanted probably at first from Phoenicia in the form of the old Pelasgic, it still retained, in its new country, the primeval roots, from which in time emanated, by regular progress, a new and copious language,—a language, however, in which all the words are found to be formed from significant roots still existing within itself: The title of a primitive lan guage may, therefore, with propriety be given to it.
If, on the other hand, a language want these charac teristic features of a primitive structure, it falls to be re garded as a derivative, and analysed accordingly, with constant reference to the sources from which its words have originated. To this class it is probable the greater part of the languages now existing belong ; and the in vestigation of their formation and affinities affords by far the widest field for the labours of the etymologist. In the course of such researches, interesting facts are often disclosed, evincing at once the filiation of langua ges, and the common origin of nations; and though the examination of languages alone, when other documents are wanting, will not go far in the elucidation of historic facts, yet etymological enquiries, judiciously conducted, may afford useful aid for judging of the credibility of the details of remoter periods.