The Project Gutenberg EBook of Philological Proofs of the Original Unity and Recent Origin of the Human Race by Arthur James Johnes This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at http://www.gutenberg.org/license Title: Philological Proofs of the Original Unity and Recent Origin of the Human Race Author: Arthur James Johnes Release Date: February 4, 2011 [Ebook 35167] Language: English ***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PHILOLOGICAL PROOFS OF THE ORIGINAL UNITY AND RECENT ORIGIN OF THE HUMAN RACE*** Philological Proofs of the Original Unity and Recent Origin of the Human Race Derived From a Comparison of the Languages of Asia, Europe, Africa, and America Being an Inquiry How Far the Differences in the Languages of the Globe are Referrible to Causes Now in Operation. By Arthur James Johnes, Esq. Eam linguam (primævam) Hebræi suam dicunt, Syri suam, Verius asseritur primævam linguam nullibi puram extare, sed reliquias ejus esse in omnibus linguis. GROTIUS—Annot. Genes, XI. London: John Russell Smith 4, Old Compton Street, Soho Square 1846 Contents Dedication. .2 Introduction. On The Connexion Of The Conclusions Of This Work With History, Sacred And Profane, And With The Results Of Science. .4 Plan Of This Investigation. Lord Bacon's Principles Ap- plicable To Inquiries Into The Origin And Changes Of Human Languages. 50 Chapter I. On The Evidence Furnished By A Comparison Of Their Languages Of The Original Unity Of The Various Nations Of The Continents Of Asia, Europe, Africa, And America. 54 Chapter II. On The Differences Which Distinguish Indi- vidual Languages Of The Four Continents. 75 Chapter III. On The Origin Of Synonymes. 142 Chapter IV. On The Original Identity Of The English, Welsh, Hindoos, And Other Nations Classed As Indo- European With The Jews, Arabians, Etc. 159 Chapter V. Identity Of The Egyptians With The Indians, Jews, And Other Branches Of The Human Race. 171 Chapter VI. On The Chinese Language. 191 Chapter VII. On The Origin Of The American Tribes. 198 Appendix A. Analytical Comparison Of Some Of The Most Important Words In The African Languages With The Analogous Words In The Languages Of Asia, Europe, And America. 216 Appendix B. Containing (Arranged According To The Tribes And Regions Of Africa) The African Words Compared In Appendix A, With The Corresponding Terms In The Languages Of Asia, Europe, And America.305 ivPhilological Proofs of the Original Unity and Recent Origin of the Human Race Footnotes . 315 [v] Dedication. TO LADY HALL OF LLANOVER. MY LADY, This volume has been published in consequence of the following opinion expressed by Dr. PRICHARD on an Essay written by the Author for a National Society, in whose proceedings your Ladyship takes a lively interest: “This Essay contains very valuable matter, which I trust we shall hereafter see in print.” Notwithstanding the deference which I consider due to the sentiments of so eminent an authority, had I committed to the press, without revision, the hastily-written Essay to which he was thus pleased to refer, I might have conformed to the letter, but I should have violated the spirit of this very flattering recommendation. Instead of so doing, I have availed myself [vi] of such intervals of leisure as I have been able to command from more imperative engagements in maturing the conclusions embodied in the present volume, of which only a very trifling portion consists of the Essay in which it originated. Independent of the numerous claims to the respect and esteem of your countrymen, which your Ladyship has earned by the warm attachment you have ever evinced for the literature and institutions and for the welfare of the Cymry, there is no other person to whom I could, with equal justice, have dedicated a volume which has been written in accordance with your Ladyship's suggestion and request. For the same reason, in inscribing these pages to your Ladyship, I have the Dedication. 3 satisfaction of feeling that they will be received not only with the indulgence required by all works which are the fruit of intervals of professional leisure—but also with that patriotic sympathy which you never fail to extend to all investigations prompted by national feelings and directed to subjects of national interest. I have the honour to remain, Your Ladyship's Very faithful and obedient servant, THE AUTHOR. [xiii] Introduction. On The Connexion Of The Conclusions Of This Work With History, Sacred And Profane, And With The Results Of Science. Interpretation of the Passage commented on by Grotius. Mr. Lyell's Geological Proofs of the Recent Origin of Man. Grounds of Adelung's Opinion that Central Asia was the Birthplace of the Human Race. Its Central Position and High Elevation. Its Climate. It is the native Country of Domestic Animals. This View consistent with the Scriptural Narrative, and supported by ancient Indian Accounts. “Ararat” of Scripture not in Armenia. Monosyllabic and Polysyllabic Languages. Dr. Prichard on the Origin of different Races. The Dispersion of Mankind probably very rapid. Routes of Diffusion. Basques and Celts. Connexion of the Welsh with Negro Dialects. The Peopling of Islands. The Unity of the Human Species deduced from the Uniformity of the Moral, Mental, and Social Features of civilized and uncivilized Races. Egyptians and Negroes. Ancient Gauls and Modern French. Tendencies to Progression among Races yet uncivilized. The N. A. Indian Tribe the Mandans. Imperfection of Modern Civilization. The Siege of Genoa. The Hottentot Race. In commenting on a celebrated passage of Scripture, Grotius has adopted, with regard to the primitive language of mankind, the conclusion expressed on the title-page. “That Language the Hebrews say is the same as theirs—the [xiv] Syrians say it is the same as theirs. It may be asserted, with 5 more truth, that the Primitive Language is not extant in a pure state anywhere, but that its remains exist in all languages!” Of the conclusion thus expressed by this celebrated writer—a conclusion dictated by the intuitive sagacity of a great mind—the facts developed in the following pages will be shown to be confirmatory. All existing languages, when viewed separately, are fragmentary and irregular. But when a wide and extensive comparison is instituted, the “disjecta membra” are found to reunite, and the irregularities to disappear! Assuming the various languages of the Globe to have been derived from one Original Speech, it will be established that the formation of numerous distinct languages from that one Primitive Tongue admits of a complete explanation, by means of causes of which the agency can be traced within the range of the Historical era. The influence of those causes will be shown within a limited period of time to have produced dialects which display—not a destruction—but a dispersion of the elements of the Parent languages from which they are known to have arisen. In other words, these dialects manifest the same relative features as are exhibited by those languages which were formed anterior to the period of History. The only distinction is, that in the latter case the differences are more numerous and extensive—a result which is obviously a necessary consequence of a longer period of time. Agreeably to an interpretation which has received very high sanction, the event described in the passage referred to in the title-page cannot be pronounced to have had any considerable share in the production of Human Languages, for, according to eminent authorities,1 the changes thereby caused probably [xv] consisted in mere Dialectic differences, not materially affecting the Words or Structure of Language. Moreover (it is inferred) the 1 See notes to D'Oyly and Mant's Bible. The differences, it is supposed, may have consisted in a different mode of pronouncing the same words, such as exists in various English counties, to a sufficient extent to make the speakers mutually unintelligible! See, also, Eichhorn's view. 6Philological Proofs of the Original Unity and Recent Origin of the Human Race influence of that event did not extend to the whole Human Race, but merely to that small portion of it who were the ancestors of the Semetic or Syro-Phœnician nations. In these pages are embodied proofs, from Language, of the two following propositions:—1. That the various nations of our Globe are descended from one Parent Tribe. 2. That the introduction of the Human Species into the system to which it belongs, cannot be referred to an epoch more ancient than the era indicated as the date of that event by our received systems of chronology. These propositions, of which the Philological evidence is developed in this volume, are supported not only by the testimony of History, Sacred and Profane, but also by the highest Scientific authorities. In Cuvier's theory of the Earth the date of the origin of our species is discussed, not only on Geological but also on Historical grounds, in a disquisition embracing an immense mass of learning on the subject of the supposed antiquity of the Chinese, Egyptians, and other nations who have laid claim to a very remote origin. These pretensions are rejected, and the date usually assigned to the origin of Man is adopted in this celebrated work. The same views have been expressed by Mr. Lyell; views which he espouses, not merely as the result of his own reasonings, but of the prevalent conclusions of the highest geological authorities. “I need not dwell,” he observes, “on the proofs of the low antiquity of our species, for it is not controverted by any experienced geologist; indeed the real difficulty consists in tracing back the signs of man's existence on the earth [xvi] to that comparatively modern period when species, now his contemporaries, began to predominate.