Indian Antiquary Vol 58

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications

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• THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[ JANUARY, 1929
Survey deals with four great Families of languages, area wider than that occupied by any other group viz., the Indo-European, Dravidian, Austrio and of tongues. Among the branches of languages Tibeto-Chinese, spoken respectively by some 232, appertaining to this family is that now known 53, 3 and 2 millions of persons, besides the un. as the Munda branch of languages, originally classed Gipsy dialects, Burushaski and Andam. supposed to belong to the Dravidian Family, and anese. From the Families we descend in accord. first recognized as distinct therefrom by Max Muller ance with careful scientific classification through in 1854. The present survey has revealed that Sub-Families, Branches, Groups and Sub-Groups to languages of this branch must at some time have the languages and dialects in actual use. In the been spoken over a much wider area than at present ; volumes already published we have seen how the
MundA influences are traceable in neighbouring original conception of the survey was enlarged as
tongues, and there is a line of peculiar forms of the work progressed. Upon the foundation of the
speech in the Himalayan and sub-Him Alayen specimens referred to above has been built & vast
tracts, extending from Darjiling to the Panjab, linguistic fabrlo, strengthened, if not comented, by
showing evident traces of a previously existing historical and ethnological testimony. We have
language of the Munde type, which has been overdescriptive accounts of each language and dialect
laid by the Tibeto-Burman of later immigrante. and of the peoples who speak them, and in respect
This is but one of the many instances in which the of most of the forms of speech a more or less com- Survey furnishes indications of ethnic movements plete grammatical account, with a bibliography for that may lead to far-reaching conclusions as to the benefit of research workers. And last, but not
the migrations of peoples in prehistoric times. least, we have suitable maps indicating, as far 48
Such conclusions, however, must only be drawn this can be indicated in such manner, the areas over
with reserve, as many examples have been cited which the various languages are spoken at the
to show the danger of basing ethnological the. present day.
ories on linguistio facts. One of the best known In the volume now before us Sir George Grierson
cases of this perhaps is that of the Brahuis of presents a general yet comprehensive summary of
Balachistan, who speak & language in essence the results of the survey as a whole. This is
Dravidian, but who have no physical characterisprefaced by an interesting Introduction, in which he
ties to entitle them to be classed ethnologically with gives a historical review of previous inquiries into
the speakers of Dravidian tongues in southern India, the languages of India, from the time of Albiruni
and the existence of whom has led to diametrically down to that of Pater W. Schmidt, credit being duly
opposed theories of migration. Here, as elsewhere, apportioned to the initiative and labours of mis
Sir George maintains a characteristically judicial sionaries and other scholars, and just praise allotted
attitude. One of his most conspicuous qualifications to the splendid work of B. H. Hodgson and Major
for his task is the candour and fairness with which R. Leech. In spite of the individual research of
he states rival views: he has throughout set himself, 80 many devoted scholars, most readers will be astonished to learn that up to the year 1878 nobody
and observed, the rule that the results of his work had made even a catalogue of all the languages
were "not to be bundles of theories, but collections spoken in India, and that rough estimates of their
I of facts": to dogmatizing he never descends. number varied between 50 and 60 and 250! The The chapters that claim the closest attention of difficulties attending the earlier stages of the survey students of northern India are those (VIII to XV) are described with many humourous details; and that treat of the Indo-Aryan languages, 68 Sir then we have exhibited in Chapters II to XVI the George has made the study of these peculiarly his vast panorama of languages, classified, correlated
I own. Reference is made to the various theories and annotated with a wealth of scholarly and ins.
propounded from time to time as to the so-called tructive description. Here we have the pith of the original home" of the people speaking a language whole results of the Survey set forth in a systematic foom which the Indo-European tongues (both centum and masterly manner, yet in a most readable form,
and satem) are descended; and in this connexion each chapter being replete with matter of interest. The skill with which the huge web of languages
Sir George enters a protest against the inexact
use of the term Aryan', so frequently applied, in has been woven together and then spread out to
an extended sonse, as equivalent to 'Indo-European.' view compels our admiration.
He points out that it is really the name of one of the One of the most striking linguistic discoveries
tribes of satem-speakers, as used by these people that followed from Schmidt's now famous researches
themselves in this latter sense only has it been into the affinities of the Mon, Khmer and Khasi employed in the Survey. Whatever may have languages was that of the existence, at some very been the so-called 'original home of the ancestors ancient time, of a great family of languages, now
of these people and as to this ho keeps an open called the Austric Family, traces of which are still mind-he lays emphasis upon the importance of the found from KanAwar in the Panjab across the north generally admitted fact that an Aryan people, of India and through Further India across the Pacific called the Mandas, were in possession of northern Ocean to Easter Island off the coast of South and north-western Persis about 2000 B.C., who America and southwards to New Zealand. had gods whose names we meet subsequently in Languages of this family extended, in fact, over an India, and who spoke & salem language closely