Such Similarity,
However, Though So Strongly Insisted Upon, By No Means Exists In
Fact, And Perhaps In The Whole Of Europe It Would Be Difficult To
Discover Two Languages Which Exhibit Fewer Points Of Mutual
Resemblance Than The Basque And Irish.
The Irish, like most other European languages, is a dialect of the
Sanskrit, a REMOTE one, as may well be supposed.
The corner of the
western world in which it is still preserved being, of all
countries in Europe, the most distant from the proper home of the
parent tongue. It is still, however, a dialect of that venerable
and most original speech, not so closely resembling it, it is true,
as the English, Danish, and those which belong to what is called
the Gothic family, and far less than those of the Sclavonian; for,
the nearer we approach to the East, in equal degree the
assimilation of languages to this parent stock becomes more clear
and distinct; but still a dialect, agreeing with the Sanskrit in
structure, in the arrangement of words, and in many instances in
the words themselves, which, however modified, may still be
recognized as Sanskrit. But what is the Basque, and to what family
does it properly pertain?
To two great Asiatic languages, all the dialects spoken at present
in Europe may be traced. These two, if not now spoken, still exist
in books, and are, moreover, the languages of two of the principal
religions of the East. I allude to the Tibetian and Sanskrit - the
sacred languages of the followers of Buddh and Bramah. These
tongues, though they possess many words in common, which is easily
to be accounted for by their close proximity, are properly
distinct, being widely different in structure. In what this
difference consists, I have neither time nor inclination to state;
suffice it to say that the Celtic, Gothic, and Sclavonian dialects
in Europe belong to the Sanskrit family, even as in the East the
Persian, and to a less degree the Arabic, Hebrew, etc.; whilst to
the Tibetian or Tartar family in Asia pertain the Mandchou and
Mongolian, the Calmuc and the Turkish of the Caspian Sea; and in
Europe, the Hungarian and the Basque PARTIALLY.
Indeed this latter language is a strange anomaly, so that upon the
whole it is less difficult to say what it is not, than what it is.
It abounds with Sanskrit words to such a degree that its surface
seems strewn with them. Yet would it be wrong to term it a
Sanskrit dialect, for in the collocation of these words the Tartar
form is most decidedly observable. A considerable proportion of
Tartar words is likewise to be found in this language, though
perhaps not in equal number to the terms derived from the Sanskrit.
Of these Tartar etymons I shall at present content myself with
citing one, though, if necessary, it were easy to adduce hundreds.
This word is Jauna, or as it is pronounced, Khauna, a word in
constant use amongst the Basques, and which is the Khan of the
Mongols and Mandchous, and of the same signification - Lord.
Having closely examined the subject in all its various bearings,
and having weighed what is to be said on one side against what is
to be advanced on the other, I am inclined to rank the Basque
rather amongst the Tartar than the Sanskrit dialects. Whoever
should have an opportunity of comparing the enunciation of the
Basques and Tartars would, from that alone, even if he understood
them not, come to the conclusion that their respective languages
were formed on the same principles. In both occur periods
seemingly interminable, during which the voice gradually ascends to
a climax, and then gradually sinks down.
I have spoken of the surprising number of Sanskrit words contained
in the Basque language, specimens of some of which will be found
below. It is remarkable enough, that in the greater part of the
derivatives from the Sanskrit the Basque has dropped the initial
consonant, so that the word commences with a vowel. The Basque,
indeed, may be said to be almost a vowel language; the number of
consonants employed being comparatively few: perhaps eight words
out of ten commence and terminate with a vowel, owing to which it
is a language to the highest degree soft and melodious, far
excelling in this respect any other language in Europe, not even
excepting the Italian.
Here follow a few specimens of Basque words with the Sanskrit roots
in juxtaposition:-
Such is the tongue in which I brought out Saint Luke's Gospel at
Madrid. The translation I procured originally from a Basque
physician of the name of Oteiza. Previous to being sent to the
press, the version had lain nearly two years in my possession,
during which time, and particularly during my travels, I lost no
opportunity of submitting it to the inspection of those who were
considered competent scholars in the Euscarra. It did not entirely
please me; but it was in vain to seek for a better translation.
In my early youth I had obtained a slight acquaintance with the
Euscarra, as it exists in books. This acquaintance I considerably
increased during my stay in Spain; and by occasionally mingling
with Basques, was enabled to understand the spoken language to a
certain extent, and even to speak it, but always with considerable
hesitation; for to speak Basque, even tolerably, it is necessary to
have lived in the country from a very early period. So great are
the difficulties attending it, and so strange are its
peculiarities, that it is very rare to find a foreigner possessed
of any considerable skill in the oral language, and the Spaniards
consider the obstacles so formidable that they have a proverb to
the effect that Satan once lived seven years in Biscay, and then
departed, finding himself unable either to understand or to make
himself understood.
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