Philological Proofs of the Original Unity and Recent Origin of the Human Race

by Arthur James Johnes

The origin of the peculiar transition, observable in this class of words, as, for example, in the instance of the Latin words “Homo, Ho-minis, Hu-manus, Manus,” has been fully investigated in the Observations on the Algonquyn Dialects of North America. Those observations are equally applicable in this place, for the previous Analysis establishes the remarkable fact that the African languages exhibit in this instance not only the same words, but the principal subordinate modifications of those words, which occur in the tongues of the other three continents.

Further, these modifications are completely traceable in the Negro dialects separately considered. They are also completely traceable in the dialects of South Africa separately considered. Moreover, it may be added, that these gradations of inflexion actually coexist in one single class of South African dialects: “Uhm-to, Muhn-to, Monuna,” are all found in the languages of the kindred tribes, the Koossas and Beetjuanas.

Words for “Man, Woman,” &c.—Class IV.

First Modification.

South America.—Abipones and Mokobis	Joalé, h. Aalo, f.
Negro-land	Alo, f.
Europe.—Latin Pronouns	Ille, Illa.
South Africa.—Madagascar	Lelay, m. Lahe, m.

Second Modification.

North Africa.—Egypt	Lomi, h.
Negro-land	Olummi, m.[181]
South Africa.—Madagascar	Olon, h. Oelun, h.
Asia.—Malays of Formosa	Aulon, h.
N. America.—Algonquyn dialects	Ahlaniah, h. Illaniah, h. Illenni, h. Lenno, m. Lennis, h.
Negro-land	Laniu, m. Lung, f.

Words for “Man, Woman,” &c.—Class V.

Europe.—Welsh, “Full of Spirits”	Nouv us.
Asia.—Hebrew. (Breath, Spirit, A Man)	N. ph. sh, h.
Negro-land	Nipa, h., Nippa, h. Nebeju, m., Enipa, h.
N. America.—Algonquyn dialects	Népiou, h., Napiou, h. Nabou, h., Len-nâpé, m.

Referring to the foregoing American words, Népio and Nabou, Du Ponceau observes, “Ces deux derniers semblent avoir quelque rapport avec Len-âpé.” “The last two seem to have some connexion with Len-âpé.” Lenâpé is plainly a compound of the two preceding roots, Lenno and Napiou. The nature of these compounds, which, as above stated, may be said to have escaped the observation of Du Ponceau, has been explained in the preceding remarks on “The Heavenly Bodies.” Len-âpé is a compound formed to distinguish the Male sex.