[116] Wedgwood, Etymol. Dict.
[117] Nodier, p. 41. Even when the sound is no guide, different characteristics are chosen by different nations to furnish a name. The names “fledermaus,” “flittermouse,” are suggested like “chauve souris,” by the structure of the bat; νυκτερὶς and vespertilio by its habits; if the differentia of the animal be very marked, its name will probably be derived from it in all languages, as noctiluca, glow-worm, lucciolato, ver luisant, &c.; yet even then not in all, as Johannis-wurm. Compare again σεισιπυγὶς, motacilla, cutretta, wagtail, with Bachstelze, hoche-queue, &c. If the bird be rare, it is much more likely to have numerous names, because the observation of each casual observer as to its chief attribute is not liable to so much revision. Take as an instance the night-jar, which is also called fern-owl, churn-owl, goat-sucker, wheel-bird, dorhawk, &c. See, too, Garnett’s Essays, pp. 88, 89.
[118] “The physiognomy, however, of a group of languages remains unaffected by the divergency of their vocabularies; e.g. almost every word in the Ethiopic family of languages contains a liquid generally in connection with a mute as its most prominent and essential feature.”—R. G.
[119] It is represented as a punishment in some legends, as in the fragment of Abydenus, &c., quoted by Euseb. Præp. Ev. ix. 14. Joseph. Antt. I. iv. 3. Plat. Polit. p. 272. Plin. vii. 1. xi. 112. But see Abbt’s Dissertation, “Confusionem linguarum non fuisse pœnam humano generi inflictam.” Hal. 1758.
[120] καὶ περιΐστα δὲ κατ’ ὄλιγον εἰς τυραννίδα τὰ πράγματα.—Joseph. Antt. I. iv. 2.
[121] 1 Cor. xiii. 8; Rev. vii. 9; Zach. viii. 23; Zeph. 9, &c.
[122] “Trotz alle dem,” is Freiligrath’s rendering of Burns’ “for a’ that.” I may remark here, that many of these instances are borrowed from Mr. Wedgwood’s Etymol. Dictionary, of which the first part only is yet printed. This work, although not free from errors, has the merit of having put forward some very clear and original views on this subject.
[123] Abridged from Mr. Wedgwood in the Phil. Transac. ii. 118.
[124] Latham on the Engl. Lang. 4th ed. p. xlix. Heyse, System, s. 73 fg.
[125] Traces of this feeling are found in Quinctilian (Instt. Orr. i. 5). “Sed minime nobis concessa est ὀνοματοποιία.... Jamne hinnire et balare fortiter diceremus, nisi judicio vetustatis niterentur?” See, too, viii. 6. Other passages quoted by Lersch (Sprachphilosophie, i. s. 130), are Varro (L. L. v. p. 69); Diomed. iii. p. 453, &c. Plato calls it ἀπείκασμα, and the Grammarians ἀπὸ ἤχους.