[167] The difference of opinion in question seems to arise from individual prepossessions with regard to the ulterior question whether or not the aboriginal roots of all languages must have been polysyllabic. For my own part, and for the reasons already given, I can see no presumption in favour of the view that primitive languages must all have presented the “polysinthetic genius.”
[168] Histoire des Langues Semitique, p. 138.
[169] Etymological Dictionary, p. 746.
[170] See Max Müller, Science of Thought, p. 332.
[171] Ibid., p. 404.
[172] Ethnologische Forschungen, ii., s. 73, et seq. He here quotes Varro to the effect that the roots of Latin amount to about a thousand.
[173] Language and the Study of Language, p. 256.
[174] Sayce, Introduction to the Science of Language, ii., p. 4.
[175] Geiger, Ursprung der Sprache, s. 16.
[176] Sayce, loc. cit., ii. p. 6.