[108] On the lack of abstract and general terms in savage languages, see also Ginneken LP 108 and the works there quoted.

[109] Of course, if instead of look upon and outcome we had taken the corresponding terms of Latin root, consider and result, the metaphors would have been still more dead to the natural linguistic instinct.

[110] From the experience I had with my previous book, Progress, from which this chapter has, with some alterations and amplifications, passed into this volume, I feel impelled here to warn those critics who do me the honour to mention my theory of the origin of language, not to look upon it as if it were contained simply in my remarks on primitive love-songs, etc., and as if it were based on a priori considerations, like the older speculative theories. What I may perhaps claim as my original contribution to the solution of this question is the inductive method based on the three sources of information indicated on p. [416], and especially on the ‘backward’ consideration of the history of language. Some critics think they have demolished my view by simply representing it as a romantic dream of a primitive golden age in which men had no occupation but courting and singing. I have never believed in a far-off golden age, but rather incline to believe in a progressive movement from a very raw and barbarous age to something better, though it must be said that our own age, with its national wars, world wars and class wars, makes one sometimes ashamed to think how little progress our so-called civilization has made. But primitive ages were probably still worse, and the only thing I have felt bold enough to maintain is that in those days there were some moments consecrated to youthful hilarity, and that this gave rise, among other merriment, to vocal play of such a character as closely to resemble what we may infer from the known facts of linguistic history to have been a stage of language earlier than any of those accessible to us. There is no ‘romanticism’ (in a bad sense) in such a theory, and it can only be refuted by showing that the view of language and its development on which it is based is erroneous from beginning to end.

[Transcriber's Note]

On p. 373, "ź" is used to represent a letter "z" with a vertical line diacritic.

The following apparent errors have been corrected:

Inconsistent or old spelling, punctuation and hyphenation have otherwise been retained as printed.

The following possible errors have been left as printed: