This is a fair measure of the glossarial separation between contiguous languages as determined by what may be called the simple comparison (inspection or collation) of vocabularies; and it is by no means strange that, such being the case, writers should have regarded it with something approaching to surprise.

I am not aware that much has been done to bring down this feeling to a reasonable limit; a result which might easily have been brought about by one or both of the two following processes.

a. The value of the mere simple comparison of vocabularies may be tested by seeing what would be the result of placing side by side two languages known to be undoubtedly, but also known to be not very closely, allied. Such, for instance, might be the German and Greek, the Latin and Russian, the English and Lithuanic, all of which are Indo-European, and all of which, when placed in simple juxtaposition, by no means show themselves in any very palpable manner as such. This may be seen from the following table, which is far from being the first which the present writer has compiled; and that with the special view of ascertaining by induction (and not a priori) the value of comparisons of the kind in question.

ENGLISH.LATIN.CAYUSE.WILLAMET.
Manhomoyúantatshánggo.
Womanmulierpintkhlkaiupummaike.
Fatherpaterpíntetsima.
Mothermaterpenínsinni.
Sonfiliuswáitawakhai.
Daughterfiliawáitshitapinna.
Headcaputtalshtamutkhl.
Haircrinistkhlokomotamutkhl.
Earauristakshpokta.
Eyeoculushăkamushkwalakkh.
Nosenasuspitkhlokenunan.
Mouthossumkhakshmandi.
Tonguelinguapushmamtshutkhl.
Toothdenstenifpúti.
Handmanusepiptlakwa.
Fingersdigitiépipalakwa.
Feetpedestishpuüf.
Bloodsanguistiweushméënu.
Housedomusnishthammeih (—fire.)
Axesecurisyengthokinshkhueshtan.
Knifecultershekthekemistāh.
Shoescalceitaitkhloulumóf.
Skycœlumadjalawaiaamiank.
Sunsolhuewishampiun.
Moonlunakatkhltóputap.
Starstellatkhlitkhlishatuininank.
Daydieseweiuumpium.
Nightnoxftalpatitshikim.
Fireignistetshhamméih.
Wateraquaiskkainishmampuka.
Rainpluviatishtkitkhlmiting ukwíï.
Snownixpoinukpeik.
Earthterralingshhunkhalop.
Riverrivuslushmimantsal.
Stonelapisápitandi.
Treearborlauikhuntawatkhl.
Meatcaropithuliumhók.
Dogcanisnáapangmantal.
Beavercastorpiekaakaipi.
Bearursalimeakshalotufan.
Birdavistianiyiwapōkalfuna.
Greatmagnusyaúmuapul.
Coldfrigidusshungapángkafiti.
Whitealbustkhlaktkhlákokommóu.
Blacknigershkupshkúpumaieum.
Redruberlakaitlakaitutshal.
Iegoiningtshii.
Thoutunikimáha.
Heillenipkak.
Oneunusnawáän.
Twoduoleplinkéën.
Threetresmatninupshín.
Fourquatuorpipingtáope.
Fivequinquetáwithúwan.
Sixsexnóinátaf.
Sevenseptemnóilippshinimua.
Eightoctonōimátkēëmúa.
Ninenovemtanáuiaishimshinwanwaha.
Tendecemningitelptínifia.

Again—the process may be modified by taking two languages known to be closely allied, and asking how far a simple comparison of their vocabularies exhibits that alliance on the surface, e.g.:—

ENGLISH.BEAVER INDIAN.CHIPPEWYAN.
Oneit la dayittla hē.
Twoonk shay daynank hay.
Threeta dayta he.
Fourdini daydunk he.
Fivetlat zoon e de aysa soot la he.
Sixint zud hal'goot ha hé.
Seventa e wayt zaytluz ud dunk he.
Eightetzud een tayl'goot dung he.
Ninekala gay ne ad ayitla ud ha.
Tenkay nay dayhona.
A mantaz eudinnay you.
A womaniay quaytzay quay.
A girlid az ooed dinna gay.
A boytaz yuz édinnay yoo azay
Interpreternao day aydinnay tee ghaltay.
Tradermeeoo tayma kad ray
Moose-deertlay tchin taytunnehee hee.
Rein-deermay tzeeed hun.
Beavertzatza.
Dogtleetlee.
Rabbitkaghkagh.
Bearzuszus.
Wolftshee o naynoo nee yay.
Foxe yay thaynag hee dthay.
I huntna o zednaz uz ay.
Thou huntestnodzednan ul zay.
He huntsnazin zednal zay.
We huntnaze zedeona il zay.
Ye huntnazin zedeonal zin al day.
They huntowadié tzedna hal zay.
I killuz éay ghazil tir.
Thou killestuz éay ghanzil hil tir.
He killsud zeay ghatla in il tir.
We killuz ugho-ghay uzintla in il dir.
Ye killuz ugho ghay uzinzee ool dir.
They killutza ghay aghotla in il tay.
I laughutzay rad lotshnaz-lo.
Thou laughestutlint lotshna-id-lo.
He laughsutroz lotshnad-lo.
We laughutlo wod lotshaytlo a-ee-el-tee.
Ye laughtlodzud udzeetlo gha ee-ol-tee.
They laughtlodzud udzeetlo-gha-ee-el-tee.
I trademata oz laynaz nee.
Thou tradestmata an eelayna el nee.
He tradeskita od eenlana el nee.
We trademata ad oz id lana-da-ell nee.
Ye trademata a la ozayona ool nee.
They tradema ta a leeay laeghon a el nee.

Now there is no doubt here as to the difference appearing to be considerable. Yet the two languages—or, rather, dialects—are mutually intelligible.

b. The method of indirect comparison—although by some considered illegitimate—supplies us with another means of checking the tendency towards over-valuing glossarial differences as tested by simple collation; since, a language of which the isolation goes beyond a certain point must not only be unlike any single given language, but unlike other languages altogether. Now, taking the Adahi as an illustration, the following table shows its miscellaneous or general affinities.

Now the Adahi is so far from being a singular instance of an American language having miscellaneous affinities that there are not half-a-dozen vocabularies for either North or South America for which I have not similar lists.[138]