Chapter VII.The Haytian or Taino Languagerestored, with fragments of the dialects of Cuba, Jamaica, Lucayas, Boriquen, Eyeri, Cairi, Araguas. Grammar, roots, and comparative Vocabularies.At an early period I endeavored to collect all the scattered fragments of this language, in order to elucidate and support the historical traditions. This labour concluded in 1828, has given very important results, which shall now be explained. At the time of the Spanish discovery and conquest, many Spaniards spoke that language; many slaves were sent to Spain; but philology was not then attended to. Therefore we have no dictionary nor grammar of this language. Meantime the very nation has disappeared, destroyed by Spanish cruelty.However, nearly all the early travellers and writers on the West Indies have preserved by chance, some words of it. Columbus himself mentions some of them in his original journal. Roman and Dangleria explain many of the quoted words. Others are scattered in Acosta, Gomara, Oviedo, Garcia, Diaz, Las-Casas &c.; which had never been all collected even by Vater nor Edwards. Gili alone undertook to give a long list of Haytian words; but three-fourths[pg 216]of them are geographical or historical names unexplained and unavailable.I have used, compared and brought together all these loose materials, and thus succeeded in restoring about 234 words of this language, a list ample enough for all historical purposes. This contains besides 50 words of the Eyeri and eastern dialects, with 38 of the Cuban or western dialects, useful to show the variations of dialects. We know that from Bahama to Cuba, Boriquen to Jamaica, a same language was spoken in various slight dialects, but understood by all: Columbus himself says so.But this language, which had also partly spread in Florida, and in South America, has the appearance of being a mixt speech. This appears from the many synonyms, the deviations of dialects, and the double forms, or relative position of words. In the small eastern islands theEyerisorCabreshad been destroyed by the Caribs, who preserved the women, and these preserved their own language, mixt with some Carib words and taught it to their daughters; so as to produce a double language, that of the women being quite peculiar. This singular fact well authenticated, will enable us to presume a similar conquest and custom, wherever we shall meet in America, with a peculiar female idiom.The many nations or tribes mentioned in the traditions, which had gradually amalgamated; and the settlement in Cuba and[pg 217]Hayti of the Mayas, will account for this mixture of synonyms. But the existence also of many homonyms, leads us to a former more simple speech, probably monosyllabic and quite regular as the oriental idioms, to which it is most akin.From the primitive languages of North Africa and South Europe, it had received this regular position of ideas; but by the mixture with the Maya and Mexican nations using the inverse form, it borrowed that new form. The same happened in Europe to the Celtic and Oriental tribes, who received in Greece and Italy the inverse form of speech from the Scythian, Illyrian and Gothic tribes.The comparative examination of the Haytian and dialects, was pursued by me,upon all the languages of the earth, as I was determined that one American nation at least, should be traced philologically to its real origin. Thus I found many thousand analogies of it, out of which I have used about 1500 in the annals, notes and vocabularies. A single American language does then contain more comparative analogies in about 200 words than all those collected by Vater and Malte, out of 400 American languages; and this fact upsets all the illusions, theories and false views, based thereon by them, Humboldt and others.But this comprehensive labour teaches[pg 218]other facts, by far more important and available. 1. That American languages have analogies with all the languages of the earth, 2. That they have similar analogies with each other, 3. That it is only the superior number of analogies that may indicate a filial or parental connection out of America, 4. And that also similar greatest number of analogies, indicate the parental relations of American languages and nations between themselves, 5. Lastly that unless a language and nation is comparedwith all the others, we can never ascertain accurately, nor trace its real parentage philologically.This consequence is obvious, although it will not please the lazy or timid philologists and historians. It shall be further pursued and elucidated hereafter; but now let us apply these rules to the Haytian.I could give 400 comparisons. Let us select a few.1.Ainu of Chokaislands between Japan andKamchatka, 22 comparable words 4 alike in Haytian—Boat, house, no, drink—Mutual affinity only 21 per cent. No parentage.2.Singalaof Ceylon, 50 comparable words, 16 analogies, with Haytian—Mutual affinity 32 per cent. Very distant parentage.3.Guanchof the Canary island nearest to Hayti in the east, 32 comparable words, 14 akin. Mutual affinity 42 per cent. Distant connection.[pg 219]4.Mandara.Handsome black nation in the centre of Africa, 12 words comparable, 6 akin,—one, water, man, king, mother, river—Mutual analogies 50 per cent. Nearer connection than with the Guanch, or separation less remote.5.Pelagic, or ancestors of the Greeks and Italians. Comparable words in all the ancient and modern dialects nearly 200, whereof about 160 offer more or less analogies!—Mutual affinity 80 per cent! Complete and near connection.Therefore the Haytians are of Pelagic origin!No other group of languages offer anything like as many. The nearest after, are the Atlantic L. Lybian, Egyptian, Bask, Sanscrit, Persian &c. who are all connected with the Pelagic nations. The analogies with the Tartars, Chinese, Polynesians &c., are all less in amount.In America the Haytian affinities are of course the greatest with theAruacnations of South America; who are their brothers, and extend to the Taos of Tucuman and the Tinguis or true Patagons of Pigafetta. Yet they may have been divided long ago, or ever since their American settlement: since out of two selected for comparisons, after the vocabularies, theAraguashad only 70 per cent of analogy, and theCairionly 56 per cent. The nearest affinities after these, were with theApalachis,Nachez,Cadoz,Huastecas,Mexican,Tarasca,Maya,Chontal&c. of N. America,[pg 220]and theDarien,Betoy,Peruvian,Chili,Mbaya &c.of South America.Those with the nations of N. America of Asiatic origin, and the nations of South America of African origin, such as the Linapis and Guaranis, were much reduced. See the compared vocabularies.The Haytian shall now become therefore one of the touchstones of other American languages, to verify their eastern or Atlantic origin, and above all the connection with the American Pelagians.Let us now consider the forms and peculiarities of this interesting language, and first its phonology.It appears to have all the sounds of the Italic languages; but it lacks the Greek TH, PS, the Cairi hadTH. It has been written by Spaniards, and their simple orthography applies well to it; but leaves a doubt whether it had the Celtic and French û (unless it be y) Hebrew and English SH, lacking in Spanish. Their CH is as in English, and the French TCH.—It had the gutural X of the Greeks and Spanish, written X and J. Also the Spanish LL, GN or Ñ, and TZ.It had few P being changed to B; few F often changed to V; few L changing to Y; few S changed to Z; few D changed to T.—It had no nasal sounds as in Italian, AN becomingAna&c. Many dipthongs AO, OEI, IA, AI, UA, AU, EI &c. as in Italian, each vowel sounded. This made[pg 221]the language soft, pleasing and musical as in Italian and Polynesian. Dangleria says the accent was always on the last syllable, as in French.On the grammar of it, nothing has been written; what Vater has said is quite loose and inaccurate. We have not even theLord's Prayerin it, so as to serve as a model. Our only guides are a few translated phrases of Roman and Dangleria; but they enable us to perceive the main features of it.One of the chief was the great use of articles, as in Italian; but with a peculiar one GUA, put commonly before, but sometimes after the nouns. It was a demonstrative article, meaningsuch, orthis,that,these,those; but never changing and common as ourThe: while this indicativeThewas declinable or changing as in the Italic languages, and extremely various, although always prefixed, expressed by I, HI, HIN, NI, N', ZI, LI &c. A third kind of article was O, which when added, appears to have been comparative, and to meanAkin,Like,Similar, or our English AS. The relative articleOfwas A prefixed.Examples of Articles.Gua-yavaThis pear.Gua-maThis great, or lord.Gua-tiaosThose brothers.Ma-za-guaGreat plain such.Bala-guaSea such, the ocean.I-GuanaThe guana or lizard.[pg 222]Ni-tainoThe good or noble.Mi-tainoMy noble lord.Li-aniThe wife. Eyeri dialect.Hin-GuailiThe such-sons, the children.Ziba oStone like, stony.A-naOf bloom, a flower.A-boriaOf labor, a vassal.A-macaOf wood, a bed.A-maOf great, water.A-reitiOf rite, song.These articles formed probably the declinations of nouns, as we do not perceive a different desinense. This form was more like the Celtic, Oscan, and Greek, than the Latin.The feminine was formed nearly as in Italian, O changing to A.—Taino,Taina, Lord, Lady—Hito,Hita, Man, Woman; but there must have been irregularities difficult to trace: as some words masculine end in I, S, N, U, L. Perhaps some were neutral.Some words are formed by duplication, implying an amplitude, as in the Oriental language.—Bilife,Bibimother and wife in dialects.Bahabitation,Baba,VavaFather.Magreat,Mamamother.Xaucake,Xauxaubread or large cake.The plurals are chiefly in I as in Italian, or in S as in Spanish; but there are some irregular plurals.Taino,Taini, Lord, Lords.Hito,hitosman, men.EL son. ILI sons.Zemiangel,Zemesangels.[pg 223]The Eyeri dialect forms many plurals in UM.Eyeriman,Eyeriummen;Inaruwoman,Inayumwomen.The adjectives are put before or after the substantives, blending the two forms; and the prevailing form in compound words is doubtful, perhaps the regular as in Latin.Examples of regular position.Hay-tiLand-high.Ana-caonaFlower (of) gold.Buhui-tihuPriest high or eminent.Examples of inverse positions.Bo-hitoOld man or priest.Jaya-elEarth-son.N'abor-itasThe working men.The adjectives are chiefly formed from nouns, and often by a simple O added, thusZibastone,Zibaostony,Zibayomount.Tureiheaven,Tureiguaheavenly or heaven-like.Duhoswealth,Duihziwealthy or wealth-is.The superlatives are commonly formed by duplication.Uaold,Uauavery old.Cofruitful,Cocovery fruitful, the coco nut.Or else by the affixMawhich amplifies every thing.The pronouns appear very simple.MI, M' first person for I, me, my, mine; butourisAhia?TI, T' Second person for thee, thou, thy, thine.[pg 224]LI, L' Third person for he, she, his, her.NI, N' Common likeItor ratherOnof the French.How their plurals are formed, is doubtful; but perhaps the inflexions alone formed them. These pronouns are pure Italian! or rather primitive. They were often dispensed with as in Italian.Of the verbs we know little or nothing. By a few examples of the verbto be, it was quite irregular as with us.EiTo be—Teibe thou—Beibeing.Beiraa being—DachaI am.Elhe is—Ziit is, this is.In theseEiappears the root, derives fromEil, and was then similar toElson, asZitoIzieyes.This verb joined to others was added to words.Guarocoelwe know he is, may be analyzedGua-roco-elsuch-know-he-is.We have an example of negative verbs inMacabucaI do not care, which isMacabucanot-care, or never-mind; in Frenchn'importe, in Italiannon curo.Of the syntax we may form an idea by the few preserved phrases; which I have analyzed as follow, and compared with the Italian.1.Teitocathou be quiet.TacituItalian.tochetamuch.molto.zinatoangry.irato.Guame-chynathis great God.gran-Nume.[pg 225]2.Gua-ibbathat go.VaiIt.zinatoangry.irato.macabucanot care.non curo.3.DiosSpanish God.DioIt.AboriaServant.Servo.dachaI am.Sono.This idiom or position of words is perfect in Italian which admits of many transpositions; but in English syntax and idiom these phrases mean1. Be quiet, God will be very angry.2. Begone, I do not care if he is angry.3. I am the servant of the Spanish God.The Haytian numbers have not been transmitted to us, and I could only collect the following secondary numbers—Atafirst,Bemsecond,Abemthird: which however are primitive and indicate a binary numeration: although the language had probably the decimals.By a careful analytical process I have been able to decompose the compound words, and even reach their monosyllabic roots. All the long words can be thus analyzed, and show that this compound form only arises, as usual in American languages, by the blunders of the Spanish writers, who wrote long words instead of short ones; blending articles and affixes. The Haytian thus analyzed and reduced is a very simple language, approximating to the primitive and oriental forms, wherein short monosyllables of generic import,[pg 226]formed the base of the speech, and became modified by union and relative position.By these means the following essential roots of the language have been collected, and are given to help future similar investigations of American languages.Examples of composition.CazabiBread.Ca-za-bisoil-fruitful-life.ManatiSea cow.Ma-na-tigreat-thing-eminent.TureiHeaven.T'ur-eiThou-light-be.FurzidiCloudy.Fur-zi-digloom-it-is-day. (or now)AreitiSong, rites.A-rei-tiof reality eminent.NanichiSoul.Na-ni-chithing the active.MaroyoMoon.Ma-ro-yogreat lovely.74 essential monosyllabic roots of this language or genera of ideas.A, Of, as, like.Ac, Holy, sacred, religious.Am, Water, root, plenty.An, Male thing, man, people, folk.At, One, alone, first, unic.Ba, Father, ancestor, dwelling.Bal, Raft, floating, wave, sea.Ban, Wind, air.Bao, Music, lyre, instrument.Bat, Beating, game, play, ball.Bem, Second, double, twin, two, next.Bi, Life, wife, mother.Boa, Habitation, house.Bor, Labor, work, vassal, service.[pg 227]Ca, Land, soil, earth, dry.Can, Fish, swift, bad.Chi, Active, soul, work, wine, lively.Chon, Hot, dry, fever.Chuc, Take, grasp, hold.Co, Soil, fruitful, fountain, dog, thread.Coai, Joy, delight, happiness.Cu, Chapel, altar, hearth, fire, all.Cus, Worm, creeping.Di, Day, now, actual.Duh, Wealth, riches, treasures, property.Ei, Existence, to be.El, Son, tribe, child, he is.Fur, Gloom, dark, cloud, fury.Gia, Fowl, bird, flying.Gua, Such, this, that, these, those.Guey, Shell, hollow, closed.Ha, Yes, sure, certain.Hi, The, indication, here.Hio, House, hut, cottage.Huib, Head.I, The, sign of life and action.Io, God, the living-type.It, Man, male.In, Woman, female.Iz, Eyes, looks.L', LI, He, she, they, his &c., oft. changed to Y.MA, Great, big, larger, increase, mothers, water &c.Mas, Food, to eat &c.MI, M', Me, my, mine.Na, Thing, bloom, lizard.Ni, N', The thing, my thing.[pg 228]No,Noa, Boat, navigation, noble.O, Like, similar, akin.Ob, Copper, yellow.Op, Dead.Pu, Wood, purple.Ra,Rei, Real, rite, evidence, offspring.Ris, Red.Ro, Love, belove.Ri, Male, people, men.Sor, West, Eve, late, far.Toa, Breast, milk.Ti, High, lofty, eminent.Tab, Tube, pipe.Tai,Tiao, Brother, friend, good.Toc, Rest, peace, quiet.Ua, Old, ancient.Ur, Light.Ut, Rabbits.Va, Cave, hollow, father, origin.Var, War, warrior.Xau, Cake, baked, bread.Xi, Strong, pungent, pepper.Yar, End, tail, vent.Yu, White, bright.Za, Grass, fruitful, plenty.Zem, Angels, deities, idols.Zib, Stone, rock.Zic, King, ruler.Such was the Haytian language, once spoken by several millions, and a western branch of the Pelagic stock; that derived from the AsiaticPelegsandPalis, once peopled nearly all the shores of the Mediterranean 3 or 4000 years ago.[pg 229]The following comparative vocabularies will prove this fact. They have not been made to support it; but to find the truth, and the probable ancestors of this American nation, by seeking them all over the earth. If this nation one of the nearest to the eastern hemisphere, is thus found of such remote antiquity, those further removed and inland may well be deemed equally old, or rather older still: which their own history shall disclose.Out of the 234 words collected; many it will be perceived, are hardly comparable; being names of peculiar animals and plants. About 200 offer comparisons with our languages well known. It must be remarked that the Spaniards borrowed many Haytian words, which have since been introduced into Spanish and other European languages. Humboldt has given a list of them. Those admitted in the English language now are, hurricane, canoe, keys or islands, tobacco, pimento, yam, tomato, cassava, savana, mahogany, patatas, mangrove, indigo, copal, maize, bananas, parrot, guano, coco, cacao, guava, hammock or hanging bed &c.; which must not be compared, since they have been borrowed by us from the Haytian. The Spaniards have besides, chichas, balza, Cazic spelt cacique, aguti, manati, maguey, tiburo, guayac, macana, bejuco, nigua, tuna, aji, zeyba, &c.[pg 230]Yet several of those words may be usefully compared in ancient languages often extinct, previous to the late connection with America. Thus we find analogies for maize, canoe, cazic, cayman, yam, chicha, macana, manati &c., in many: indicating very ancient connections.—Even the words manati, hurricane, canoe, nigua &c., have affinities in modern Italic languages, not derived from Hayti.ComparativeTainoVocabulary of Hayti.Authorities,—R. Roman—C. Columbus—D. Dangleria,—Ac. Acosta,—Her. Herrera,—M. Munoz,—L. Las-Casas,—O. Oviedo,—G. Garcia or Gili,—E. Edwards,—H. Humboldt,—V. Vater,—A. all or nearly all of them,—Laet,—Diaz,—St. Mery,—Ey. Eyeri Dialect.All or wholeQuisR. D. Xus O.
Chapter VII.The Haytian or Taino Languagerestored, with fragments of the dialects of Cuba, Jamaica, Lucayas, Boriquen, Eyeri, Cairi, Araguas. Grammar, roots, and comparative Vocabularies.At an early period I endeavored to collect all the scattered fragments of this language, in order to elucidate and support the historical traditions. This labour concluded in 1828, has given very important results, which shall now be explained. At the time of the Spanish discovery and conquest, many Spaniards spoke that language; many slaves were sent to Spain; but philology was not then attended to. Therefore we have no dictionary nor grammar of this language. Meantime the very nation has disappeared, destroyed by Spanish cruelty.However, nearly all the early travellers and writers on the West Indies have preserved by chance, some words of it. Columbus himself mentions some of them in his original journal. Roman and Dangleria explain many of the quoted words. Others are scattered in Acosta, Gomara, Oviedo, Garcia, Diaz, Las-Casas &c.; which had never been all collected even by Vater nor Edwards. Gili alone undertook to give a long list of Haytian words; but three-fourths[pg 216]of them are geographical or historical names unexplained and unavailable.I have used, compared and brought together all these loose materials, and thus succeeded in restoring about 234 words of this language, a list ample enough for all historical purposes. This contains besides 50 words of the Eyeri and eastern dialects, with 38 of the Cuban or western dialects, useful to show the variations of dialects. We know that from Bahama to Cuba, Boriquen to Jamaica, a same language was spoken in various slight dialects, but understood by all: Columbus himself says so.But this language, which had also partly spread in Florida, and in South America, has the appearance of being a mixt speech. This appears from the many synonyms, the deviations of dialects, and the double forms, or relative position of words. In the small eastern islands theEyerisorCabreshad been destroyed by the Caribs, who preserved the women, and these preserved their own language, mixt with some Carib words and taught it to their daughters; so as to produce a double language, that of the women being quite peculiar. This singular fact well authenticated, will enable us to presume a similar conquest and custom, wherever we shall meet in America, with a peculiar female idiom.The many nations or tribes mentioned in the traditions, which had gradually amalgamated; and the settlement in Cuba and[pg 217]Hayti of the Mayas, will account for this mixture of synonyms. But the existence also of many homonyms, leads us to a former more simple speech, probably monosyllabic and quite regular as the oriental idioms, to which it is most akin.From the primitive languages of North Africa and South Europe, it had received this regular position of ideas; but by the mixture with the Maya and Mexican nations using the inverse form, it borrowed that new form. The same happened in Europe to the Celtic and Oriental tribes, who received in Greece and Italy the inverse form of speech from the Scythian, Illyrian and Gothic tribes.The comparative examination of the Haytian and dialects, was pursued by me,upon all the languages of the earth, as I was determined that one American nation at least, should be traced philologically to its real origin. Thus I found many thousand analogies of it, out of which I have used about 1500 in the annals, notes and vocabularies. A single American language does then contain more comparative analogies in about 200 words than all those collected by Vater and Malte, out of 400 American languages; and this fact upsets all the illusions, theories and false views, based thereon by them, Humboldt and others.But this comprehensive labour teaches[pg 218]other facts, by far more important and available. 1. That American languages have analogies with all the languages of the earth, 2. That they have similar analogies with each other, 3. That it is only the superior number of analogies that may indicate a filial or parental connection out of America, 4. And that also similar greatest number of analogies, indicate the parental relations of American languages and nations between themselves, 5. Lastly that unless a language and nation is comparedwith all the others, we can never ascertain accurately, nor trace its real parentage philologically.This consequence is obvious, although it will not please the lazy or timid philologists and historians. It shall be further pursued and elucidated hereafter; but now let us apply these rules to the Haytian.I could give 400 comparisons. Let us select a few.1.Ainu of Chokaislands between Japan andKamchatka, 22 comparable words 4 alike in Haytian—Boat, house, no, drink—Mutual affinity only 21 per cent. No parentage.2.Singalaof Ceylon, 50 comparable words, 16 analogies, with Haytian—Mutual affinity 32 per cent. Very distant parentage.3.Guanchof the Canary island nearest to Hayti in the east, 32 comparable words, 14 akin. Mutual affinity 42 per cent. Distant connection.[pg 219]4.Mandara.Handsome black nation in the centre of Africa, 12 words comparable, 6 akin,—one, water, man, king, mother, river—Mutual analogies 50 per cent. Nearer connection than with the Guanch, or separation less remote.5.Pelagic, or ancestors of the Greeks and Italians. Comparable words in all the ancient and modern dialects nearly 200, whereof about 160 offer more or less analogies!—Mutual affinity 80 per cent! Complete and near connection.Therefore the Haytians are of Pelagic origin!No other group of languages offer anything like as many. The nearest after, are the Atlantic L. Lybian, Egyptian, Bask, Sanscrit, Persian &c. who are all connected with the Pelagic nations. The analogies with the Tartars, Chinese, Polynesians &c., are all less in amount.In America the Haytian affinities are of course the greatest with theAruacnations of South America; who are their brothers, and extend to the Taos of Tucuman and the Tinguis or true Patagons of Pigafetta. Yet they may have been divided long ago, or ever since their American settlement: since out of two selected for comparisons, after the vocabularies, theAraguashad only 70 per cent of analogy, and theCairionly 56 per cent. The nearest affinities after these, were with theApalachis,Nachez,Cadoz,Huastecas,Mexican,Tarasca,Maya,Chontal&c. of N. America,[pg 220]and theDarien,Betoy,Peruvian,Chili,Mbaya &c.of South America.Those with the nations of N. America of Asiatic origin, and the nations of South America of African origin, such as the Linapis and Guaranis, were much reduced. See the compared vocabularies.The Haytian shall now become therefore one of the touchstones of other American languages, to verify their eastern or Atlantic origin, and above all the connection with the American Pelagians.Let us now consider the forms and peculiarities of this interesting language, and first its phonology.It appears to have all the sounds of the Italic languages; but it lacks the Greek TH, PS, the Cairi hadTH. It has been written by Spaniards, and their simple orthography applies well to it; but leaves a doubt whether it had the Celtic and French û (unless it be y) Hebrew and English SH, lacking in Spanish. Their CH is as in English, and the French TCH.—It had the gutural X of the Greeks and Spanish, written X and J. Also the Spanish LL, GN or Ñ, and TZ.It had few P being changed to B; few F often changed to V; few L changing to Y; few S changed to Z; few D changed to T.—It had no nasal sounds as in Italian, AN becomingAna&c. Many dipthongs AO, OEI, IA, AI, UA, AU, EI &c. as in Italian, each vowel sounded. This made[pg 221]the language soft, pleasing and musical as in Italian and Polynesian. Dangleria says the accent was always on the last syllable, as in French.On the grammar of it, nothing has been written; what Vater has said is quite loose and inaccurate. We have not even theLord's Prayerin it, so as to serve as a model. Our only guides are a few translated phrases of Roman and Dangleria; but they enable us to perceive the main features of it.One of the chief was the great use of articles, as in Italian; but with a peculiar one GUA, put commonly before, but sometimes after the nouns. It was a demonstrative article, meaningsuch, orthis,that,these,those; but never changing and common as ourThe: while this indicativeThewas declinable or changing as in the Italic languages, and extremely various, although always prefixed, expressed by I, HI, HIN, NI, N', ZI, LI &c. A third kind of article was O, which when added, appears to have been comparative, and to meanAkin,Like,Similar, or our English AS. The relative articleOfwas A prefixed.Examples of Articles.Gua-yavaThis pear.Gua-maThis great, or lord.Gua-tiaosThose brothers.Ma-za-guaGreat plain such.Bala-guaSea such, the ocean.I-GuanaThe guana or lizard.[pg 222]Ni-tainoThe good or noble.Mi-tainoMy noble lord.Li-aniThe wife. Eyeri dialect.Hin-GuailiThe such-sons, the children.Ziba oStone like, stony.A-naOf bloom, a flower.A-boriaOf labor, a vassal.A-macaOf wood, a bed.A-maOf great, water.A-reitiOf rite, song.These articles formed probably the declinations of nouns, as we do not perceive a different desinense. This form was more like the Celtic, Oscan, and Greek, than the Latin.The feminine was formed nearly as in Italian, O changing to A.—Taino,Taina, Lord, Lady—Hito,Hita, Man, Woman; but there must have been irregularities difficult to trace: as some words masculine end in I, S, N, U, L. Perhaps some were neutral.Some words are formed by duplication, implying an amplitude, as in the Oriental language.—Bilife,Bibimother and wife in dialects.Bahabitation,Baba,VavaFather.Magreat,Mamamother.Xaucake,Xauxaubread or large cake.The plurals are chiefly in I as in Italian, or in S as in Spanish; but there are some irregular plurals.Taino,Taini, Lord, Lords.Hito,hitosman, men.EL son. ILI sons.Zemiangel,Zemesangels.[pg 223]The Eyeri dialect forms many plurals in UM.Eyeriman,Eyeriummen;Inaruwoman,Inayumwomen.The adjectives are put before or after the substantives, blending the two forms; and the prevailing form in compound words is doubtful, perhaps the regular as in Latin.Examples of regular position.Hay-tiLand-high.Ana-caonaFlower (of) gold.Buhui-tihuPriest high or eminent.Examples of inverse positions.Bo-hitoOld man or priest.Jaya-elEarth-son.N'abor-itasThe working men.The adjectives are chiefly formed from nouns, and often by a simple O added, thusZibastone,Zibaostony,Zibayomount.Tureiheaven,Tureiguaheavenly or heaven-like.Duhoswealth,Duihziwealthy or wealth-is.The superlatives are commonly formed by duplication.Uaold,Uauavery old.Cofruitful,Cocovery fruitful, the coco nut.Or else by the affixMawhich amplifies every thing.The pronouns appear very simple.MI, M' first person for I, me, my, mine; butourisAhia?TI, T' Second person for thee, thou, thy, thine.[pg 224]LI, L' Third person for he, she, his, her.NI, N' Common likeItor ratherOnof the French.How their plurals are formed, is doubtful; but perhaps the inflexions alone formed them. These pronouns are pure Italian! or rather primitive. They were often dispensed with as in Italian.Of the verbs we know little or nothing. By a few examples of the verbto be, it was quite irregular as with us.EiTo be—Teibe thou—Beibeing.Beiraa being—DachaI am.Elhe is—Ziit is, this is.In theseEiappears the root, derives fromEil, and was then similar toElson, asZitoIzieyes.This verb joined to others was added to words.Guarocoelwe know he is, may be analyzedGua-roco-elsuch-know-he-is.We have an example of negative verbs inMacabucaI do not care, which isMacabucanot-care, or never-mind; in Frenchn'importe, in Italiannon curo.Of the syntax we may form an idea by the few preserved phrases; which I have analyzed as follow, and compared with the Italian.1.Teitocathou be quiet.TacituItalian.tochetamuch.molto.zinatoangry.irato.Guame-chynathis great God.gran-Nume.[pg 225]2.Gua-ibbathat go.VaiIt.zinatoangry.irato.macabucanot care.non curo.3.DiosSpanish God.DioIt.AboriaServant.Servo.dachaI am.Sono.This idiom or position of words is perfect in Italian which admits of many transpositions; but in English syntax and idiom these phrases mean1. Be quiet, God will be very angry.2. Begone, I do not care if he is angry.3. I am the servant of the Spanish God.The Haytian numbers have not been transmitted to us, and I could only collect the following secondary numbers—Atafirst,Bemsecond,Abemthird: which however are primitive and indicate a binary numeration: although the language had probably the decimals.By a careful analytical process I have been able to decompose the compound words, and even reach their monosyllabic roots. All the long words can be thus analyzed, and show that this compound form only arises, as usual in American languages, by the blunders of the Spanish writers, who wrote long words instead of short ones; blending articles and affixes. The Haytian thus analyzed and reduced is a very simple language, approximating to the primitive and oriental forms, wherein short monosyllables of generic import,[pg 226]formed the base of the speech, and became modified by union and relative position.By these means the following essential roots of the language have been collected, and are given to help future similar investigations of American languages.Examples of composition.CazabiBread.Ca-za-bisoil-fruitful-life.ManatiSea cow.Ma-na-tigreat-thing-eminent.TureiHeaven.T'ur-eiThou-light-be.FurzidiCloudy.Fur-zi-digloom-it-is-day. (or now)AreitiSong, rites.A-rei-tiof reality eminent.NanichiSoul.Na-ni-chithing the active.MaroyoMoon.Ma-ro-yogreat lovely.74 essential monosyllabic roots of this language or genera of ideas.A, Of, as, like.Ac, Holy, sacred, religious.Am, Water, root, plenty.An, Male thing, man, people, folk.At, One, alone, first, unic.Ba, Father, ancestor, dwelling.Bal, Raft, floating, wave, sea.Ban, Wind, air.Bao, Music, lyre, instrument.Bat, Beating, game, play, ball.Bem, Second, double, twin, two, next.Bi, Life, wife, mother.Boa, Habitation, house.Bor, Labor, work, vassal, service.[pg 227]Ca, Land, soil, earth, dry.Can, Fish, swift, bad.Chi, Active, soul, work, wine, lively.Chon, Hot, dry, fever.Chuc, Take, grasp, hold.Co, Soil, fruitful, fountain, dog, thread.Coai, Joy, delight, happiness.Cu, Chapel, altar, hearth, fire, all.Cus, Worm, creeping.Di, Day, now, actual.Duh, Wealth, riches, treasures, property.Ei, Existence, to be.El, Son, tribe, child, he is.Fur, Gloom, dark, cloud, fury.Gia, Fowl, bird, flying.Gua, Such, this, that, these, those.Guey, Shell, hollow, closed.Ha, Yes, sure, certain.Hi, The, indication, here.Hio, House, hut, cottage.Huib, Head.I, The, sign of life and action.Io, God, the living-type.It, Man, male.In, Woman, female.Iz, Eyes, looks.L', LI, He, she, they, his &c., oft. changed to Y.MA, Great, big, larger, increase, mothers, water &c.Mas, Food, to eat &c.MI, M', Me, my, mine.Na, Thing, bloom, lizard.Ni, N', The thing, my thing.[pg 228]No,Noa, Boat, navigation, noble.O, Like, similar, akin.Ob, Copper, yellow.Op, Dead.Pu, Wood, purple.Ra,Rei, Real, rite, evidence, offspring.Ris, Red.Ro, Love, belove.Ri, Male, people, men.Sor, West, Eve, late, far.Toa, Breast, milk.Ti, High, lofty, eminent.Tab, Tube, pipe.Tai,Tiao, Brother, friend, good.Toc, Rest, peace, quiet.Ua, Old, ancient.Ur, Light.Ut, Rabbits.Va, Cave, hollow, father, origin.Var, War, warrior.Xau, Cake, baked, bread.Xi, Strong, pungent, pepper.Yar, End, tail, vent.Yu, White, bright.Za, Grass, fruitful, plenty.Zem, Angels, deities, idols.Zib, Stone, rock.Zic, King, ruler.Such was the Haytian language, once spoken by several millions, and a western branch of the Pelagic stock; that derived from the AsiaticPelegsandPalis, once peopled nearly all the shores of the Mediterranean 3 or 4000 years ago.[pg 229]The following comparative vocabularies will prove this fact. They have not been made to support it; but to find the truth, and the probable ancestors of this American nation, by seeking them all over the earth. If this nation one of the nearest to the eastern hemisphere, is thus found of such remote antiquity, those further removed and inland may well be deemed equally old, or rather older still: which their own history shall disclose.Out of the 234 words collected; many it will be perceived, are hardly comparable; being names of peculiar animals and plants. About 200 offer comparisons with our languages well known. It must be remarked that the Spaniards borrowed many Haytian words, which have since been introduced into Spanish and other European languages. Humboldt has given a list of them. Those admitted in the English language now are, hurricane, canoe, keys or islands, tobacco, pimento, yam, tomato, cassava, savana, mahogany, patatas, mangrove, indigo, copal, maize, bananas, parrot, guano, coco, cacao, guava, hammock or hanging bed &c.; which must not be compared, since they have been borrowed by us from the Haytian. The Spaniards have besides, chichas, balza, Cazic spelt cacique, aguti, manati, maguey, tiburo, guayac, macana, bejuco, nigua, tuna, aji, zeyba, &c.[pg 230]Yet several of those words may be usefully compared in ancient languages often extinct, previous to the late connection with America. Thus we find analogies for maize, canoe, cazic, cayman, yam, chicha, macana, manati &c., in many: indicating very ancient connections.—Even the words manati, hurricane, canoe, nigua &c., have affinities in modern Italic languages, not derived from Hayti.ComparativeTainoVocabulary of Hayti.Authorities,—R. Roman—C. Columbus—D. Dangleria,—Ac. Acosta,—Her. Herrera,—M. Munoz,—L. Las-Casas,—O. Oviedo,—G. Garcia or Gili,—E. Edwards,—H. Humboldt,—V. Vater,—A. all or nearly all of them,—Laet,—Diaz,—St. Mery,—Ey. Eyeri Dialect.All or wholeQuisR. D. Xus O.
Chapter VII.The Haytian or Taino Languagerestored, with fragments of the dialects of Cuba, Jamaica, Lucayas, Boriquen, Eyeri, Cairi, Araguas. Grammar, roots, and comparative Vocabularies.At an early period I endeavored to collect all the scattered fragments of this language, in order to elucidate and support the historical traditions. This labour concluded in 1828, has given very important results, which shall now be explained. At the time of the Spanish discovery and conquest, many Spaniards spoke that language; many slaves were sent to Spain; but philology was not then attended to. Therefore we have no dictionary nor grammar of this language. Meantime the very nation has disappeared, destroyed by Spanish cruelty.However, nearly all the early travellers and writers on the West Indies have preserved by chance, some words of it. Columbus himself mentions some of them in his original journal. Roman and Dangleria explain many of the quoted words. Others are scattered in Acosta, Gomara, Oviedo, Garcia, Diaz, Las-Casas &c.; which had never been all collected even by Vater nor Edwards. Gili alone undertook to give a long list of Haytian words; but three-fourths[pg 216]of them are geographical or historical names unexplained and unavailable.I have used, compared and brought together all these loose materials, and thus succeeded in restoring about 234 words of this language, a list ample enough for all historical purposes. This contains besides 50 words of the Eyeri and eastern dialects, with 38 of the Cuban or western dialects, useful to show the variations of dialects. We know that from Bahama to Cuba, Boriquen to Jamaica, a same language was spoken in various slight dialects, but understood by all: Columbus himself says so.But this language, which had also partly spread in Florida, and in South America, has the appearance of being a mixt speech. This appears from the many synonyms, the deviations of dialects, and the double forms, or relative position of words. In the small eastern islands theEyerisorCabreshad been destroyed by the Caribs, who preserved the women, and these preserved their own language, mixt with some Carib words and taught it to their daughters; so as to produce a double language, that of the women being quite peculiar. This singular fact well authenticated, will enable us to presume a similar conquest and custom, wherever we shall meet in America, with a peculiar female idiom.The many nations or tribes mentioned in the traditions, which had gradually amalgamated; and the settlement in Cuba and[pg 217]Hayti of the Mayas, will account for this mixture of synonyms. But the existence also of many homonyms, leads us to a former more simple speech, probably monosyllabic and quite regular as the oriental idioms, to which it is most akin.From the primitive languages of North Africa and South Europe, it had received this regular position of ideas; but by the mixture with the Maya and Mexican nations using the inverse form, it borrowed that new form. The same happened in Europe to the Celtic and Oriental tribes, who received in Greece and Italy the inverse form of speech from the Scythian, Illyrian and Gothic tribes.The comparative examination of the Haytian and dialects, was pursued by me,upon all the languages of the earth, as I was determined that one American nation at least, should be traced philologically to its real origin. Thus I found many thousand analogies of it, out of which I have used about 1500 in the annals, notes and vocabularies. A single American language does then contain more comparative analogies in about 200 words than all those collected by Vater and Malte, out of 400 American languages; and this fact upsets all the illusions, theories and false views, based thereon by them, Humboldt and others.But this comprehensive labour teaches[pg 218]other facts, by far more important and available. 1. That American languages have analogies with all the languages of the earth, 2. That they have similar analogies with each other, 3. That it is only the superior number of analogies that may indicate a filial or parental connection out of America, 4. And that also similar greatest number of analogies, indicate the parental relations of American languages and nations between themselves, 5. Lastly that unless a language and nation is comparedwith all the others, we can never ascertain accurately, nor trace its real parentage philologically.This consequence is obvious, although it will not please the lazy or timid philologists and historians. It shall be further pursued and elucidated hereafter; but now let us apply these rules to the Haytian.I could give 400 comparisons. Let us select a few.1.Ainu of Chokaislands between Japan andKamchatka, 22 comparable words 4 alike in Haytian—Boat, house, no, drink—Mutual affinity only 21 per cent. No parentage.2.Singalaof Ceylon, 50 comparable words, 16 analogies, with Haytian—Mutual affinity 32 per cent. Very distant parentage.3.Guanchof the Canary island nearest to Hayti in the east, 32 comparable words, 14 akin. Mutual affinity 42 per cent. Distant connection.[pg 219]4.Mandara.Handsome black nation in the centre of Africa, 12 words comparable, 6 akin,—one, water, man, king, mother, river—Mutual analogies 50 per cent. Nearer connection than with the Guanch, or separation less remote.5.Pelagic, or ancestors of the Greeks and Italians. Comparable words in all the ancient and modern dialects nearly 200, whereof about 160 offer more or less analogies!—Mutual affinity 80 per cent! Complete and near connection.Therefore the Haytians are of Pelagic origin!No other group of languages offer anything like as many. The nearest after, are the Atlantic L. Lybian, Egyptian, Bask, Sanscrit, Persian &c. who are all connected with the Pelagic nations. The analogies with the Tartars, Chinese, Polynesians &c., are all less in amount.In America the Haytian affinities are of course the greatest with theAruacnations of South America; who are their brothers, and extend to the Taos of Tucuman and the Tinguis or true Patagons of Pigafetta. Yet they may have been divided long ago, or ever since their American settlement: since out of two selected for comparisons, after the vocabularies, theAraguashad only 70 per cent of analogy, and theCairionly 56 per cent. The nearest affinities after these, were with theApalachis,Nachez,Cadoz,Huastecas,Mexican,Tarasca,Maya,Chontal&c. of N. America,[pg 220]and theDarien,Betoy,Peruvian,Chili,Mbaya &c.of South America.Those with the nations of N. America of Asiatic origin, and the nations of South America of African origin, such as the Linapis and Guaranis, were much reduced. See the compared vocabularies.The Haytian shall now become therefore one of the touchstones of other American languages, to verify their eastern or Atlantic origin, and above all the connection with the American Pelagians.Let us now consider the forms and peculiarities of this interesting language, and first its phonology.It appears to have all the sounds of the Italic languages; but it lacks the Greek TH, PS, the Cairi hadTH. It has been written by Spaniards, and their simple orthography applies well to it; but leaves a doubt whether it had the Celtic and French û (unless it be y) Hebrew and English SH, lacking in Spanish. Their CH is as in English, and the French TCH.—It had the gutural X of the Greeks and Spanish, written X and J. Also the Spanish LL, GN or Ñ, and TZ.It had few P being changed to B; few F often changed to V; few L changing to Y; few S changed to Z; few D changed to T.—It had no nasal sounds as in Italian, AN becomingAna&c. Many dipthongs AO, OEI, IA, AI, UA, AU, EI &c. as in Italian, each vowel sounded. This made[pg 221]the language soft, pleasing and musical as in Italian and Polynesian. Dangleria says the accent was always on the last syllable, as in French.On the grammar of it, nothing has been written; what Vater has said is quite loose and inaccurate. We have not even theLord's Prayerin it, so as to serve as a model. Our only guides are a few translated phrases of Roman and Dangleria; but they enable us to perceive the main features of it.One of the chief was the great use of articles, as in Italian; but with a peculiar one GUA, put commonly before, but sometimes after the nouns. It was a demonstrative article, meaningsuch, orthis,that,these,those; but never changing and common as ourThe: while this indicativeThewas declinable or changing as in the Italic languages, and extremely various, although always prefixed, expressed by I, HI, HIN, NI, N', ZI, LI &c. A third kind of article was O, which when added, appears to have been comparative, and to meanAkin,Like,Similar, or our English AS. The relative articleOfwas A prefixed.Examples of Articles.Gua-yavaThis pear.Gua-maThis great, or lord.Gua-tiaosThose brothers.Ma-za-guaGreat plain such.Bala-guaSea such, the ocean.I-GuanaThe guana or lizard.[pg 222]Ni-tainoThe good or noble.Mi-tainoMy noble lord.Li-aniThe wife. Eyeri dialect.Hin-GuailiThe such-sons, the children.Ziba oStone like, stony.A-naOf bloom, a flower.A-boriaOf labor, a vassal.A-macaOf wood, a bed.A-maOf great, water.A-reitiOf rite, song.These articles formed probably the declinations of nouns, as we do not perceive a different desinense. This form was more like the Celtic, Oscan, and Greek, than the Latin.The feminine was formed nearly as in Italian, O changing to A.—Taino,Taina, Lord, Lady—Hito,Hita, Man, Woman; but there must have been irregularities difficult to trace: as some words masculine end in I, S, N, U, L. Perhaps some were neutral.Some words are formed by duplication, implying an amplitude, as in the Oriental language.—Bilife,Bibimother and wife in dialects.Bahabitation,Baba,VavaFather.Magreat,Mamamother.Xaucake,Xauxaubread or large cake.The plurals are chiefly in I as in Italian, or in S as in Spanish; but there are some irregular plurals.Taino,Taini, Lord, Lords.Hito,hitosman, men.EL son. ILI sons.Zemiangel,Zemesangels.[pg 223]The Eyeri dialect forms many plurals in UM.Eyeriman,Eyeriummen;Inaruwoman,Inayumwomen.The adjectives are put before or after the substantives, blending the two forms; and the prevailing form in compound words is doubtful, perhaps the regular as in Latin.Examples of regular position.Hay-tiLand-high.Ana-caonaFlower (of) gold.Buhui-tihuPriest high or eminent.Examples of inverse positions.Bo-hitoOld man or priest.Jaya-elEarth-son.N'abor-itasThe working men.The adjectives are chiefly formed from nouns, and often by a simple O added, thusZibastone,Zibaostony,Zibayomount.Tureiheaven,Tureiguaheavenly or heaven-like.Duhoswealth,Duihziwealthy or wealth-is.The superlatives are commonly formed by duplication.Uaold,Uauavery old.Cofruitful,Cocovery fruitful, the coco nut.Or else by the affixMawhich amplifies every thing.The pronouns appear very simple.MI, M' first person for I, me, my, mine; butourisAhia?TI, T' Second person for thee, thou, thy, thine.[pg 224]LI, L' Third person for he, she, his, her.NI, N' Common likeItor ratherOnof the French.How their plurals are formed, is doubtful; but perhaps the inflexions alone formed them. These pronouns are pure Italian! or rather primitive. They were often dispensed with as in Italian.Of the verbs we know little or nothing. By a few examples of the verbto be, it was quite irregular as with us.EiTo be—Teibe thou—Beibeing.Beiraa being—DachaI am.Elhe is—Ziit is, this is.In theseEiappears the root, derives fromEil, and was then similar toElson, asZitoIzieyes.This verb joined to others was added to words.Guarocoelwe know he is, may be analyzedGua-roco-elsuch-know-he-is.We have an example of negative verbs inMacabucaI do not care, which isMacabucanot-care, or never-mind; in Frenchn'importe, in Italiannon curo.Of the syntax we may form an idea by the few preserved phrases; which I have analyzed as follow, and compared with the Italian.1.Teitocathou be quiet.TacituItalian.tochetamuch.molto.zinatoangry.irato.Guame-chynathis great God.gran-Nume.[pg 225]2.Gua-ibbathat go.VaiIt.zinatoangry.irato.macabucanot care.non curo.3.DiosSpanish God.DioIt.AboriaServant.Servo.dachaI am.Sono.This idiom or position of words is perfect in Italian which admits of many transpositions; but in English syntax and idiom these phrases mean1. Be quiet, God will be very angry.2. Begone, I do not care if he is angry.3. I am the servant of the Spanish God.The Haytian numbers have not been transmitted to us, and I could only collect the following secondary numbers—Atafirst,Bemsecond,Abemthird: which however are primitive and indicate a binary numeration: although the language had probably the decimals.By a careful analytical process I have been able to decompose the compound words, and even reach their monosyllabic roots. All the long words can be thus analyzed, and show that this compound form only arises, as usual in American languages, by the blunders of the Spanish writers, who wrote long words instead of short ones; blending articles and affixes. The Haytian thus analyzed and reduced is a very simple language, approximating to the primitive and oriental forms, wherein short monosyllables of generic import,[pg 226]formed the base of the speech, and became modified by union and relative position.By these means the following essential roots of the language have been collected, and are given to help future similar investigations of American languages.Examples of composition.CazabiBread.Ca-za-bisoil-fruitful-life.ManatiSea cow.Ma-na-tigreat-thing-eminent.TureiHeaven.T'ur-eiThou-light-be.FurzidiCloudy.Fur-zi-digloom-it-is-day. (or now)AreitiSong, rites.A-rei-tiof reality eminent.NanichiSoul.Na-ni-chithing the active.MaroyoMoon.Ma-ro-yogreat lovely.74 essential monosyllabic roots of this language or genera of ideas.A, Of, as, like.Ac, Holy, sacred, religious.Am, Water, root, plenty.An, Male thing, man, people, folk.At, One, alone, first, unic.Ba, Father, ancestor, dwelling.Bal, Raft, floating, wave, sea.Ban, Wind, air.Bao, Music, lyre, instrument.Bat, Beating, game, play, ball.Bem, Second, double, twin, two, next.Bi, Life, wife, mother.Boa, Habitation, house.Bor, Labor, work, vassal, service.[pg 227]Ca, Land, soil, earth, dry.Can, Fish, swift, bad.Chi, Active, soul, work, wine, lively.Chon, Hot, dry, fever.Chuc, Take, grasp, hold.Co, Soil, fruitful, fountain, dog, thread.Coai, Joy, delight, happiness.Cu, Chapel, altar, hearth, fire, all.Cus, Worm, creeping.Di, Day, now, actual.Duh, Wealth, riches, treasures, property.Ei, Existence, to be.El, Son, tribe, child, he is.Fur, Gloom, dark, cloud, fury.Gia, Fowl, bird, flying.Gua, Such, this, that, these, those.Guey, Shell, hollow, closed.Ha, Yes, sure, certain.Hi, The, indication, here.Hio, House, hut, cottage.Huib, Head.I, The, sign of life and action.Io, God, the living-type.It, Man, male.In, Woman, female.Iz, Eyes, looks.L', LI, He, she, they, his &c., oft. changed to Y.MA, Great, big, larger, increase, mothers, water &c.Mas, Food, to eat &c.MI, M', Me, my, mine.Na, Thing, bloom, lizard.Ni, N', The thing, my thing.[pg 228]No,Noa, Boat, navigation, noble.O, Like, similar, akin.Ob, Copper, yellow.Op, Dead.Pu, Wood, purple.Ra,Rei, Real, rite, evidence, offspring.Ris, Red.Ro, Love, belove.Ri, Male, people, men.Sor, West, Eve, late, far.Toa, Breast, milk.Ti, High, lofty, eminent.Tab, Tube, pipe.Tai,Tiao, Brother, friend, good.Toc, Rest, peace, quiet.Ua, Old, ancient.Ur, Light.Ut, Rabbits.Va, Cave, hollow, father, origin.Var, War, warrior.Xau, Cake, baked, bread.Xi, Strong, pungent, pepper.Yar, End, tail, vent.Yu, White, bright.Za, Grass, fruitful, plenty.Zem, Angels, deities, idols.Zib, Stone, rock.Zic, King, ruler.Such was the Haytian language, once spoken by several millions, and a western branch of the Pelagic stock; that derived from the AsiaticPelegsandPalis, once peopled nearly all the shores of the Mediterranean 3 or 4000 years ago.[pg 229]The following comparative vocabularies will prove this fact. They have not been made to support it; but to find the truth, and the probable ancestors of this American nation, by seeking them all over the earth. If this nation one of the nearest to the eastern hemisphere, is thus found of such remote antiquity, those further removed and inland may well be deemed equally old, or rather older still: which their own history shall disclose.Out of the 234 words collected; many it will be perceived, are hardly comparable; being names of peculiar animals and plants. About 200 offer comparisons with our languages well known. It must be remarked that the Spaniards borrowed many Haytian words, which have since been introduced into Spanish and other European languages. Humboldt has given a list of them. Those admitted in the English language now are, hurricane, canoe, keys or islands, tobacco, pimento, yam, tomato, cassava, savana, mahogany, patatas, mangrove, indigo, copal, maize, bananas, parrot, guano, coco, cacao, guava, hammock or hanging bed &c.; which must not be compared, since they have been borrowed by us from the Haytian. The Spaniards have besides, chichas, balza, Cazic spelt cacique, aguti, manati, maguey, tiburo, guayac, macana, bejuco, nigua, tuna, aji, zeyba, &c.[pg 230]Yet several of those words may be usefully compared in ancient languages often extinct, previous to the late connection with America. Thus we find analogies for maize, canoe, cazic, cayman, yam, chicha, macana, manati &c., in many: indicating very ancient connections.—Even the words manati, hurricane, canoe, nigua &c., have affinities in modern Italic languages, not derived from Hayti.ComparativeTainoVocabulary of Hayti.Authorities,—R. Roman—C. Columbus—D. Dangleria,—Ac. Acosta,—Her. Herrera,—M. Munoz,—L. Las-Casas,—O. Oviedo,—G. Garcia or Gili,—E. Edwards,—H. Humboldt,—V. Vater,—A. all or nearly all of them,—Laet,—Diaz,—St. Mery,—Ey. Eyeri Dialect.All or wholeQuisR. D. Xus O.
The Haytian or Taino Languagerestored, with fragments of the dialects of Cuba, Jamaica, Lucayas, Boriquen, Eyeri, Cairi, Araguas. Grammar, roots, and comparative Vocabularies.
At an early period I endeavored to collect all the scattered fragments of this language, in order to elucidate and support the historical traditions. This labour concluded in 1828, has given very important results, which shall now be explained. At the time of the Spanish discovery and conquest, many Spaniards spoke that language; many slaves were sent to Spain; but philology was not then attended to. Therefore we have no dictionary nor grammar of this language. Meantime the very nation has disappeared, destroyed by Spanish cruelty.
However, nearly all the early travellers and writers on the West Indies have preserved by chance, some words of it. Columbus himself mentions some of them in his original journal. Roman and Dangleria explain many of the quoted words. Others are scattered in Acosta, Gomara, Oviedo, Garcia, Diaz, Las-Casas &c.; which had never been all collected even by Vater nor Edwards. Gili alone undertook to give a long list of Haytian words; but three-fourths[pg 216]of them are geographical or historical names unexplained and unavailable.
I have used, compared and brought together all these loose materials, and thus succeeded in restoring about 234 words of this language, a list ample enough for all historical purposes. This contains besides 50 words of the Eyeri and eastern dialects, with 38 of the Cuban or western dialects, useful to show the variations of dialects. We know that from Bahama to Cuba, Boriquen to Jamaica, a same language was spoken in various slight dialects, but understood by all: Columbus himself says so.
But this language, which had also partly spread in Florida, and in South America, has the appearance of being a mixt speech. This appears from the many synonyms, the deviations of dialects, and the double forms, or relative position of words. In the small eastern islands theEyerisorCabreshad been destroyed by the Caribs, who preserved the women, and these preserved their own language, mixt with some Carib words and taught it to their daughters; so as to produce a double language, that of the women being quite peculiar. This singular fact well authenticated, will enable us to presume a similar conquest and custom, wherever we shall meet in America, with a peculiar female idiom.
The many nations or tribes mentioned in the traditions, which had gradually amalgamated; and the settlement in Cuba and[pg 217]Hayti of the Mayas, will account for this mixture of synonyms. But the existence also of many homonyms, leads us to a former more simple speech, probably monosyllabic and quite regular as the oriental idioms, to which it is most akin.
From the primitive languages of North Africa and South Europe, it had received this regular position of ideas; but by the mixture with the Maya and Mexican nations using the inverse form, it borrowed that new form. The same happened in Europe to the Celtic and Oriental tribes, who received in Greece and Italy the inverse form of speech from the Scythian, Illyrian and Gothic tribes.
The comparative examination of the Haytian and dialects, was pursued by me,upon all the languages of the earth, as I was determined that one American nation at least, should be traced philologically to its real origin. Thus I found many thousand analogies of it, out of which I have used about 1500 in the annals, notes and vocabularies. A single American language does then contain more comparative analogies in about 200 words than all those collected by Vater and Malte, out of 400 American languages; and this fact upsets all the illusions, theories and false views, based thereon by them, Humboldt and others.
But this comprehensive labour teaches[pg 218]other facts, by far more important and available. 1. That American languages have analogies with all the languages of the earth, 2. That they have similar analogies with each other, 3. That it is only the superior number of analogies that may indicate a filial or parental connection out of America, 4. And that also similar greatest number of analogies, indicate the parental relations of American languages and nations between themselves, 5. Lastly that unless a language and nation is comparedwith all the others, we can never ascertain accurately, nor trace its real parentage philologically.
This consequence is obvious, although it will not please the lazy or timid philologists and historians. It shall be further pursued and elucidated hereafter; but now let us apply these rules to the Haytian.
I could give 400 comparisons. Let us select a few.
1.Ainu of Chokaislands between Japan andKamchatka, 22 comparable words 4 alike in Haytian—Boat, house, no, drink—Mutual affinity only 21 per cent. No parentage.
2.Singalaof Ceylon, 50 comparable words, 16 analogies, with Haytian—Mutual affinity 32 per cent. Very distant parentage.
3.Guanchof the Canary island nearest to Hayti in the east, 32 comparable words, 14 akin. Mutual affinity 42 per cent. Distant connection.
4.Mandara.Handsome black nation in the centre of Africa, 12 words comparable, 6 akin,—one, water, man, king, mother, river—Mutual analogies 50 per cent. Nearer connection than with the Guanch, or separation less remote.
5.Pelagic, or ancestors of the Greeks and Italians. Comparable words in all the ancient and modern dialects nearly 200, whereof about 160 offer more or less analogies!—Mutual affinity 80 per cent! Complete and near connection.
Therefore the Haytians are of Pelagic origin!No other group of languages offer anything like as many. The nearest after, are the Atlantic L. Lybian, Egyptian, Bask, Sanscrit, Persian &c. who are all connected with the Pelagic nations. The analogies with the Tartars, Chinese, Polynesians &c., are all less in amount.
In America the Haytian affinities are of course the greatest with theAruacnations of South America; who are their brothers, and extend to the Taos of Tucuman and the Tinguis or true Patagons of Pigafetta. Yet they may have been divided long ago, or ever since their American settlement: since out of two selected for comparisons, after the vocabularies, theAraguashad only 70 per cent of analogy, and theCairionly 56 per cent. The nearest affinities after these, were with theApalachis,Nachez,Cadoz,Huastecas,Mexican,Tarasca,Maya,Chontal&c. of N. America,[pg 220]and theDarien,Betoy,Peruvian,Chili,Mbaya &c.of South America.
Those with the nations of N. America of Asiatic origin, and the nations of South America of African origin, such as the Linapis and Guaranis, were much reduced. See the compared vocabularies.
The Haytian shall now become therefore one of the touchstones of other American languages, to verify their eastern or Atlantic origin, and above all the connection with the American Pelagians.
Let us now consider the forms and peculiarities of this interesting language, and first its phonology.
It appears to have all the sounds of the Italic languages; but it lacks the Greek TH, PS, the Cairi hadTH. It has been written by Spaniards, and their simple orthography applies well to it; but leaves a doubt whether it had the Celtic and French û (unless it be y) Hebrew and English SH, lacking in Spanish. Their CH is as in English, and the French TCH.—It had the gutural X of the Greeks and Spanish, written X and J. Also the Spanish LL, GN or Ñ, and TZ.
It had few P being changed to B; few F often changed to V; few L changing to Y; few S changed to Z; few D changed to T.—It had no nasal sounds as in Italian, AN becomingAna&c. Many dipthongs AO, OEI, IA, AI, UA, AU, EI &c. as in Italian, each vowel sounded. This made[pg 221]the language soft, pleasing and musical as in Italian and Polynesian. Dangleria says the accent was always on the last syllable, as in French.
On the grammar of it, nothing has been written; what Vater has said is quite loose and inaccurate. We have not even theLord's Prayerin it, so as to serve as a model. Our only guides are a few translated phrases of Roman and Dangleria; but they enable us to perceive the main features of it.
One of the chief was the great use of articles, as in Italian; but with a peculiar one GUA, put commonly before, but sometimes after the nouns. It was a demonstrative article, meaningsuch, orthis,that,these,those; but never changing and common as ourThe: while this indicativeThewas declinable or changing as in the Italic languages, and extremely various, although always prefixed, expressed by I, HI, HIN, NI, N', ZI, LI &c. A third kind of article was O, which when added, appears to have been comparative, and to meanAkin,Like,Similar, or our English AS. The relative articleOfwas A prefixed.
Examples of Articles.
Gua-yavaThis pear.Gua-maThis great, or lord.Gua-tiaosThose brothers.Ma-za-guaGreat plain such.Bala-guaSea such, the ocean.I-GuanaThe guana or lizard.[pg 222]Ni-tainoThe good or noble.Mi-tainoMy noble lord.Li-aniThe wife. Eyeri dialect.Hin-GuailiThe such-sons, the children.Ziba oStone like, stony.A-naOf bloom, a flower.A-boriaOf labor, a vassal.A-macaOf wood, a bed.A-maOf great, water.A-reitiOf rite, song.
Gua-yavaThis pear.
Gua-maThis great, or lord.
Gua-tiaosThose brothers.
Ma-za-guaGreat plain such.
Bala-guaSea such, the ocean.
I-GuanaThe guana or lizard.
Ni-tainoThe good or noble.
Mi-tainoMy noble lord.
Li-aniThe wife. Eyeri dialect.
Hin-GuailiThe such-sons, the children.
Ziba oStone like, stony.
A-naOf bloom, a flower.
A-boriaOf labor, a vassal.
A-macaOf wood, a bed.
A-maOf great, water.
A-reitiOf rite, song.
These articles formed probably the declinations of nouns, as we do not perceive a different desinense. This form was more like the Celtic, Oscan, and Greek, than the Latin.
The feminine was formed nearly as in Italian, O changing to A.—Taino,Taina, Lord, Lady—Hito,Hita, Man, Woman; but there must have been irregularities difficult to trace: as some words masculine end in I, S, N, U, L. Perhaps some were neutral.
Some words are formed by duplication, implying an amplitude, as in the Oriental language.—Bilife,Bibimother and wife in dialects.Bahabitation,Baba,VavaFather.Magreat,Mamamother.Xaucake,Xauxaubread or large cake.
The plurals are chiefly in I as in Italian, or in S as in Spanish; but there are some irregular plurals.Taino,Taini, Lord, Lords.Hito,hitosman, men.
EL son. ILI sons.Zemiangel,Zemesangels.
The Eyeri dialect forms many plurals in UM.Eyeriman,Eyeriummen;Inaruwoman,Inayumwomen.
The adjectives are put before or after the substantives, blending the two forms; and the prevailing form in compound words is doubtful, perhaps the regular as in Latin.
Examples of regular position.
Hay-tiLand-high.Ana-caonaFlower (of) gold.Buhui-tihuPriest high or eminent.
Hay-tiLand-high.
Ana-caonaFlower (of) gold.
Buhui-tihuPriest high or eminent.
Examples of inverse positions.
Bo-hitoOld man or priest.Jaya-elEarth-son.N'abor-itasThe working men.
Bo-hitoOld man or priest.
Jaya-elEarth-son.
N'abor-itasThe working men.
The adjectives are chiefly formed from nouns, and often by a simple O added, thusZibastone,Zibaostony,Zibayomount.
Tureiheaven,Tureiguaheavenly or heaven-like.
Duhoswealth,Duihziwealthy or wealth-is.
The superlatives are commonly formed by duplication.Uaold,Uauavery old.Cofruitful,Cocovery fruitful, the coco nut.
Or else by the affixMawhich amplifies every thing.
The pronouns appear very simple.
MI, M' first person for I, me, my, mine; butourisAhia?
TI, T' Second person for thee, thou, thy, thine.
LI, L' Third person for he, she, his, her.
NI, N' Common likeItor ratherOnof the French.
How their plurals are formed, is doubtful; but perhaps the inflexions alone formed them. These pronouns are pure Italian! or rather primitive. They were often dispensed with as in Italian.
Of the verbs we know little or nothing. By a few examples of the verbto be, it was quite irregular as with us.
EiTo be—Teibe thou—Beibeing.Beiraa being—DachaI am.Elhe is—Ziit is, this is.
EiTo be—Teibe thou—Beibeing.
Beiraa being—DachaI am.
Elhe is—Ziit is, this is.
In theseEiappears the root, derives fromEil, and was then similar toElson, asZitoIzieyes.
This verb joined to others was added to words.Guarocoelwe know he is, may be analyzedGua-roco-elsuch-know-he-is.
We have an example of negative verbs inMacabucaI do not care, which isMacabucanot-care, or never-mind; in Frenchn'importe, in Italiannon curo.
Of the syntax we may form an idea by the few preserved phrases; which I have analyzed as follow, and compared with the Italian.
1.Teitocathou be quiet.TacituItalian.tochetamuch.molto.zinatoangry.irato.Guame-chynathis great God.gran-Nume.
1.Teitocathou be quiet.TacituItalian.
tochetamuch.molto.
zinatoangry.irato.
Guame-chynathis great God.gran-Nume.
2.Gua-ibbathat go.VaiIt.zinatoangry.irato.macabucanot care.non curo.
2.Gua-ibbathat go.VaiIt.
zinatoangry.irato.
macabucanot care.non curo.
3.DiosSpanish God.DioIt.AboriaServant.Servo.dachaI am.Sono.
3.DiosSpanish God.DioIt.
AboriaServant.Servo.
dachaI am.Sono.
This idiom or position of words is perfect in Italian which admits of many transpositions; but in English syntax and idiom these phrases mean
1. Be quiet, God will be very angry.2. Begone, I do not care if he is angry.3. I am the servant of the Spanish God.
1. Be quiet, God will be very angry.
2. Begone, I do not care if he is angry.
3. I am the servant of the Spanish God.
The Haytian numbers have not been transmitted to us, and I could only collect the following secondary numbers—Atafirst,Bemsecond,Abemthird: which however are primitive and indicate a binary numeration: although the language had probably the decimals.
By a careful analytical process I have been able to decompose the compound words, and even reach their monosyllabic roots. All the long words can be thus analyzed, and show that this compound form only arises, as usual in American languages, by the blunders of the Spanish writers, who wrote long words instead of short ones; blending articles and affixes. The Haytian thus analyzed and reduced is a very simple language, approximating to the primitive and oriental forms, wherein short monosyllables of generic import,[pg 226]formed the base of the speech, and became modified by union and relative position.
By these means the following essential roots of the language have been collected, and are given to help future similar investigations of American languages.
Examples of composition.
CazabiBread.Ca-za-bisoil-fruitful-life.ManatiSea cow.Ma-na-tigreat-thing-eminent.TureiHeaven.T'ur-eiThou-light-be.FurzidiCloudy.Fur-zi-digloom-it-is-day. (or now)AreitiSong, rites.A-rei-tiof reality eminent.NanichiSoul.Na-ni-chithing the active.MaroyoMoon.Ma-ro-yogreat lovely.
CazabiBread.Ca-za-bisoil-fruitful-life.
ManatiSea cow.Ma-na-tigreat-thing-eminent.
TureiHeaven.T'ur-eiThou-light-be.
FurzidiCloudy.Fur-zi-digloom-it-is-day. (or now)
AreitiSong, rites.A-rei-tiof reality eminent.
NanichiSoul.Na-ni-chithing the active.
MaroyoMoon.Ma-ro-yogreat lovely.
74 essential monosyllabic roots of this language or genera of ideas.
A, Of, as, like.Ac, Holy, sacred, religious.Am, Water, root, plenty.An, Male thing, man, people, folk.At, One, alone, first, unic.Ba, Father, ancestor, dwelling.Bal, Raft, floating, wave, sea.Ban, Wind, air.Bao, Music, lyre, instrument.Bat, Beating, game, play, ball.Bem, Second, double, twin, two, next.Bi, Life, wife, mother.Boa, Habitation, house.Bor, Labor, work, vassal, service.[pg 227]Ca, Land, soil, earth, dry.Can, Fish, swift, bad.Chi, Active, soul, work, wine, lively.Chon, Hot, dry, fever.Chuc, Take, grasp, hold.Co, Soil, fruitful, fountain, dog, thread.Coai, Joy, delight, happiness.Cu, Chapel, altar, hearth, fire, all.Cus, Worm, creeping.Di, Day, now, actual.Duh, Wealth, riches, treasures, property.Ei, Existence, to be.El, Son, tribe, child, he is.Fur, Gloom, dark, cloud, fury.Gia, Fowl, bird, flying.Gua, Such, this, that, these, those.Guey, Shell, hollow, closed.Ha, Yes, sure, certain.Hi, The, indication, here.Hio, House, hut, cottage.Huib, Head.I, The, sign of life and action.Io, God, the living-type.It, Man, male.In, Woman, female.Iz, Eyes, looks.L', LI, He, she, they, his &c., oft. changed to Y.MA, Great, big, larger, increase, mothers, water &c.Mas, Food, to eat &c.MI, M', Me, my, mine.Na, Thing, bloom, lizard.Ni, N', The thing, my thing.[pg 228]No,Noa, Boat, navigation, noble.O, Like, similar, akin.Ob, Copper, yellow.Op, Dead.Pu, Wood, purple.Ra,Rei, Real, rite, evidence, offspring.Ris, Red.Ro, Love, belove.Ri, Male, people, men.Sor, West, Eve, late, far.Toa, Breast, milk.Ti, High, lofty, eminent.Tab, Tube, pipe.Tai,Tiao, Brother, friend, good.Toc, Rest, peace, quiet.Ua, Old, ancient.Ur, Light.Ut, Rabbits.Va, Cave, hollow, father, origin.Var, War, warrior.Xau, Cake, baked, bread.Xi, Strong, pungent, pepper.Yar, End, tail, vent.Yu, White, bright.Za, Grass, fruitful, plenty.Zem, Angels, deities, idols.Zib, Stone, rock.Zic, King, ruler.
A, Of, as, like.
Ac, Holy, sacred, religious.
Am, Water, root, plenty.
An, Male thing, man, people, folk.
At, One, alone, first, unic.
Ba, Father, ancestor, dwelling.
Bal, Raft, floating, wave, sea.
Ban, Wind, air.
Bao, Music, lyre, instrument.
Bat, Beating, game, play, ball.
Bem, Second, double, twin, two, next.
Bi, Life, wife, mother.
Boa, Habitation, house.
Bor, Labor, work, vassal, service.
Ca, Land, soil, earth, dry.
Can, Fish, swift, bad.
Chi, Active, soul, work, wine, lively.
Chon, Hot, dry, fever.
Chuc, Take, grasp, hold.
Co, Soil, fruitful, fountain, dog, thread.
Coai, Joy, delight, happiness.
Cu, Chapel, altar, hearth, fire, all.
Cus, Worm, creeping.
Di, Day, now, actual.
Duh, Wealth, riches, treasures, property.
Ei, Existence, to be.
El, Son, tribe, child, he is.
Fur, Gloom, dark, cloud, fury.
Gia, Fowl, bird, flying.
Gua, Such, this, that, these, those.
Guey, Shell, hollow, closed.
Ha, Yes, sure, certain.
Hi, The, indication, here.
Hio, House, hut, cottage.
Huib, Head.
I, The, sign of life and action.
Io, God, the living-type.
It, Man, male.
In, Woman, female.
Iz, Eyes, looks.
L', LI, He, she, they, his &c., oft. changed to Y.
MA, Great, big, larger, increase, mothers, water &c.
Mas, Food, to eat &c.
MI, M', Me, my, mine.
Na, Thing, bloom, lizard.
Ni, N', The thing, my thing.
No,Noa, Boat, navigation, noble.
O, Like, similar, akin.
Ob, Copper, yellow.
Op, Dead.
Pu, Wood, purple.
Ra,Rei, Real, rite, evidence, offspring.
Ris, Red.
Ro, Love, belove.
Ri, Male, people, men.
Sor, West, Eve, late, far.
Toa, Breast, milk.
Ti, High, lofty, eminent.
Tab, Tube, pipe.
Tai,Tiao, Brother, friend, good.
Toc, Rest, peace, quiet.
Ua, Old, ancient.
Ur, Light.
Ut, Rabbits.
Va, Cave, hollow, father, origin.
Var, War, warrior.
Xau, Cake, baked, bread.
Xi, Strong, pungent, pepper.
Yar, End, tail, vent.
Yu, White, bright.
Za, Grass, fruitful, plenty.
Zem, Angels, deities, idols.
Zib, Stone, rock.
Zic, King, ruler.
Such was the Haytian language, once spoken by several millions, and a western branch of the Pelagic stock; that derived from the AsiaticPelegsandPalis, once peopled nearly all the shores of the Mediterranean 3 or 4000 years ago.
The following comparative vocabularies will prove this fact. They have not been made to support it; but to find the truth, and the probable ancestors of this American nation, by seeking them all over the earth. If this nation one of the nearest to the eastern hemisphere, is thus found of such remote antiquity, those further removed and inland may well be deemed equally old, or rather older still: which their own history shall disclose.
Out of the 234 words collected; many it will be perceived, are hardly comparable; being names of peculiar animals and plants. About 200 offer comparisons with our languages well known. It must be remarked that the Spaniards borrowed many Haytian words, which have since been introduced into Spanish and other European languages. Humboldt has given a list of them. Those admitted in the English language now are, hurricane, canoe, keys or islands, tobacco, pimento, yam, tomato, cassava, savana, mahogany, patatas, mangrove, indigo, copal, maize, bananas, parrot, guano, coco, cacao, guava, hammock or hanging bed &c.; which must not be compared, since they have been borrowed by us from the Haytian. The Spaniards have besides, chichas, balza, Cazic spelt cacique, aguti, manati, maguey, tiburo, guayac, macana, bejuco, nigua, tuna, aji, zeyba, &c.
Yet several of those words may be usefully compared in ancient languages often extinct, previous to the late connection with America. Thus we find analogies for maize, canoe, cazic, cayman, yam, chicha, macana, manati &c., in many: indicating very ancient connections.—Even the words manati, hurricane, canoe, nigua &c., have affinities in modern Italic languages, not derived from Hayti.
ComparativeTainoVocabulary of Hayti.
Authorities,—R. Roman—C. Columbus—D. Dangleria,—Ac. Acosta,—Her. Herrera,—M. Munoz,—L. Las-Casas,—O. Oviedo,—G. Garcia or Gili,—E. Edwards,—H. Humboldt,—V. Vater,—A. all or nearly all of them,—Laet,—Diaz,—St. Mery,—Ey. Eyeri Dialect.
All or wholeQuisR. D. Xus O.