Page:An introduction to Indonesian linguistics, being four essays.djvu/29

Rh the Karo word-bases stand entirely isolated, e.g., lecek, “to ask for”. There is no other Karo word of similar meaning and analogous sound; none at all, in fact, that ends in cek. After what has been said we may, no doubt, presume that lecek can be analyzed into the formative le and the root cek, but owing to the isolated position of the word we gain nothing thereby.

It is certainly interesting and quite legitimate to ascertain what results we can arrive at if we confine ourselves to the study of a single language ; but for the solution of our further problems that method does not suflS.ce, and we must proceed to the comparison of several languages.

Seeking the Root by means of the Comparison of Languages.

25. Turning now to the method of comparing several languages for the purpose of our theme, we will first make the experiment of comparing two only and will select Karo and Bis. to work with. The choice is thoroughly justified: The relationship between Karo and Bis. is one of intermediate degree, neither very close nor yet quite remote; moreover Karo in Sumatra, occupying a region which nowhere reaches the sea, and Bis. in the Philij)pines are absolutely separated from one another geographically, so that we need have no fear of any influence of the one language on the other which might disturb our conclusions.

Before proceeding to this comparison we must mention the phonetic laws affecting Bis. which come into question, — For the Karo laws see § 20. In Bis. the r of the RGH series (§ 6) appears as g ; the r of the RLD series appears under certain conditions as dl ; Original IN ě and u as o ; final h is not tolerated.

Now follow lists of roots common to Karo and Bis.

I. The roots are absolutely identical in both languages :

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