Page:An introduction to Indonesian linguistics, being four essays.djvu/48

 58. Such homophonies frequently extend through several languages. Example:

First root liṅ, “ to turn ”: Old Jav. puliṅ, “ to roll ”, Karo baliṅ, “ to turn ”, Mal., Gayo (giliṅ, “ to roll ”, Bis. galiṅ, “ to spin ”.

Second root liṅ, “ to look ”: Old Jav. dĕliṅ, “ to look ”, Bis. hiliṅ, “ to look carefully at ”, Mal. kěrliṅ, “ to give a side-long glance ”.

Third root liṅ, “ word, sound ” : Old Jav. liṅ, wěliṅ, “ to speak ”, Gayo liṅ, “ word, sound ”, Karo aliliṅ, “ echo ”.

Homophonies that run through so many languages may be ascribed to Original IN.

59. An homophony deserving of particular notice is to be found among the words of form, to wit that one and the same word is at once a demonstrative pronoun (or, if weakened, an article) and a locative preposition. Examples:

i: demonstrative or article in many languages.

i: preposition in many languages.

a: demonstrative or article in several languages.

a: preposition in Mlg.: nusi, “ island ”, a-nusi, “ on the island ”.

cu: demonstrative in Bug. and as part of itu (in accordance with the phenomenon discussed in § 80) in several languages.

tu: preposition in Toba.

ka: demonstrative, as part of ika (§ 80) in Old Jav.

ka: preposition in many languages.

Very probably, however, these are cases of something more than a merely superficial homophony.

60. This homophony of the root, a phenomenon of very frequent occurrence in all IN languages, has repeatedly been used as evidence to prove the inferiority of the Indonesian race as compared with the white one. It has been urged that it argues “ a confused and clouded mental apparatus ”. Such an assertion, however, merely proves the scientific inferiority and the inhumanity of its authors. This homophony by no