On the Evolution of Language | Page 6

infixed, or suffixed to nouns, i.e., they may be particles
incorporated in nouns.
Nouns may be used as intransitive verbs under the circumstances when
in English we would use a noun as the complement of a sentence after
the verb to be.
The verb, therefore, often includes within itself subject, direct object,
indirect object, qualifier, and relation-idea. Thus it is that the study of
an Indian language is, to a large extent, the study of its verbs.
Thus adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, and nouns are used as
intransitive verbs; and, to such extent, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions,
nouns and verbs are undifferentiated.

From the remarks above, it will be seen that Indian verbs often include
within themselves meanings which in English are expressed by adverbs
and adverbial phrases and clauses. Thus the verb may express within
itself direction, manner, instrument, and purpose, one or all, as the verb
to go may be represented by a word signifying go home; another, go
away from home; another, go to a place other than home; another, go
from a place other than home; one, go from this place, with reference
to home; one, to go up; another, to go down; one, go around; and,
perhaps, there will be a verb go up hill; another, go up a valley; another,
go up a river, etc. Then we may have to go on foot, to go on horseback,
to go in a canoe; still another, to go for water; another for wood, etc.
Distinct words may be used for all these, or a fewer number used, and
these varied by incorporated particles. In like manner, the English verb
to break may be represented by several words, each of which will
indicate the manner of performing the act or the instrument with which
it is done. Distinct words may be used, or a common word varied with
incorporated particles.
The verb to strike may be represented by several words, signifying
severally to strike with the fist, to strike with a club, to strike with the
open hand, to strike with a whip, to strike with a switch, to strike with a
flat instrument, etc. A common word may be used with incorporated
particles or entirely different words used.
Mode in an Indian tongue is a rather difficult subject. Modes analogous
to those of civilized tongues are found, and many conditions and
qualifications appear in the verb which in English and other civilized
languages appear as adverbs, and adverbial phrases and clauses. No
plane of separation can be drawn between such adverbial qualifications
and true modes. Thus there may be a form of the verb, which shows
that the speaker makes a declaration as certain, i.e., an indicative mode;
another which shows that the speaker makes a declaration with doubt,
i.e., a dubitative mode; another that he makes a declaration on hearsay,
i.e., a quotative mode; another form will be used in making a command,
giving an imperative mode; another in imploration, i.e., an implorative
mode; another form to denote permission, i.e., a permissive mode;
another in negation, i.e., a negative mode; another form will be used to

indicate that the action is simultaneous with some other action, i.e., a
simulative mode; another to denote desire or wish that something be
done, i.e., a desiderative mode; another that the action ought to be done,
i.e., an obligative mode; another that action is repetitive from time to
time, i.e., a frequentative mode; another that action is caused, i.e., a
causative mode, etc.
These forms of the verb, which we are compelled to call modes, are of
great number. Usually with each of them a particular modal particle or
incorporated adverb will be used; but the particular particle which gives
the qualified meaning may not always be discovered; and in one
language a different word will be introduced, wherein another the same
word will be used with an incorporated particle.
It is stated above that incorporated particles may be used to indicate
direction, manner, instrument, and purpose; in fact, any adverbial
qualification whatever may be made by an incorporated particle instead
of an adverb as a distinct word.
No line of demarkation can be drawn between these adverbial particles
and those mentioned above as modal particles. Indeed it seems best to
treat all these forms of the verb arising from, incorporated particles as
distinct modes. In this sense, then, an Indian language has a multiplicity
of modes. It should be further remarked that in many cases these modal
or adverbial particles are excessively worn, so that they may appear as
additions or changes of simple vowel or consonant sounds. When
incorporated particles are thus used, distinct adverbial words, phrases,
or clauses may also be employed, and the idea expressed twice.
In an Indian language it is usually found difficult to elaborate a system