and institutions, and, above all, of our literature and science, which are now extensively cultivated by the rising generation. Of these auxiliary languages, the ancient unadulterated Persian is closely allied to the Sanskrit; but Arabic, with which Persian has been completely saturated since the conquest of Persia by the Arabians[1], is as unlike Sanskrit as it is possible for one language to be unlike another. The Sanskrit delights in compounds: the Arabic abhors the composition of words, and expresses complex ideas by circumlocution. The Sanskrit verbal roots are almost universally biliteral: the Arabic roots are as universally triliteral. They have scarcely a single word in common. They are written in opposite directions; Sanskrit, from left to right; Arabic, from right to left. “In whatever light we view them,” observes Sir William Jones, “they seem totally distinct; and must have been invented by two different races of men.” Portuguese and English, on the other hand, through their close connection
- ↑ Arabic has been extensively introduced into the Indian vernacular languages, both mediately through Persian and immediately from Arabic literature. The complete union of the Arabic with the ancient Persian language, is as much a proof that the most uncongenial languages will readily amalgamate as its union with the Indian dialects.
