Part 8 (1/2)
Aok Awk The Eye
Kan Kawn The Ear
Nak Nakk The Nose
Mui Mu The Mouth
Dant Dant A Tooth
Tschib Jibb The Tongue
Sunjo Sunnj The Hearing
Sunj Sunkh The Smell
Sik Tschik The Taste
Tschater Tschater A Tent
Rajah Raja The Prince
Puro Purana Old
Baro Burra Great
Kalo Kala Black
Grea Gorrra Horse
Jukel Dog
Maru Bread
Kil b.u.t.ter
Ker Gurr House
It has already been observed, that in the Gypsey, as well as in the Hindostanie language, the article is not placed before the noun, but affixed behind it; and that is the sole indication of the case of a noun.
Grellmann has given examples of the declension of nouns, p.r.o.nouns, and adjectives, as well as the conjugation of verbs in both languages; but the grammatical arrangement of them does not come within the design of this work. The foregoing list of words is a selection of those that are most similar: but in Grellmann's extensive vocabulary, he says, it will appear on the average, that every third Gypsey word, is likewise Hindostanie.
It must be observed, that the words above recited, have been learned from the Gypsies within a few years, consequently at a time when they had been nearly four complete centuries away from Hindostan, their native country; and among people who spoke languages totally different; in which also the Gypsies conversed.
Under the constant and so long continued influx of these languages, their own must necessarily have suffered some alteration; more especially as they are a people entirely ignorant, either of writing or literature.
It does not appear that there is so much Persian in the Gypsey language, as has been generally imagined; and even what there is of it, they may have brought with them from their native country, as many Persian words are current in Hindostan. We ought rather to wonder the number of Hindostanie words in the Gypsey language, is so considerable, than to require it should be greater, to furnish sufficient proof of the Hindostanie language being the Gypsies' mother tongue.
Since the laborious researches of Grellmann, extended intercourse with India, has furnished unquestionable evidence in support of his deductions. The first we shall introduce, is contained in the following letter from William Marsden to Sir Joseph Banks, F.R.S. read to the Society of Antiquaries in London, 1785.