Vedic Metre in its Historical Development c6.16

c6.16

77. As older words and forms may appear in later hymns either by direct imitation of particular models or by the unconscious effect of literary tradition, so the ‘popular’ words at least may find a place in the older hymns under the influence of some special subject-matter, and even later words and forms by anticipation of linguistic developements not yet established in literature. Amongst ourselves ‘Bible’ phraseology is still found in much current literature, whilst our lexicographers find many so-called ‘American’ neoterisms in early English records. In particular passages a minute criticism of the separate words and forms can lead to no practical result: and therefore in doubtful cases linguistic evidence seems to be of comparatively small importance. But in judging of large quantities of matter its cumulative weight is considerable; and this appears to make it certain that as a whole the popular Rigveda is really of later date.