Caste in India: The Facts and the System c8.s2.5

c8.s2.5

Those masters of linguistic analysis who derive the Indo-European vocabulary from some few hundred roots believe that in these tongues, which retain the highest degree of etymological transparency, they have approached the first lispings of human speech; they consider that from this to the origin of language is a negligible step, or almost so. Among the explanations which the caste has evoked, some recall this facile optimism, which has worked havoc even in those minds apparently best armed to resist it.