The recognition of the theory of evolution also results in a series of consequences regarding the «laws of evolution of phonetics and morphology,» which, according to some current opinions, proceeds along certain definite directions conditioned by the laws which are good for any language, just as with the biological laws which are good for any animal or plant. Again, the establishing of such rigid laws comes very often into conflict with the facts, and the creators of laws have either to revise their fundamental conception of language or to reject the facts. In the soil of the European complex the idea was created that all languages have to go from a complex morphology to a simple one, e.g., from Latin to French or from old German to English. The Chinese language was thus supposed in former days to have had morphological elements which in the course of «evolution» have disappeared. The search for the supposedly lost morphological elements naturally constituted one of the puzzling problems, although their existence in written language was not at all necessary. This has raised up a great discussion which has no great importance if one does not presume the evolution along this line from complex to simple [54]. It is remarkable that another possibility, i.e., the complication of morphology — the fact observed — is often overlooked. Yet the conception of the evolution of language has recently brought to life a numerous group of linguists who restore the old theory with a new phraseology. Here I have in view the theory of evolution of language as professed by N. Marr. According to him, the stages of morphological evolution correspond exactly to the evolutive stages of the economical and social organization of society. In spite of the new phraseology and the seeming modernity, this theory is as old as the earliest scheme of evolution of mankind proposed by L. Morgan [55]. This is a great step back in spite of its revolutionary appearance [56].
The same kind of instance is found in the theories of phonetic changes. It was often supposed that the movement from tenues to mediae lenes and the complete disappearance of consonants is one of the stable phenomena characteristic of the «evolution» of languages. The explanation of the existence of tenues in the German language was even looked upon as of «Asiatic» influence, for other European languages do not have this phenomenon developed to such a degree. The terminology itself sometimes has a certain influence on linguists, as, for example, the association of the tenues with «strong,» «stark,» «fortis,» etc., in opposition to «weak,» «schwach,» etc. [57], produces a complex of ideas regarding «degeneration» from «strength» to «weakness» deeply rooted in the mind of ethnical units [58]. Here is just one step to the theory of the deterioration of the phonetic system as a law; e.g., from tenues to mediae lenes and from «roughness» to «refinement.» The fact is, however, that the conceptions of «strength» and «weakness,» «roughness» and «refinement,» are ethnographical conceptions closely correlated with the other elements of the ethnographical complexes and as such are subject to the variations [59]. The idea of a general phonetic «refinement» and simplification of «primitive methods» of morphology finds good support from the facts of semantics and vocubularies. The differentiation and the increase of the lexic complex are phenomena observed in all languages. It is often taken for granted that this is by itself a character of the language as a phenomenon. However, the semantic variations and the increase of vocabulary are mere functions of a quantitative growth of culture and perhaps in the end are accounted for by increase of population, so that their universality is not a character of language as a phenomenon [60]. However, the movement from paucity to richness of vocabulary is a process which may go on without affecting the system of phonetics and morphology.
54. Although B. Karlgren recognizes that Chinese is a «monosyllabic» and «isolating» language (this is, of course, a theory which is not at the present time shared by all linguists), he points out the facts showing that this language formerly used and still uses the morphological elements. So he begins his paper («Le Proto-chinois, langue flexionnelle,» in Journal Asiatique, 1920) by the statement that «cette 'inuraille' commence a etre serieusement ebranlee»; i.e., the Chinese language possessed a better developed morphology which has been lost and thus it was not so much different as compared with other languages. As a matter of fact, the «monosyllabic» and «isolating» character of the Chinese language as a theory is in crying contradiction with the facts known from the spoken language. (I do not here have in view the written Chinese language.)
55. This theory was picked up for political propaganda some forty years ago and has now reached large masses of population in western Europe. Yet lately it has been adopted for justification of the process undergone by Russia. The fate of L. Morgan's theory is particularly interesting, for it shows how long a time — more than two generations — is required for a scientific theory to reach the mass of population, and in this particular case through the political channel. On the other hand, this fact is interesting, for it shows how an old scientific theory, as that of L. Morgan, when incorporated into the ethnographical complex (folk-lore) and accepted by a government as its credo (together with the political theory) may survive in another scientific field—the linguistics, as shown in the above-mentioned case of N. Marr.
56. Naturally, here I do not have in view the restoration of a group of languages, which by itself is a great scientific achievement, even in the case where some of the restorations will net appear valid in the future, but I have in view only the «philosophical background» of the japhetidology, which, moreover, is not shared by all japhetidologists.
57. Cf. O. Jespersen («Mankind,» op.cit., p. 211), where he discusses «la loi du plus fort,» formulated by M. Grammont.
58. The idea that the previous generation is better than the present one is characteristic of ethnical units in a state of slow variations. The leaders of the units and the creators of folk-lore, who are not usually the coming generation, but the passing generation, come into conflict with the younger generation and always maintain the idea that the older generations were stronger, more valiant, etc. This is one of the psychic elements serving to keep the complex and the high spirit of the units — the good example of the older generations ought to be imitated by the younger ones.
59. E.g., the palatalization of consonants and the loss of a strong emission of air in one complex may be considered as a sign of «weakening» of the people; while in another case they may be regarded as a sign of «will power» and «self-control» of the people who are strong enough to show a «mild, pleasant pronunciation» and a strong implication of will when necessary. Generally, the ethnical units living under the pressure of the process of increase and positive impulses of variations give the interpretations of their peculiarities (characteristics) in the sense of strengthening the ethnical unity through the increase of love for the complex and consciousness of ethnical cohesion.
60. The need of new starters in the case of the «wearing out» of the old ones is one of the conditions of producing new starters and semantic changes, but it occupies a very modest place by the side of the powerful impulse of lexic increase under pressure of a need of new terms for the cultural elements.