In a general survey of the language there is perhaps no feature which obtrudes itself so constantly to view, as the principle which separates all words, of whatever denomi

nation, into animates and inanimates, as they are applied to This objects in the animal, vegetable, or mineral kingdom.

most words, and carries its dis It is the gender of the lan throughout the syntax. but a gender of so unbounded a scope, as to merge it

principle has been grafted upon tinctions

guage ;

distinctions of a masculine and feminine, and to give a two-fold character to the parts of speech.

in the

Nouns animate embrace the tribes of quadrupeds, birds, fishes, insects, reptiles, Crustacea, the sun,

and lightning ;

moon, and

stars,

thunder,

for these are personified, and whatever

possesses

animal life, or is endowed, by the peculiar opinions and super In the vegetable kingdom their of the Indians, with it.

stitions

number is comparatively limited, being chiefly confined to trees, and those only while they are referred to as whole bodies, and It is to to the various species of fruits, seeds, and esculents. be remarked, however, that the names for animals are only employed as animates, while the objects are referred to as whole

and complete species ; but the gender must be changed when it

becomes necessary to speak of separate members. meant

Man, woman,

mother, are separate nouns, so long as the individuals are

father, ;

but hand, foot, head, eye, ear, tongue, are inanimates.