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378 ACCOUNT OF DANISH LAPLAND EY LEEMS,
languages, that if each, ufing his own dialeQ, fhould fpeak his own language, the one
could not underftand the other.
3ut this language to this day has been rejected to that degree, that it is little known
or cultivated by the Norwegians themfelves, the neighbours: of the Laplanders, to
fay nothing of other nations more remote, though it is’thought not lefs deferving of
cultivation than other languages eftablifhed through the globe, and fuch as if duly cul-
tivated would become diftinguifhed by many excellencies, as having the means of re
commending itfelf by its genius, and a certain concifenefs of phrafe, asa whole period,
which, in the Danifh is exprefled by a circuit of words, in the Laphand language is ex-
preffed by a fingle one; for example, my {mall loaf, in the Lapland is Laibaizhiam.
The note of: he diminutive Afz and the pronoun Am, mine, being joined to /aibe, a
loaf. But tne whole genius and character of this language I have fo clearly explained
and laid down in the Lapland Grammar, lately publifhed by me, that a few examples
will be fufficient, I hope, for my prefent purpofe.
In the Lapland language the interchange of confonants takes place between the b and
p, b and m, f and v, which are labials ; between the palatials g and k ; between the
dentals s and z ; between the linguals d and n, d and t, and between the labial f and
the palatial letter k. The letters gn united in one are exprefled by a nafal found.
In the pronuneiation of many words, a certain afpiration of breath with a hifling found
is obferved. ‘The letter dis fometimes pronounced with this afpiration, and there are
certain dipthongs of difficult pronunciation. The vowel y feldom occurs. As to
what belongs to accent or tone among the innumerable Lapland words I have met
with, I have not found one that is marked for an elevation ofthe voice.
There is not a great number of proverbs in this language ; but fo numerous are the
diminutives with which it abounds and recommends itfelf, that I know of none equal to it,
The Danifh word Camerat, a companion, in the Lapland is exprefled by two words,
Paffe veelje; for when a Laplander falutes a Norwegian peafant, he {peaks to him in
thefe kind words, Paffe veelje, that is, my friend, my companion, though in ftrittnels it
may be holy brother; if a woman, his manner is ufually, Pae Oaabba ! literally, Holy -
fitter.
The rein-deer that are caftrated are in higheft eftimation among the Laplanders, as
furpafling the reft of their kind in fize and fatnefs, and as of the greateft ufe to their
owners. Hence the expreflion, Haerge Yetz, a caftrated rein-deer itfelf! by which
eulogy they do not in common honour any one, unlefs he is efteemed worthy of the
higheft praife. A Lapland liétor, or, if it found better, a tribune of the country people,
in Norwegian, Len/mand, whofe name was John Peterfon, when fomewhat puffed up
with himfelf and difpofed to brag, was ufed to fay, Haerge Zhionvga ; what a glorious
thing is a gelded rein-deer !
On a child bearing woman near her time, they ufually fay ; Niffon lae kietzhiembei-
wiin, which faithfully tranflated is; the woman is in the days of inipection; by which
form of expreffion doubtlefsly is fignified, that the woman is in that condition and time,
that fhe fhould both carefully look to herfelf, and that fhe ftood in the greateft need of
the attention of others.
Speaking of the adages in ufe among the Laplanders, I cannot pafs by unnoticed an
expreffion familiar to the Norwegian peafants inhabiting Finmark, and chiefly made
ufe of when they profefs to lament the condition and misfortunes of others ; and if he
may be a perfon of very diflinguifhed rank and of very ample fortune, and of the
ggreateft dignity, whofe fall they lament, yet do they not hefitate to teftify their grief
for him in thefe words: Bei/fe flaffar, thatis ; poor beaft! by which expreffion, though
founding
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