Tovar Antonio, Houghton Herbert Pierrepont. The Basque Language

University of Pennsylvania Press, 1957. — 112 p.These pages do not aspire to take the place of a grammar— not even to include the more essential portions— but to set forth briefly, and in as comprehensive a manner as possible, the history and the life of the Basque language. We have had in mind not only those who, possessing no knowledge of the language, have a feeling of curiosity about it; but also those who, being Basque by birth, know their language fairly well, but perhaps without any scientific orientation.
For my part, since I am not Basque by birth, and have acquired all I know of the language almost exclusively from books, I am placed in the position of one whose point of view is comparative and historic. Apart from the undeniably unique quality of the Basque, what has most attracted my attention is that element of the language which serves to lead in the direction of other linguistic worlds. Such a study has served, moreover, to bring to light the vigorous personality of this language, which we are able to affirm, without any exaggeration, is the sole remnant of a linguistic continent of unknown extent that was submerged by the waves of Indo-European invaders, three thousand years ago. Thus we avail ourselves of the privilege of looking upon a world of most antique aspect, which renders Basque a unique monument for the history of our Peninsula and of the whole of Western Europe, as well.