Re: Polynesian and South American place names

From: benlizross (benlizro_at_ihug.co.nz)
Date: 08/30/04 

Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2004 01:11:23 +1200

Philip Deitiker wrote:
>
> benlizross <benlizro@ihug.co.nz> says in
> news:413286CD.24F6@ihug.co.nz:
>
> > Nonsense. Random distortions can produce resemblance just
> > as much as non-resemblance.
>
> Since when is language random.

Did I say "language is random"? Read again.

>And if there is a genetic
> connection then you would also remove the random element.

If that means anything, it sounds as if you're begging the question
again.
 
> > Like so many others, you seem not to have grasped the
> > concept of "chance resemblance".
>
> When did language become a random process?

Read again above. It sounds like you have not even _heard_ of chance
resemblance.

> Ross, I don't think you an I are going to see eye to eye on
> this. Since language evolves and is under selection it cannot be
> considered a random process, therefore you are wrong.

A triple non-sequitur with back flip. What can I do but applaud?

I might be
> wrong about the connection, but it would not anything
> specifically to do with your logic, since it is not applicable.
> Since you are wrong the point I made at the very beginning is
> something that is keenly applicable here, in your zealousness to
> disprove any longer range links your have thrown caution to the
> wind, and your statements above seem to verify this.
> The conclusion is this take caution because the similarities
> may not be 'convergences' in the speaking pattern. Evolution of
> language can sometime create similarly pronounced words;

Wait! Hold that thought! You may have just discovered chance
resemblance!

however
> I picked about >1/2 of the name places and showed they could
> easily fit into the Japanese named place repertoire (not
> implying that these words came from Japan) so this is not a
> simple instance of a couple 'random' events.

No, it's an example of a dozen or so random events. After you've
discovered chance resemblance, the next thing to discover is how common
it is. Check out the discussion with Yuri for the url of a lovely world
gazetteer which will find multiple instances of the same place name all
over the world.

Yes, it is
> potentially true that there is convergence in spoken language
> style.
>
> Anyway, I think I have seen your prejudice here clearly enough
> we don't have to continue the conversation further.

As you wish, but I don't know what you think is my "prejudice". Surely
you're not going all Yuranoid and thinking I'm "prejudiced against
Native Americans" or something?

Ross Clark
 
[Put sci.lang back in followups]

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