Re: Languages of Africa

From: Peter T. Daniels (grammatim_at_worldnet.att.net)
Date: 09/21/04 

Date: Tue, 21 Sep 2004 11:51:59 GMT

Anti-imperialist wrote:
>
> "Peter T. Daniels" wrote:
> >
> > Anti-imperialist wrote:
> > >
> > > "Peter T. Daniels" wrote:
> >
>
> > > Ruhlen's books, including one in my home.
> >
> > Title and page, please?
> >
> So far, here is one reference: Ruhlen, "The Origin of Language" (1994)
> p. 163-164:
>
> "The greatest linguistic diversity appears to be in Africa. Africa
> contains 4 distinct families in a relatively restricted area, whereas
> directly north of Africa, we find the Eurasiatic family - a single
> coherent unit that spans the globe. Yet despite the enormous
> geographical distribution of Amerind and Eurasiatic, each is
> characterized by a single pronominal pattern. In Africa, the pronominal
> patterns are more divergent than this even within each of the
> sub-Saharan families. The linguistic evidence is consistent with an out
> of Africa human origin, if not demonstrably supportive of it."
>
> Don't know what you want to do with that but there it is.....

Merely point out that it doesn't support what you claimed it does.

Plus, of course, it assumes the unity of Eurasiatic and Amerind, which
are both absurd. 

-- 
Peter T. Daniels                       grammatim@att.net

Relevant Pages

  • Languages of Africa
    ... "The greatest linguistic diversity appears to be in Africa. ... contains 4 distinct families in a relatively restricted area, ... characterized by a single pronominal pattern. ...
    (sci.lang)
  • Re: Languages of Africa
    ... > "The greatest linguistic diversity appears to be in Africa. ... > contains 4 distinct families in a relatively restricted area, ...
    (sci.lang)