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From: petrich@netcom.com (Loren Petrich)
Subject: The Squid Squirts Again
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References: <54q9ou$85o_002@dialin.csus.edu> <574hba$pr6@fridge-nf0.shore.net> <577eao$5id@csu-b.csuohio.edu> <577lrg$8bp@fridge-nf0.shore.net>
Date: Sun, 24 Nov 1996 09:10:14 GMT
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Xref: glinda.oz.cs.cmu.edu sci.archaeology:56502 sci.lang:64881

In article <577lrg$8bp@fridge-nf0.shore.net>,
Steve Whittet <whittet@shore.net> wrote:

>Let me attempt to make that clearer for you then.

>[1.)First you need to perceive that ]languages are spoken by people. 

>[2.) Then you need to consider what that requires you to have 
>in order to measure, weigh and judge its processes] 
>a sound knowledge of the movements of people

>[3.) You need to consider what the constraints are] 
>in the period under discussion 

>[4.) You need to consider how the study of a culture and its
>language work together and are] equally valuable to a good theory

>[5.) You need to consider whether the basis of a theory
>about a culture should start with a study of the culture
>as a whole, or a part of it only.] as to the rules which govern 
>their linguistics 

>[6.) And I concluded] that is where archaeology 
>gets to put its two cents worth in.

	Mr. Whittet, why do you insist on dragging in such trivialities? 
And why do you seem to think that doing so is a legitimate substitute for
serious, detailed study? If anything, it is just like the ink squirted by 
a squid when it wants to distract some would-be squid-eater.

>Show any culture you like which was known to speak Sanskrit
>prior to c 1500 BC outside India. Then show how they transported
>themselves and their language to India in order to be an influence.

	So Sanskrit is to be presumed to always have been in India unless 
demostrated otherwise? Strange standard of proof.
-- 
Loren Petrich				Happiness is a fast Macintosh
petrich@netcom.com			And a fast train
My home page: http://www.webcom.com/petrich/home.html
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