euskara

[CHOMAT]

No serious study can claim that Euskara is an isolate language. That's nearly a linguistic contradiction. It is because many linguists have failed ( up to now)to find out real links that makes them put forth the proposition Euskara is an isolate language.
Some colleagues in linguistics- Basque speakers and conversant with its diachronic and synchronic structures , which is not the case of many linguists, - conducted an investigation into several languages families ( Caucasian, Ural-Altaïc- American Indian tongues and so forth ) . They compared lexicon, pronouns, declension, myths and find out various similarities with some of the studied languages. Without going further into details, the authors came to terms with the fact
-that there are obvious links between Euskara and some Asian languages,

that these languages shared a long time ago the same linguistic 'route'
Their hypothesis is also backed up by genetics ( blood groups.) and physiology together with anthropology. Consequently, they have proved Euskara keeps old bonds with other families and can't be regarded as isolated.

[alienvoord]

My understanding is that current historical linguistics views Basque as a language isolate. It cannot be connected with any other languages using the comparative method.

This does not mean that it may not be related to other languages, it just means that there is no evidence for it at this time.

There are hypotheses that Basque is related to Georgian or Caucasian languages, or that the ancestors of the British spoke a language related to Basque. However, these are not scientific because they do not use the comparative method. In particular, genetics is not useful for linguistic classification, since there is no correlation between one's language and one's genes.

[CHOMAT]

There is a link indeed ,a link between genetics and linguistics. the peoples moved , settled , were scattered and left traces of their passage( isoglosses, distribution). Routes can be defined more or less in both fields and all this can constitute clusters of convergent factors.
General theories have come to the sad conclusion that there are no connections and no hope in finding
M.MORVAN and his team within the CNRS in France are debunking this fatalistic view and brushed away -by means of serious comparative tenets -the most extravagant and unfounded theories which have been unfavourable to the study of Euskara.
Unfortunately, those particularly sophisticated works aren't widely known and translated yet. However, this team has set up new premises and new tracks. There is some evidence of connections , there are hints too. Now this work has to be completed.

I also underline the fact that most of those who have tried to make a study of Euskara were not acquainted with Euskara its structures and history and so on. How can one make a serious survey without that ?
Anyway, I grant that I appreciate your showing interest in this language, and that I should have thanked you before all!

[alienvoord]

Originally Posted by CHOMAT

There is a link indeed ,a link between genetics and linguistics. the peoples moved , settled , were scattered and left traces of their passage( isoglosses, distribution).

But a group of people can abandon one language and start speaking another, for instance Celtic speakers in England stopped speaking Celtic languages and starting speaking English. A genetic connection is not proof of a linguistic connection.

Originally Posted by CHOMAT

M.MORVAN and his team within the CNRS in France are debunking this fatalistic view and brushed away -by means of serious comparative tenets -the most extravagant and unfounded theories which have been unfavourable to the study of Euskara.

If we can't find evidence linking Basque to other languages, how is that unfavourable to the study of Basque? It's simply a fact. It doesn't mean Basque is unworthy of being studied. I believe that Basque's ergativity is being studied in conjunction with ergativity in other languages, for instance.

If you do manage to link Basque with say northeast Caucasian languages using the comparative method, that would cool. Good luck.

[CHOMAT]

I was pointing out that unfounded theories were unfavourable to those who strive to see clearly. Generally speaking: the more extravagant, the more famous... The situation was not clear enough to the detriment of Euskara.
Besides, links have been found.. I insist again that's a fact . As to genetics , it can't be regarded as a proof. However it may constitute a help to hit a good track. Without speaking in terms of eugenics, The Basque people own blood groups and physiological peculiarities that mark them out.
Thanks again
Oddly enough, a big genetical study was made in England ten years ago to determine the likely origins of Albion's offspring. ..