] Hellenic and Thracian

From: Michael J Smith
Message: 19654
Date: 2003-03-09

Regarding the Hellenic Indo-European branch, how could the Greek
dialects be best grouped together? Is Mycenaen closest to Ionian,
Aeolian, Dorian, Achaean? And what would Dorian be closest to? And
Aeolian? And is Arcacian the same or a related dialect of Mycenaen?

I've seen some arguments against placing Thracian with Phrygian and
Armenian, and I found a link on Chris Webber's Thracian site to an
article showing Thracian having more in common with Baltic and Slavic
languages, and could the Thracian-Phrygian-Armenian link be simply
because of the association of Herodotus and Strabo of the Brygi tribe
tribe in Thrace (of course they may have only live in the vicinity of
Thrace, not necessarily SPEAKING Thracian) and then Herodotus' referance
to the Brygians/Phrygians being Armenian colonists (probably in the 8th
century B.C., according to Armenian tradition in the area).

I think there's also uncertainty over the Phrygian/Armenian connection,
but of course there's quite a time gap here.

Interestingly, CHristopher Webber, author of an Osprey Thracian book,
who also runs a THracian web site and is moderator of a Thracian yahoo
group, told me in two e-mails that Thracian seems closest to Finnish and
the Uralic languages, even though previously mentioning as an
Indo-European language in his book. I've always wondered how he came to
this conclusion.

And finally, I've seen Venetic and Illyrian variously grouped with
the Western European languages (Italic, Celtic and Germanic) or with
Thraco-Phrygian. And In J.P. Mallory's book and elsewhere I freguently
see Germanic grouped with Baltic and Slavic, although that's been doubted
in this group. I've also seen Germanic grouped as a Western
Indo-European language with Celtic and Italic.

What is Tocharian closest to?

Would love feedback- Michael




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