Re: Linear A

"ivanovas/milatos"  wrote:
 

Hi,

just a short note: the best - to my opinion - and linguistically most logical interpretation of Lin.A as a IE language (understanding and comparing it very convincingly to later Lycian) is by Margalit Finkelberg: Minoan Inscriptions on Libation Vessels, Minos25, 1990.

Following her lead we might suppose that Lykian was not derived from Luwian but rather from - similar but earlier - Lin. A., another early 'Anatolian' (may be now better: Aegean - that is what Pelasgian is usually used for - language).

Archaeological evidence in this context is difficult to read, but after my recent studies on Eastern Aegean mythology fits even better.

Greetings from Crete

Sabine

Everything I've ever read, seen or heard denies IE-ness to Linear A.  Semitic is sometimes suggested.

Linear B is demonstrably an extremely archaic form of Greek. But the script itself is hideously inappropriate to the language it writes (it has no closed syllables and lacks some essential phonemes; it like having to write 'cat' as 'cu-ta'). Linear B is clearly derived from Linear A. The only conclusion is that Linear B was adapted from another language -- a language extremely unsympathetic to the needs of any IE language.

--Mark Odegard.