Re: Linear A

Sleepless at 2:30 AM, I've reviewed this posting and see I have to follow-up to myself.

Disclaimer: This is just from what I've read.

Linear B is derived from Linear A. While we have yet to decipher Linear A, we have a few hints, mostly from Linear B.

Linear B was adapted to serve an IE-language. The changes from Linear A suggest this. The point is that Linear A was hopelessly inadequate to cope with an IE language.

Since Linear B has no closed syllables, we may assume Linear A had no closed syllables. A closed syllable is a word like 'cat' or 'soul'; a closed syllable can include a diphthong. Can you imagine an IE language without closed syllables?

Linear B was adapted from Linear A. The theory requires us to realize that B was major innovation, the taking of something totally unsuited to an IE language and making it minimally adequate to the task of representing an IE language.

Mark Odegard.