Hello everybody,
after the problems that came up in a discussion (I didn't follow because I
found it too long-vented, and not especially on Brent's side) between a
seemingly (?) professional and an admittedly non-professional member of the list
(I'm a linguistic amateur myself), I would suggest everybody to go to the list's
webside and fill in the personal questionnaire provided there (I did because I
thought you had to for becoming a list member - which might be a good idea to
prevent further fights on this kind of personal level.
I'm not a very well-read amateur in Linguistics, but I know there can be
(even without having published etc., although I understand Pjotr's comment
well), a fact that might be stated in terms of interest, time, etc. - for those
who know a lot but are not professionals - I found it very interesting to learn
that Marc is a doctor - I'd suppose he has special-linguistic- knowledge in this
field, too.
My main interest (and I'm just trying to find a matching self-confidence)
is widespread (having an M.A. in comparative literature and just preparing to
write a thesis for becoming Ph.D. - or the Greek equivalent - in
prehistory/archaeology, but reading into ancient Anatolian languages,
concentrating on mythology with another focal point on old plant lore and
theory/history of religion). I certainly know that it is impossible to be
professional in all those subjects. For that reason I'm quite thankful e.g. to
Pjotr and other better informed people on this list because this a the place
where I can learn something it would take me lots of books to read to find out.
We have here a forum to exchange ideas that could not be exchanged otherwise,
I'm well aware of that and happy to be part of it.
As I'm probably not the only person on this list who is projecting her/his
own ideas/thoughts into a linguistic subject (something probably even
professionals do in a highly hypothetic subject as this), I would appreciate it
very much to know a little more about other members of the list (I was amazed to
find out, e.g. that Gerry is a woman - and I don't feel sorry at all to say that
I understand her way of thinking better since I know!).
So I'll tell you a little more of my basics: I'm 42, female, mother of five
(two magical couples of twins and a little girl, 15,12,4), German, live in
Crete, have learnt (and much forgotten) apart from the obvious languages German/
English/ modern Greek also French, Spanish, Czech, Latin (not ancient Greek, by
the way!) - in this order - and my job is translating American novels into
German. I like to call myself a writer, too - I've published a collection of
short stories and my book on Cretan shepherds is about to be published, but
that'll probably never be a profession in the sense of 'bring money'... And
I do already consider myself a kind of 'professional' in Aegean archaeology -
(adding the same in terms of money ... ;-))
And as for linguists: one of the best (from what I can tell) I know - he's
not on this list - is a mathematician by profession (that seems to be present
here too, I have the feeling).
I'd appreciate very much to get some more information on other group
members, too. Just to have a little more of an idea who I am 'talking' to.
With best wishes from Crete.
Sabine Ivanovas