These superficial "matches" ... actually I don't think they have anything to
do with linguistics, science, or research in general; it's more like certain
individuals will not feel OK unless they establish certain crucial (and
impossible) connections between words. In the case of Albanian they have
tried every possible hypothesis: Pelasgian, Etruscan, ancient Aramaic,
ancient Egyptian... In any case, the other language MUST have some mythic
affiliation, or aura of mystery, or be somehow related to cultures extinct,
but inherently (and pompously) superior to the surviving ones. It's so
puzzling that all these fringe etymologists are so fascinated with history,
but will REFUSE to acknowledge even the simplest principles of the historical
method (at least in linguistics). Maybe because the past for them is always
present, and it's just our eyes that lack the necessary training to see it.
Otherwise I remember having read through the work of someone claiming to
explain the Etruscan inscriptions (again) with the help of Albanian; it was a
genuine attempt completely independent from Zacharia Mayani's work, and even
phonier (if possible). (All this laid out in expensive glossy paper, color
illustrations, and overall superb-quality typesetting and print.) Someone
approached the noble lady with a photo of a curious inscription on a slab
preserved in the historical museum of Shkodra (Scutari) in Northern Albania;
the photo had been taken from one of Mayani's books, and the inscription
actually looks like Etruscan (because of a specific character found in it).
To the astonishment of those present, our lady was able to read and interpret
this inscription between a glass of lemonade and an espresso, in the lobby of
the hotel; she had no doubt whatsoever about her interpretation (maybe it was
this remarkable aplomb that had gained her a honoris causa from the
University of La Paz in Bolivia).
Personally I don't think this urge for etymologization can be simply
dismissed as paranoia (though in many cases it certainly IS paranoia). I
would rather consider these people's efforts like some obscure form of art, a
generating of connections out of thin air, a mockup rationalism by a
fundamentally irrational mindset. I am also afraid that in this era of
relativism and PC science, we might be going to hear a lot more of this as
time goes by.
Lulzim Shtino
In a message dated 3/8/01 1:31:44 AM Eastern Standard Time,
gpiotr@... writes:
<< The history of Albanian abounds in formidable complications
(non-productive archaic prefixations, obscured compounds, reduction of
unstressed syllables, a variety of plurals converted into singulars, etc.).
This is one more reason to dismiss superficial "matches" between Modern
Albanian and Etruscan or any other language spoken 2000 or more years ago if
they are proposed without a careful historical analysis. >>