Hellenic and Thracian

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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