Re: [tied] Re: Mallory's New PIE Homeland?

Interesting question Jens. This is similar to whether language and genes need to be congruent. I do agree that culture and language follow the same pattern. A huge archaeological homeland could represent the masses with a tiny spot within occupied by those few who are influential in the development of the IE languages.

Gerry

----- Original Message -----

From: Jens Elmegaard Rasmussen

To: cybalist@yahoogroups.com

Sent: Monday, March 17, 2003 8:29 AM

Subject: Re: [tied] Re: Mallory's New PIE Homeland?

Do the two concepts, the culture and the language, have to be congruent? Could there not be many IE-like peoples among which only a few were influential in the development of the IE languages? That would yield a huge archaeological homeland with a small linguistically relevant spot somewhere inside it. It would entail a great mess of archaeological remains, but still nice and tidy sound laws because they apply only to the languages that were lucky enough to be continued. On the other hand, I would only prefer such a solution if nothing else works. If the traces of the cultural and the linguistic expansion do not support each other, both are seriously weakened. It is nicer if things are what they look like. Jens