09-07-03 19:02, fortuna11111 wrote:
> Depends for what you mean it is sufficient. I am wondering if
> comparative linguistics would help you particularly in deciphering
> texts on archeological findings. This would need more than just
> general knowledge of grammar.
Texts can be deciphered by qualified experts only -- that goes without
saying (not all experts have academic degrees but I'm sure you know what
I mean: an expert is somebody who has done relevant research at an
advanced level). Some highly specialised knowledge is usually necessary,
but it isn't always the knowledge of languages closely related to the
language of the inscription. Otherwise Sumerian, Hittite, Tocharian or
Etruscan would not have been understood. It may be the knowledge of
writing systems, or the history of neighbouring peoples and philological
knowledge of _their_ texts. What exactly you have to know depends on the
particular case.
I was originally talking about IE studies and what is sufficient
_there_. Of course familiarity with several languages is just a
necessary prerequisite. One must know quite a lot about phonology,
morphology, the principles of doing comparative work, etc., etc. And one
has to be "immersed" in the linguistic milieu. I mean contact with
colleagues, exchange of ideas, reading new books and articles, giving
talks and conference presentations, publishing, etc. Just as in any science.
Piotr