[tied] Re: Indus Valley script decoded?

--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "S.Kalyanaraman" wrote:

> I agree, there is no link to IE speakers established as yet with a
> linguistic rigour which the members of this list rightly expect.

That's fine.

> If the Middle IA is explained with Prakrits and the Prakrits, in
> turn, are explained with reference to substrates(say, Nahali; say,
> Language X), a possible clue will emerge as to the reasons for the
> existence of apparently non-IE words in R.gveda.

Eventual substratal words are of course no proof of relationship
between straum & substratum. Requirements are at a higher level.

> The system which can be correlated is the writing system (with
> an underlying speech or parole),

Writing system can be simply borrowed without languages' being
related (e.g. Etruscan -> Latin), so this would be no argument.

> [...] the language of the slightly deceased guys who could turn
> out to be ancestors of IE people.

At this point this is only wishful thinking and it's a bad method
to seek for scientifical truth. "Hypotheses non fingere", as good
ol' Sir Isaac said once unpon a time.

Regards,
Marius Iacomi