Daniel J. Milton wrote:
> Just a little nit-picking re Grzegorz' excellent lecture on
> language relationship:
> --- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "Grzegorz Jagodzinski"
> <grzegorj2000@...> wrote:
> "Once again, none of modern Greek dialects is a descendant of a
> non-Attic dialect of ancient Greek. They all continues the Hellenic
> koine (and perhaps even the second, Byzantine koine) and not single
> dialects, however those ancient dialects have left their traces in
> modern Greek."
> Tsakonian is considered a descendant of a Doric dialect. It's
> down to about 300 speakers, so let's recognize it while it's still
> here! Dan Milton
Oh yes, you are fully right. Tsakonian is a descendant of Late Lakonian used
in Roman times (which comes from the language of Sparta), hence Doric. I
have just forgotten about Tsakonian because I think of it as a separate
language, "not inherently intelligible with modern Greek (Voegelin and
Voegelin 1977)" (
http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=GR), which
should not be termed "modern Greek" then. However, very well that you recall
it. But it is yet another argument for my theory (my = presented by me
;-) ). Similar dialects cannot mix. One replaces another instead. Tsakonian
is the best example of a language which comes from a "para-dialect" and
which is being replaced by modern Greek just now.
Grzegorz J.
___________________________________________________________
To help you stay safe and secure online, we've developed the all new Yahoo! Security Centre.
http://uk.security.yahoo.com