At 12:14:34 on Monday, 31 October 2005, mkelkar2003 wrote:
>> By the way, I see that you're still grossly misrepresenting
>> Merlijn de Smit by quoting him out of context.
> But i see your point. Smit is criticising "back
> reconstruction" not the comparative method used by IEL.
Don't be ridiculous. KÜNNAP objects to what he calls
'back-reconstruction'. DE SMIT criticizes KÜNNAP:
The method named "back-reconstruction" by Künnap is, far
from a closet skeleton of the comparative method, part and
parcel of it.
He goes on to mention '[a] beautiful example of
"back-reconstruction" which would horrify Künnap but which
actually demonstrates the power of the comparative method'.
Evidently it isn't just the technical material that goes
over your head.
'Never ascribe to malice that which can be explained by
incompetence.'
Brian