[tied] Re: Also an Austro-Asiatic Disconnect

--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "Patrick Ryan" <proto-language@...>
wrote:

>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "ehlsmith" <ehlsmith@...>
> To: <cybalist@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Friday, November 11, 2005 3:50 PM
> Subject: [tied] Re: Also an Austro-Asiatic Disconnect
>
>
> > --- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "Patrick Ryan" <proto-

language@...>

> > wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: "ehlsmith" <ehlsmith@...>

.......

> <snip>
>
> > So, yes of course I believe surnames can provide information about
> > who one's ancestors were, but what the particular etymology of

that

> > surname was does not reveal anything about the character of

present-

> > day individuals bearing the name.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Ned Smith
>
> ***
> Patrick:
>
> I am not so sure. When these names originated, they (hopefully)

made

> justifiable characterizations. Both ability and character are, to

some

> extent, inheritable. No one doubts today, for example, that

alcoholism and

> schizophrenia are inheritable. Thousands of people have adopted

babies with

> unknown antecedents in this country, and found, to their great

chagrin, that

> excellent home surroundings cannot overcome poor heredity.
>
> If I meet someone named Rubin, is it not likely that he descends

from a

> family of jewelers?

Patrick,

I think we ought to continue this offlist since the topic is far from
PIE. Suffice it to say that while you may assume one of my ancestors
lost back in the mists of time was a metalworker, you would be very
ill-advised to assume it would be a wise decision to pay me to do any
metalwork for you.

Regards,
Ned Smith