Re: Languages Evolve in Punctuational Bursts

I have expressed an interest in learning more about the idea that a majority
of words in Japanese are from any other language.

I asked for the source of your pronouncement unless, of course, you are an
expert on Japanese yourself.

Do you have one?


Patrick

----- Original Message -----
From: "Rick McCallister" <gabaroo6958@...>
To: <cybalist@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2008 12:28 PM
Subject: Re: [tied] Languages Evolve in Punctuational Bursts


> The majority, or at least something close to the
> majority, of words in Japanese and Korean are from
> Chinese. Japanese, like English, is an enthusiastic
> borrower of lexicon. Look at all the English words
> that exist in Japanese --they even make up English
> words that don't exist in English-speaking countries
> such as Walkman and Discman, etc. Even names such as
> Pokemon --from "Pocket Monster". They have a slew of
> Dutch and Portuguese words from the first era of
> western contact. I think you've seen too many geisha
> movies if you think Japanese culture is stagnant and
> non-evolving.
>
>
> --- Patrick Ryan <proto-language@...> wrote:
>
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Rick McCallister" <gabaroo6958@...>
> > To: <cybalist@yahoogroups.com>
> > Sent: Thursday, February 07, 2008 12:00 AM
> > Subject: Re: [tied] Languages Evolve in
> > Punctuational Bursts
> >
> >
> > > So why are native Japanese words a minority of the
> > > language? Your argument doesn't work.
> > > Regarding the Inuit language and the Australian
> > > languages in question, they are supposedly very
> > > isolated. Someone gave this example years ago
> > either
> > > on the old IE list or the old Nostratics list.
> > > Among IE languages, Lithuanian is usually touted
> > as
> > > the most conservative yet Lithuania has a long
> > history
> > > of invasion and repression by its neighbors who in
> > > turn tried to impose Polish, Russian and German
> > upon
> > > the population in areas they controlled. Latvian,
> > > spoken next door, has a similar history, yet has
> > > evolved more.
> > >
> > > --- Patrick Ryan <proto-language@...> wrote:
> >
> > ***
> >
> > What is your source for the statement that native
> > Japanese words are a
> > minority of the language?
> >
> > Supposedly? You must be joking! They have lost most
> > of their native culture
> > and live off the beneficence of the non-native
> > majority.
> >
> > The Lithuanians have maintained ethnic continuity -
> > that can trump many
> > X-ification efforts.
> >
> >
> > Patrick
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
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