--- In
cybalist@yahoogroups.com, Rick McCallister <gabaroo6958@...>
wrote:
>
> > IMHO the IE words 'bear' and 'horse' aren't native but loanwords.
>
> Yes, that is your opinion, but opinion counts for nothing unless it is
supported by undeniable facts.
>
I'm not sure what you mean by "undeniable", but there're some facts:
- The IE word for 'bear' is very difficult to reconstruct as a PIE root
because of its phonetic irregularities.
- This word has a likely NEC cognate.
- Germanic has a different 'bear' word linked to other IE roots (either
'wild animal' or 'beaver'/'brown').
- The IE word 'horse' is irregular in some languages such as Hittite and
Greek, pointing to they being loanwords.
- This word has a likely NEC cognate.
- Horses were first domesticated in the Pontic-Caspian Steppes.
- There're other 'horse' words in IE languages, including one which is
exclusive of Germanic.
> In this case, Brian and most linguists obviously see things according
to the maxim "the apple doesn't roll far from the tree."
>
I'm afraid truth can't be decided by a majority vote. That would be
POLITICS, not science. BTW, the head also rolls from the body when it's
chopped off.