Agur orori:

OK, I'm no a linguist (though I'm really interested in everything
you write here), but there are some things on cannot suffer without
saying a little word ;-)

> > Basque is a language. It is not an ethnic group.

>> Then why are the Basque Seperatists in Spain mounting an offensive?

Surely ain't for the sake of language!

I live in what you'd call "Spanish Seperatist Basque Country" and,
as far as I know, there's no such an "offensive".

> > *** Perhaps my question should have been, how does one separate

a language from a dialect?

>
> That's not a question to ask a linguist, unless you want the

standard

> reply: A language is a dialect with an army and a navy.

Cute answer. All it means to me is that a dialect (like Basque)
needs a strong military to make it an honest to goodness language.


1. That shows the extent of your understanding of a rather wise
statement.
2. a LANGUAGE like Basque needs nothing to be what it is. What do
you mean by "honest to goodness language"???? Let us be what we are,
and play as much as you want with armies and war.

Gaizki erranak barka, eta ongi erranak gogoan har.

(I hope I didn't hurt anybody)