Replies

To: Elsie

If the languages 'evolved' to stay within a tight little group

Indo-European languages "evolved" from a common ancestor, which linguists call Indo-European.

then why haven't those humans got physical characteristics that differ markedly from their 'remote' relatives?

Different groups of humans look different, of course. Be that as it may, comparing language development to human evolution is kind of silly.

185 posted on 06/06/2005 11:37:18 AM PDT by Modernman ("Laws are like sausages, it is better not to see them being made." -Bismarck)

To: Modernman

Be that as it may, comparing language development to human evolution is kind of silly.

Why??

Wouldn't your same rules apply??

WhAt is slang but mutations in the word streaM?

There must be SOME 'selection process' that accepts and keeps new words and drops older ones.

187 posted on 06/06/2005 12:24:45 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going....)

To: Modernman

Be that as it may, comparing language development to human evolution is kind of silly.

Why??

You've got E folks that whip out an 'evolving' software program and claim that somehow IT shows how ET is supposed to work.

188 posted on 06/06/2005 12:26:02 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going....)

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