The stone-age Basque language remains mystery to scientists

Deutsche Presse-Agentur ^ | 01 June 2006 | Sinikka Tarvainen

[Virginia-American]

As near as I can tell, the consensus is that the Northern Caucasian family (which is the Caucasian in Dene-Caucasian) is not closely related to Kartvelian (Georgian, etc aka Southern Caucasian), and that the similarities between them are contact phenomena, like exist in the Balkans or in Africa (where a few Bantu languages have adopted "click" sounds from Khoi-San)

[Tax Government]

If you'd like to hear what sounds like a click consonant in Chechen, try this very pleasant, well produced song by Aza (Britney x 100).

http://www.chechnyafree.ru/ram/music/938.asx

What appears to be a voiceless, unaspirated glottal stop is here: 4th line, 2nd syllable.

[Concentrate]

It's a very pretty song. Thanks for posting it.

[blam]

"(where a few Bantu languages have adopted "click" sounds from Khoi-San)"

African Click Language 'Holds Key To Earliest Human Speech'

[gocats]

You people are to smart for me

[Salamander]

They're talking about you behind your back.....:)

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks.

[Dustbunny]

Very interesting. Wonder if they have done any DNA sampling?

[Lurker]

For later.

L

[Doctor Stochastic]

I liked "The Loo Sanction" and "The Eiger Sanction," but I never could get through "Shibumi." Usually, I like all books (or none) by an author.

[shibumi]

Thanks for watching my back.

The screen name, however, holds more significance for me due to it's connotations in the Japanese language than the accidental setting of the novel in the Basque country - although the novel is where I first came in contact with the concept twenty some years ago.

[shibumi]

.......and as far as the language issue goes: "Sola lingua bona, lingua mortua est."

[LadyDoc]

the only area of the US where there are a lot of Basques is Idaho, where Basque shepherds and their families were imported.
My next door neighbor was a Basque, but didn't speak the language, although he parents spoke a little.

[Salamander]

I know that silly.
I was being a smart@ss.....:))

[and trolling you, so there]....:-P

[Salamander]

Oh, sure.
*You* say that and nobody reacts.
*I* say it and wind up in flame war over it.....LOL!

[shibumi]

You just have to do your posting at 3AM, when all the flamers are asleep.



(OOOOPS!)

[Salamander]

Sic'im, flamers!

[Ptarmigan]

Caucasian language family is controversial. I have read that Georgian and Kartvelian are not related to each other. Khoisan is the click language which among them include San Bushman and Hottentots. I have seen pictures of them and they look more Mongoloid than Negroid.

[Ptarmigan]

Basque people have contributed to European, Latin America, and Western Civilization.

Famous Basques
St. Ignatius of Loyola
Francis Xavier
Cabeza de Vaca
Louis Daguerre
Simon Bolivar
Lope de Aguirre
Juan Bautista de Anza
Che Guevara
Luis Echeverria
Evita Peron
Augusto Pinochet
Ted Williams

[SunkenCiv]

America B.C.
by Barry Fell
(1976)
find it in a nearby library

A fascinating letter I received from a Shoshone Indian who had been traveling in the Basque country of Spain tells of his recognition of Shoshone words over there, including his own name, whose Shoshone meaning proved to match the meaning attached to a similar word by the modern Basques. Unfortunately I mislaid this interesting letter. If the Shoshone scholar who wrote to me should chance to see these words I hope he will forgive me and contact me again. The modern Basque settlers of Idaho may perhaps bring forth a linguist to investigate matters raised in this chapter. [p 173]