Re: Interesting pre-Greek article

--- In conlang@yahoogroups.com, R A Brown <ray@C...> wrote:
> Jeffrey Jones wrote:
> > On Mon, 19 Sep 2005 11:30:00 +0100, R A Brown <ray@C...>
> [snip] ...
> ancestor of both Urindogermanisch and Rätotyrrhenisch
> (Raeto-Tyrrhenian). From the latter, according to Kretschmer, was
> derived Raetian, Etruscan, Tyrrhenian and Pelasgian.
> ...
> [snip]
Speaking of Etruscans/Tyrrhenians:
I found out Semerano, of whom I asked on another thread, was the
author of a few books in Italian on the Etruscans, one of which was
entitled something which translates, I think, as "On the Origins of
European Culture".

Does that help anyone answer my "Historical Linguistics Question"?
Was Semerano an actual expert on anything at all --
Etruscan archaeology, perhaps?
Did he actually revolutionize anything?
Were his linguistic ideas just tentative new hypotheses that didn't
happen to pan out, or tentative new hypotheses that haven't yet been
disproven, or examples of a guy who thought since he was expert in
one area, he should go in and clean up the mess in somebody elses'
area (and ended up making a fool out of himself)?
Or was he an all-around crackpot?

(BTW I also remember seeing the Etruscan Treasures exhibit when it
was in Oklahoma, and finding out that people now think Futhark runes
are descended from the Etruscan writing system.)

Tom H.C. in MI