Re: List of natlangs

Nik Taylor wrote:

> Probably either one borrowed the idiom from the other, or it has a
> common origin in Vulgar Latin, or both borrowed it from a third lang.
I think we can rule out the second hypothesis: while there was
some contact between the Roman and Chinese Empires (enough that
there is a Latin word for China), they were really too remote
to provoke such an idiom.

Anyway, the Romans used the "Greek" version.  Saith the Great Historian:

# CASSIUS. Did Cicero say anything?
#
# CASCA. Ay, he spoke Greek.
#
# CASSIUS. To what effect?
#
# CASCA. Nay, an [if] I tell you that, I'll ne'er look you i' the face
#   again; but those that understood him smiled at one another
#   and shook their heads; but for mine own part, it was Greek to me.


--
John Cowan      http://www.ccil.org/~cowan              cowan@ccil.org
        You tollerday donsk?  N.  You tolkatiff scowegian?  Nn.
        You spigotty anglease?  Nnn.  You phonio saxo?  Nnnn.
                Clear all so!  'Tis a Jute.... (Finnegans Wake 16.5)