Re: NATLANG:Proto-Pontic

Joe wrote:


> According to Wikipedia, a theory has been put forth that Proto-NW
Caucasian
> and PIE are somehow related, as Proto-Pontic...is there any actual
evidence
> for this, does anyone know?
I believe that's part of the Nostratic hypothesis, though I'm not sure of
the details.  Most likely the evidence will involve suggestive resemblances
in the pronoun system, and a handful of vocab.items that may be inherited,
or loans, or simply coincidences...ya takes yer pick...

In the past there has been lively discussion of this and other aspects of
the theory on Cybalist (yahoogroups) but I'm not sure it will still be in
their archive (truncated by Yahoo a while back).  A slightly crazed (but
interesting/amusing) member there named Glen Gordon has a website devoted to
his concept of the wider relationships and developments in the pre-PIE
period.

Also-- there are at least two Nostratic lists in yahoogroups (one defunct
now for several months), where you might find some info, to be viewed, I
think, with caution....... I've given up reading them, as they become rather
flame-y. Mr. Gordon participates there as well, and you might find his URL
there more easily than on Cybalist.

If you google for "Nostratic" you'll get a mixed bag of pure wacko and the
occasional genuine scholar (mostly Russians).

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