Re: Troy's language Re: My Apologies ...Mysterious sounds (was: Hebrew?)

On Sunday, October 3, 2004, at 10:06 , Rodlox wrote:

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Ray Brown <ray.brown@...>
[snip]
>> I was trying to work out why you asked the
>> question the way you did. We got there in end, I think   :)
>
>  this is not the end.
What I meant is that I think we solved the a-e ligature & o-e ligature
business. I realize that it's all part of your WIP which, of course, is
not at an end  :)

[snip]
>> I'll ponder on that [a Greek flavor] and mail you some suggestions.
>
>  no hurry.
OK - I was assuming the 'flavoring' you meant was ancient Greek rather
than modern Greek. But Ben's recent mail has made me realize that it will
be as well to check.

[snip]
>  so...what language did the people of Troy speak?  something more like the
> Hittite/Luwian languages?
>  *curious*
So am I! the short answer is that we don't know.

I think, however, probably not one of the Hittite/Luwian group - Luwian
particularly was more to the south. It was more probably a language in the
Thraco-Phrygian branch of IE. These languages at one time strached across
the southern Balkans, through Thrace and into the north west of asia Minor.
  They are not well documented and were subject more and more from Greek
influence in the last millennium BCE and were eventually replaced by Greek.
  But Phrygian did achieve some status as a written language & seemed to
survive at least till the 3rd cent CE. Armenian is considered by many to
be related to the Thraco-Phrugian group.

Ray
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