5 ms·

This sounds like "edenics" (as in garden of Eden), which posits that there was original language (probably Hebrew) from which all languages descend. Other popul

This sounds like "edenics" (as in garden of Eden), which posits that there was original language (probably Hebrew) from which all languages descend. Other popular "original" languages are Tamil, Sanskrit, Basque, or whatever language some nationalist crackpot decides they want to promote. It's totally disconnected from reality. Here's a Language Log post on it: http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/005278.html http://itre.cis.upenn.edu/~myl/languagelog/archives/005278.h...

msrenee 4y ago
This is super reminiscent to me of the arguments you see claiming Tamil is the oldest language. It's just not based on sound evidence or reasoning.
moloch-hai 4y ago
[flagged]
- bazoom42 4y ago
  > If you insist (why?) that semitic alphabets can have made no contribution, and you are correct, then the evidence will show that How could evidence show lack of contribution? You can’t prove a negative like that. You can’t prove lack of influence from Korean or ancient aliens either.
  - moloch-hai 4y ago
    Then what are you worried about?
    - bazoom42 4y ago
      What are you referring to?
      - moloch-hai 4y ago
        If you are certain that comparing the oldest runes to semitic glyphs won't show up a closer match than more recent runes do, what is wrong with comparing them, or talking about comparing them? The only possible objection is that you don't like what might come from it.
        _a_a_a_ 4y ago
        They've been compared and nothing of note was found. See https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34494938 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34494938
        moloch-hai 4y ago
        That work was all done without this new evidence. New evidence might reinforce old conclusions, or undermine them. Nobody knows without the work having been done.
        _a_a_a_ 4y ago
        What new evidence.
        moloch-hai 4y ago
        It is called TFA, around here. I have copied the link for your convenience. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/sensational-runestone-discovered-in-norway-may-be-the-worlds-oldest-180981470/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/sensational-runest...
        bazoom42 4y ago
        Did you mean to reply to somone else? I have not objected to comparing anything.
        moloch-hai 4y ago

msrenee 4y ago

This is super reminiscent to me of the arguments you see claiming Tamil is the oldest language. It's just not based on sound evidence or reasoning.

moloch-hai 4y ago

[flagged]

bazoom42 4y ago
> If you insist (why?) that semitic alphabets can have made no contribution, and you are correct, then the evidence will show that How could evidence show lack of contribution? You can’t prove a negative like that. You can’t prove lack of influence from Korean or ancient aliens either.
- moloch-hai 4y ago
  Then what are you worried about?
  - bazoom42 4y ago
    What are you referring to?
    - moloch-hai 4y ago
      If you are certain that comparing the oldest runes to semitic glyphs won't show up a closer match than more recent runes do, what is wrong with comparing them, or talking about comparing them? The only possible objection is that you don't like what might come from it.
      - _a_a_a_ 4y ago
        They've been compared and nothing of note was found. See https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34494938 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34494938
        moloch-hai 4y ago
        That work was all done without this new evidence. New evidence might reinforce old conclusions, or undermine them. Nobody knows without the work having been done.
        _a_a_a_ 4y ago
        What new evidence.
        moloch-hai 4y ago
        It is called TFA, around here. I have copied the link for your convenience. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/sensational-runestone-discovered-in-norway-may-be-the-worlds-oldest-180981470/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/sensational-runest...
      - bazoom42 4y ago
        Did you mean to reply to somone else? I have not objected to comparing anything.
        moloch-hai 4y ago