PIE vs. Proto-World (Proto-Language)

[Larry Trask]

On Mon, 19 Jul 1999, Patrick C. Ryan wrote:

[on monogenesis]

> The "persuasive case" has already been made. Monogenesis is much likelier
> than polygenesis. And you have written so yourself!

No, I haven't.

What I have said is that we have no evidence either way, but that the
majority of linguists probably lean toward monogenesis.

I myself am agnostic.  Monogenesis appeals to me because it is
economical, but there is no way on earth I could defend monogenesis
against someone who doubted it.

Larry Trask
COGS
University of Sussex
Brighton BN1 9QH
UK

larryt at cogs.susx.ac.uk