Questioning of the elite dominance theory

[Stanley Friesen]

At 11:55 PM 11/11/00 -0500, JoatSimeon at aol.com wrote:
>I'd say that in a preliterate milieu, the minimal requirement for language
>replacement is that the intrusive community come in complete family groups
>(children learn language from their mothers, after all), that they come in
>-some- numbers, so they're not a drop of ink in a bucket of milk, and that
>they have social mechanisms for assimilating the local population _as
>individuals_.

I would also say that it would be a great "help" if membership in the
intrusive community is seen locally as bringing prestige.  This would
encourage not only direct assimilation, but also *imitation*.

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May the peace of God be with you.         sarima at ix.netcom.com