IE versus *PIE

[Robert Orr]

[ moderator edited ]

I think part of the problem is that family tree diagrams tend to be
oversimplified.  A close reading of the relevant passages of Dixon's book
shows that he seems to arguing for some sort of recognition  that family
tree diagrams should be far more complex than normally presented.

One analogy that we should consider is bushes which can sprout branches
which later can fuse again, or can fuse with branches from other bushes.  Of
course, it may be impossible to reduce such complexity to a page, and
linguists may have to discuss family trees in the same way that
cartographers discuss Mercator's Projection (even Peter's may not entirely
free of such problems.)

Robert Orr

>>> Linguistic work in the last twenty years has demonstrated beyond dispute
>>> That linguistic descent can be, and sometimes is, far more complicated
>>> Than our conventional family-tree model would suggest.

>> -- quite true.

>> Although one should point out that the family-tree model is overwhelmingly
>> more _common_ and should therefore be regarded as the "default mode" absent
>> evidence to the contrary.

>Indeed.  I want to make it clear that I agree with this, since that's the
>way the evidence points.

>My old friend Bob Dixon has recently been trying to persuade us otherwise.
>So far I am not persuaded, but I'm listening.

>Larry Trask