[language] heoretical question

[H.M. Hubey]

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Suppose I find that language X has some word ^%$#*^ which has N
meanings.

Then I find that language Y has N different (but similar) words which
match these N meanings of language X.

What does this mean?

1) The N words of langauge Y have collapsed into a single form in
language X.

2) The word had only a single meaning, but got N meanings but retained
its sound shape/form in language X but for some reason split into N
different forms in language Y.

Any others?

--
M. Hubey

hubeyh at mail.montclair.edu
/\/\/\/\//\/\/\/\/\/\/http://www.csam.montclair.edu/~hubey



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