16.1851, Qs: Lang Extinction/Neolithic Revolution

[LINGUIST List]

LINGUIST List: Vol-16-1851. Sun Jun 12 2005. ISSN: 1068 - 4875.

Subject: 16.1851, Qs: Lang Extinction/Neolithic Revolution

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1)
Date: 04-Jun-2005
From: John Kingston < jkingston at linguist.umass.edu >
Subject: New Yorker:Kolbert on language extinction

	
-------------------------Message 1 ----------------------------------
Date: Sun, 12 Jun 2005 15:13:48
From: John Kingston < jkingston at linguist.umass.edu >
Subject: New Yorker:Kolbert on language extinction



In her article on Eyak in the 6 June 2005 issue of the New Yorker,
Elizabeth Kolbert asserts, 'A great wave of language extinctions, it is
believed, took place eight or nine thousand years ago, following the
so-called Neolithic revolution.' (pp. 46-47).  I was quite surprised at
this remark.  Who believes this and on what grounds?  I will post a summary
of the responses I receive.  Thank you.

John Kingston
Linguistics Department
University of Massachusetts
jkingston at linguist.umass.edu

Linguistic Field(s): Historical Linguistics




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