SoA Forums

History => Ancient and Medieval History => Topic started by: Duncan Head on November 18, 2021, 01:33:39 PM

Title: Origins of "TransEurasian" languages with Liao valley millet farmers
Post by: Duncan Head on November 18, 2021, 01:33:39 PM
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/nov/10/origins-of-transeurasian-languages-traced-to-neolithic-millet-farmers
Title: Re: Origins of "TransEurasian" languages with Liao valley millet farmers
Post by: Andreas Johansson on November 18, 2021, 02:09:19 PM
Linguistically speaking, this is a variant of the Altaic hypothesis, which has been debated since the 19th century. I think we can assume the last word hasn't been said.

(That the journalist doesn't mention the better-known name of the putative family could, were one uncharitably disposed, be taken as evidence they didn't research the story even to the point of looking up "Transeurasian" on Wikipedia.)
Title: Re: Origins of "TransEurasian" languages with Liao valley millet farmers
Post by: Duncan Head on November 18, 2021, 02:17:22 PM
"Altaic" is mentioned in the third paragraph of the original Nature paper (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-04108-8), so I think the Reuters journalist must have noticed it - but possibly not understood the significance.