Welcome to today's video. 🎥
This one took me a long time to prepare, and I'm afraid it might be a bit rough around the edges. It was definitely a hard subject to tackle. I also recorded it in the dark so I’m sorry if the video is a little fuzzy (I have a little ring light for recording but for whatever reason, didn’t use it).
The subject of today's video is Juliette Blevins' book, "Advances in Proto-Basque Reconstruction with Evidence for the Proto-Indo-European-Euskarian Hypothesis." 📚 This book holds significant importance in the field of linguistics, particularly in exploring the relationship between Proto-Basque and Proto-Indo-European (The first of its kind in that regard).
Personally, I've been drawn to Blevins' work due to her previous contributions to Austronesian languages and phonology, which piqued my interest in her exploration of Proto-Basque.
Blevins proposes a hypothesis suggesting a connection between Proto-Basque and Proto-Indo-European, challenging conventional views in linguistics (most scholars consider Basque an isolate). This theory has sparked intense debate and scrutiny within the linguistic community, with some questioning its methodological soundness and potential influence from loanwords or contact languages.
Despite the controversy, Blevins' work has undeniably advanced our understanding of Proto-Basque reconstruction. Her meticulous research and comprehensive analysis provide valuable insights into the linguistic history of the Basque language.
However, it's essential to maintain a critical perspective on Blevins' proposed Proto-Indo-European-Euskarian hypothesis. While her contributions to Proto-Basque reconstruction are commendable, the validity of her hypothesis remains a topic of ongoing discussion and scrutiny within the field.
In this video, we'll look into the key aspects of Blevins' work, exploring both its significance and its limitations. Join me as we navigate through the complex world of linguistic hypotheses and uncover the truths hidden within ancient languages. 🚀
This video is dedicated to Larry Trask, a fine Basque linguist and historian.
📖 Selected sources (others will be in the video). In approximate order that they appear
⭐ Blevins, J. (2018). Advances in Proto-Basque Reconstruction with Evidence for the Proto-Indo-European-Euskarian Hypothesis. London & New York: Routledge.
Blevins, J. (2020a). Derivational patterns in Proto-Basque word structure. In L. Körtvélyessy & P. Štekauer (Eds.), Complex words: Advances in Morphology (pp. 222-243). Cambridge University Press.
Blevins, J., & Sproat, R. (2021). Statistical evidence for the Proto-Indo-European-Euskarian Hypothesis: A word-list approach integrating phonotactics. Diachronica.
Blevins, J. (2001). Nhanda: An Aboriginal Language of Western Australia. Oceanic Linguistics Special Publications, 30, i–170
Blevins, J. 2007a. A long lost sister of Proto-Austronesian? Proto-Ongan, Mother of Jarawa and Onge of the Andaman Islands. Oceanic Linguistics 46: 154-98
Blevins, J. (2004). Evolutionary Phonology: The Emergence of Sound Patterns. Cambridge:Cambridge University Press.
⭐ Bakker, P. (2020). Distant genetic relations: is Basque related to Indo-European? Fontes Linguae Vasconum, (130), 563-592.
Michelena, L. (1995). The ancient Basque consonants. In J. I. Hualde, J. A. Lakarra, & R. L. Trask (Eds.), Towards a History of the Basque Language (pp. 101-). [Current Issues in Linguistic Theory 131].
⭐ Trask, R. L. (1997). The History of Basque (1st ed.). Routledge.
⭐ Hualde, J. I. (2021). On the comparative method, internal reconstruction, and other analytical tools for the reconstruction of the evolution of the Basque language: An assessment. Anuario Del Seminario De Filología Vasca "Julio De Urquijo",.
Gorrochategui, Joaquín. 2020b. Fontes Linguae Vasconum: orígenes y documentos para una Historia del Euskara. In Ekaitz Santazilia, Dorota Krajewska, Eneko Zuloaga & Borja Ariztimuño (eds.), Fontes Linguae Vasconum 50 urte, 295-313. Iruña/Pamplona: Nafarroako Gobernua/Gobierno de Navarra.
Gorrochategui, Joaquín & Joseba A. Lakarra. 2013. Why Basque cannot be, unfortunately, an Indo-European language. Journal of Indo-European Studies.
Blasco Ferrer, E. (2016). Protovascuence y Paleosardo: Reconstrucción y Comparación [Proto-Basque and Paleosardinian: Reconstruction and Comparison]. Lıburna, 9, 73–88
Martínez Areta, M. (2013). Basque and Proto-Basque. Berlin, Germany: Peter Lang Verlag.
Hualde, J. I., Lakarra, J. A., & Trask, R. L. (Eds.). (1995). Towards a History of the Basque Language. John Benjamins Publishing Company.
Rix, H., Kümmel, M., Zehnder, T., Lipp, R., & Schirmer, B. (2001). Lexikon der Indogermanischen Verben. Wiesbaden: Dr. Ludwig Reichert Verlag.
Rix, H., Kümmel, M., Zehnder, T., Lipp, R., & Schirmer, B. (2014). Lexikon der Indogermanischen Verben (3rd ed.).
Fortson IV, B. W. (2004). Indo-European Language and Culture: An Introduction. Malden, MA: Blackwell.
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