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From: "Dora Smith" <>
Subject: Re: [DNA] The Celtic Myth - Language spread by trade alone? Uh-huh
Date: Sun, 21 Oct 2007 11:14:55 -0500
References: <65e4272db649561ab6ef5366ba2d5d93@stnectan.demon.co.uk>


When in history has an entire population ever adopted a new language, as
their primary language, by trade alone - no conquest involved?

English has not managed this miracle, French did not, and neither did Latin
and Greek in their time. These languages have all been lingua franca, and
if any language were going to have universal appeal on account of trade, it
would be English, because everyone on Earth wants to adopt the culture and
speak the tongue of the Land of Cheeseburger, TV, and Blue Jeans, right?.
All of these languages, including English, only became primary languages
spoken by all or most of the population in regions people who spoke them
conquered.

A great many people around the world can speak English, just as most
educated people could once speak French, and anyone who functioned in the
ancient world once spoke Greek. But uneducated people around the world
cannot speak English, and no native culture not colonized by Engish speaking
people is in danger of adopting English as their primary language.

This is even better than the idea that the Celtic kingdoms of central Europe
in 800 - 600 BC suddenly adopted someone else's very different burial
customs by cultural contact alone. I don't think so. Neither do alot of
other people. People get buried in the ways of their OWN people. Can
you see yourself burying your parents, or arranging your own funeral, the
way it is done in China? LOL!

Or do you think that foreign languages once had greater mass appeal long ago
when most people were peasants who lived in mud huts and scrabbled their
living from the soil, and never knew nor paid attention to what happened
beyond their village? We know the people of Britain have always been
exceptional, and always determined to be culturally advanced, but....
Grin!

Yours,
Dora Smith
Austin, TX


----- Original Message -----
From: "John Ritchings" <>
To: "List GenealogyDNA" <>
Sent: Sunday, October 14, 2007 4:43 AM
Subject: Re: [DNA] DNA testing in the UK - The Celtic Myth


. The idea
> of a Celtic invasion from Northern Europe is prevalent, whereas it is
> more likely that the Celtic culture and language was adopted as a
> result of trade between the peoples.



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