Linkage

[owlectomy]

Are we ready yet to let a historian claim that English is a Celtic language with Germanic words?

English is usually described as a Germanic language with lots of Latinate words (mostly via French); linguists usually claim that the Celtic languages had no influence on English at all. But is that really so? J.R.R. Tolkien, among others, claimed not. An intriguing theory--it appeals to me!

Global warming skeptic Ronald Bailey changes his mind in the face of the evidence.

Comments

[lordameth.livejournal.com]

Very interesting linguistics article. I think I just might bookmark this "Language Log"... linguistics, like anthropology, is one of those subjects on the fringe of what I generally study, and yet it's quite interesting when not too loaded down with science or jargon.