Originally posted by Soldier of Macedon
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The unity of proto-Greek probably ended as hellenic migrants, speaking the predecessor of the Myceanean language, entered the greek penninsula around the 21st century bc. They were then seperated from the Dorian Greeks, who entered the penninsula roughly one millenium later, speaking a dialect that in some respects had remained more archaic.
Messy, isn't it? Nevertheless, it is an extremely interesting topic that I would like to discuss in further detail, should anybody share the same interest and take the time to review all of the sources. I am suprised at the weak foundations of so many theories that are commonly accepted today, I would like to disprove them, or, at least see something solid and credible that confirms them.
Anyways, do you remember we had an interesting topic last winter(summer for you lol) about the Dorians. perhaps the topics could be merged if we can find the old one. Struja posted some interesting stuff if Im not mistaken.
Ill see what else I can dig up about the Dorians, and how theyre language compares to that of the Mycaeneans.
Originally posted by Soldier of Macedon
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Originally posted by Soldier of Macedon
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I agree the link between Doric greek and Mycaenean must have been greater than that of Mycaenian - Koine, which would have been minimal at most. However, these languages are all greek at their root, and must share some type of common origin.
The Tsakonian dialect, still spoken by very few to this day could shed some light on the differences. Tsakonian, which is derived from the Dorian Greek, can barely be understood by todays Greek due to the fact it has no 'atticisms' ; it missed out on the Koine period Alexander introduced.
I also agree with the second half of your post when you say that Attic is closer to modern greek than Mycaenian. As well as a modern Greek speaker could read Koine, Im willing to wager that a Tsakonian speaker could understand the Dorian language of the same period.
There is a saying(not sure how true it is) that the greek of Homer to Xenophon, is further seperated, than the Greek of Xenephon to todays Greek.
Homer to Xenophon is about 4 - 500 yrs apart.
Xenophon to today is about 2400 yrs apart.
Crazy stuff.
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