Easy -- look at the Romans, for example. All the "Romance" languages are
based on Latin, but that doesn't mean that all the people of France, Italy,
Spain, etc. are descended from Romans who displaced or eliminated their
predecessors. The minority conquerors just installed their language, system
of laws, customs, etc., and the majority locals had to get used to it. By
the time the Empire fell, the Roman culture was firmly established, and
later indigenous rulers such as Charlemagne still used it as a template.
Why do most people in Ireland speak English? Same thing -- a minority
conqueror imposed their language. But are most Irish genetically English? I
wouldn't suggest that in Dublin...
on 1/10/09 1:34 AM, Paul Hunt at paul.hunt1@blueyonder.co.uk wrote:
> I don't see how the culture would move without people taking it.
--
Max Heim
'66 MGB GHN3L76149
If you're near Mountain View, CA,
it's the primer red one with chrome wires
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