Acceso usuarios
Since Basque is a language not genetically related to its neighbours in historic nor prehistoric times, the study of its prehistory has been and still is a matter of considerable interest and debate amongst linguists and amateurs both locally and elsewhere. In this work I propose some reflections on the two classic techniques for the study of language prehistory (comparation and internal reconstruction) and I review some relevant applications that have come about since 1950.
The first part deals with the basic notions on which Historical Linguistics is based (comparation, reconstruction, phonetic laws and above all the arbitrary nature of linguistic signs, which makes us reject chance as the basis for our discussions). I then review (1) Martinet's and Mitxelena's classic (internal) reconstruction, (2) the application of glottochronology (Tovar) to the study of Basque's relationships, (3) macrocomparation (Greenberg) and its supposed consequences for Basque prehistory and (4) the (internal) reconstruction of the proto-Basque canonical root (Lakarra 1995, etc.).
It seems obvious that whereas comparation -regularly performed by amateurs and effected without following Historical Linguistics' general criteria- has turned out to be unfruitful, internal Historical reconstruction, on the other hand, has shown substantial evidence of its explanatory validity and its capability to face the numerous problems still remaining in this area of study.
