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From: iad@cogsci.ed.ac.uk (Ivan A Derzhanski)
Subject: Re: Languages in the EC
Message-ID: <D3woor.9Cu@cogsci.ed.ac.uk>
Organization: Centre for Cognitive Science, Edinburgh, UK
References: <elnaD3s0FA.Ayq@netcom.com> <D3sr3v.C3p@cogsci.ed.ac.uk> <792542903snz@storcomp.demon.co.uk>
Date: Sun, 12 Feb 1995 21:22:01 GMT
Lines: 22

In article <792542903snz@storcomp.demon.co.uk> philip@storcomp.demon.co.uk writes:
>In article <D3sr3v.C3p@cogsci.ed.ac.uk> iad@cogsci.ed.ac.uk "Ivan A Derzhanski" writes:
>> >"A Romance language is any language which draws a majority of its 
>> >word stock from Latin." 
>> 
>> This is nonsense.
>
>What is your definition of a Romance language then?

The definition (it's not just my definition) is that a Romance language
is a descendant of Vulgar Latin.

As to what it means for a language to be a descendant of another, and
how linguists go about determining when this is the case, I refer you
to the sci.lang FAQL and the introductory linguistic literature
recommended therein.

-- 
`I'm sendin a flood tae pit an end tae it aw.  But dinny worry yersel, Noah.'
Ivan A Derzhanski (iad@cogsci.ed.ac.uk)    (J Stuart, _Auld Testament Tales_)
* Centre for Cognitive Science,  2 Buccleuch Place,   Edinburgh EH8 9LW,  UK
* Cowan House E113, Pollock Halls, 18 Holyrood Pk Rd, Edinburgh EH16 5BD, UK
