Fiery pastes a quote from me earlier.
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Ok, having said that. Personally, I find the language thing as an immense stumbling block for those Atheists who feel there was an original pair, or even a sub-societal group...that branched out to different parts of our globe. You see, in my mind, if that were true, then all languages would have some striking similarities both in speech and print, and it is a given that some do, especially Latin or Germanic based languages, but this is not the case when you compare say English with Chinese, for example.
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Fiery Red replies: You will notice that languages do bear a striking similarity to each other, as in the regions in which they are spoken.
The time scales in question are far more than "a few thousand years." Homosapeins have been around for at least 150,000 years, a very long time for the alteration of the spoken word, English itself has undergone vast changes in a mere 400 years, to such a degree that it would be nearly incomprehensible to you and I today.
Given these vast time scales, it is hardly surprising that languages are so vastly different.
You mention print as one of your examples, the written word has been around for a minimum of six thousand years, the oldest examples from China, ideograms that were marked into fragments of bone, which were presumably used for divination.
Each culture developed tier own unique forms of the written word, as separated by such vast distances, contact between early societies was non-existent.<>

El Stevereno responds: Hi Fiery, I detect that there has been a distinct cooling off...since the last post. Oh well, I am used to it.

I am glad we have both mentioned the Chinese though...as it leads into one of the great language mysteries in our day. Do you like a good mystery?

The mystery is Japanese. It is obvious that Japan has borrowed from the Chinese in their written word. I mean, even I can see that. However, it seems that those who study languages are a bit dumbfounded as to why their spoken word has virtually no similarities...and yet, according to your suggestion above, they should...being neighbors. Any ideas?

American Natives...had enough languages...that even they were confused upon meeting each other, hense the developement in some parts...of sign language. But from South America up...there were so many languages, I don't believe they could be counted. You'd think, someone somewhere would say, "Hey stop! We need a universal language for all, soz weez canz communzicate." But no dice.<>


Fiery Red: I have to stop here, and ask at this point, if you are a biblical literalist, as you bring up the story of the tower of Babel. Using it as an example of a factual event.<>

Hmmmm. I don't usually get into my personal life. I mean...I don't think i should have to. However, I realize you are trying to understand me better...at least I hope so. So...I will answer, the best I can in a sentence or two. Well...make that...briefly. <smile>

I am not a literalist...like say, what you might call a fundie. I do not believe that everything is meant to be taken as literal either, but there are certain things that seem to be true to me, because they make since in what I know about God, and it ain't much, believe me.
For instance the Creative day...was not a literal 24 hours, just as...my grandfather's day wasn't. I believe some days were longer than others...because of the amount of work that had to be accomplished in specific periods or eras.<>


Fiery continues: Before I go into any real detail on that particular story, which comes from older tales which were altered, and used by the biblical author(s), I would caution you to use such examples with care, as it can be conclusivly demonstrated that such tales are not a unique creation of those who wrote those words.

I reply: Ok...consider me warned. I know there are many "tales" and differing "versions" of certain happenings in many lands...however, I see most of them as remnants of the real thing...after God scattered people, which was also an act...to stop "the Tower" by the way.

I am not proficient in debate, only had one or two in school and I realize I am in a very scrawny minority here...among some avid readers/students/scholars.
However, I am not empty handed, (empty headed is certainly debatable)...and can sometimes put up a tad of an argument.

Do your best Fiery Red 1 and I will do the same. That is really all we can expect from ourselves and each other.

Have a great night *grumpy.* lol <kidding>

Touche',
El Stevereno