Husky,
I agree to most of what you said about the prevailing situation. I have no doubt of that.
All I am saying is:
1) the linkage of S->A->G->L (and their children) exists,
2) the relationships are so deep, and so basic, that these naturally point to some HEAVY migration/colonialization/? etc.
3) The "hints" (not evidences) of the direction of population flow can be potentially had by study of the relativities of these languages.
4) However, the above will only be hints, and not evidences. And therefore it can only supplement the other disciplines, and not override.
5) Present foumulae of the language progressions are faulty, arbitrary, and largely baseless (to say the least).
I think our only disagreement is that I feel we need not write off philology itself, rather challenge its present foundations. If PIE has 'proved' AIT, the same can support OIT too. But I am in agreement to what you said about the hurdles and practical difficulties, and we can conclude that there.
********************
There is no literary proof of AIT, whereas there is ample desription of the west-ward movement of Indic population from the ancient times. Some samples from Mahabharata:
In Adi Parva, Rajasuya Arambha adhyay, Maharaj Yudhishtira seeks advise from Sri Krishna about performing a Rajasuya. In this context the subject of the quality of Kshatriyas in Bharat of those days comes up.
Sri Krishna says:
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->You know everything, O Bharata, I shall however, still tell you something. Those persons in the world that now go by the name of Kshatriyas are inferior in everything to those Kshatriyas that Rama, the son of Jamadagnya, exterminated.
The numerous royal lines and other ordinary Kshatriyas all represent themselves to be the descendants of Aila and Ikshwaku. The descendants of Aila, O king, as, indeed, the kings of Ikshwaku's race, are, as you know O Bharata, each divided into a hundred separate dynasties. The descendants of Yayati and the Bhojas are great, both in extent (number) and accomplishments. O king, these last are to-day scattered all over the earth.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->O exalted one, the eighteen tribes of the Bhojas, from fear of Jarasandha, have all fled towards the west; so also have the Surasenas, the Bhadrakas, the Vodhas, the Salwas, the Patachchavas, the Susthalas, the Mukuttas, and the Kulindas, along with the Kuntis. And the king of the Salwayana tribe with their brethren and followers; and the southern Panchalas and the eastern Kosalas have all fled to the country of the Kuntis.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
A different context:
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Reflecting upon everything, all decided to flee towards the west. There is a delightful town towards the west called Kusasthali, adorned by the mountains of Raivata. In that city, we took up our abode, built forts and fortifications.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yet another context. Rajasuya has been done. Yudhishthira had sent each of his brothers in 4 different directions for conquests. Nakula was the one sent to conquer the west. There is good description of his exploits in Mbt. Starting with the Kartikeya's grand-city of Rohitaka (Rohatak) moving westwards to Mlechchha countries.
I agree to most of what you said about the prevailing situation. I have no doubt of that.
All I am saying is:
1) the linkage of S->A->G->L (and their children) exists,
2) the relationships are so deep, and so basic, that these naturally point to some HEAVY migration/colonialization/? etc.
3) The "hints" (not evidences) of the direction of population flow can be potentially had by study of the relativities of these languages.
4) However, the above will only be hints, and not evidences. And therefore it can only supplement the other disciplines, and not override.
5) Present foumulae of the language progressions are faulty, arbitrary, and largely baseless (to say the least).
I think our only disagreement is that I feel we need not write off philology itself, rather challenge its present foundations. If PIE has 'proved' AIT, the same can support OIT too. But I am in agreement to what you said about the hurdles and practical difficulties, and we can conclude that there.
********************
There is no literary proof of AIT, whereas there is ample desription of the west-ward movement of Indic population from the ancient times. Some samples from Mahabharata:
In Adi Parva, Rajasuya Arambha adhyay, Maharaj Yudhishtira seeks advise from Sri Krishna about performing a Rajasuya. In this context the subject of the quality of Kshatriyas in Bharat of those days comes up.
Sri Krishna says:
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->You know everything, O Bharata, I shall however, still tell you something. Those persons in the world that now go by the name of Kshatriyas are inferior in everything to those Kshatriyas that Rama, the son of Jamadagnya, exterminated.
The numerous royal lines and other ordinary Kshatriyas all represent themselves to be the descendants of Aila and Ikshwaku. The descendants of Aila, O king, as, indeed, the kings of Ikshwaku's race, are, as you know O Bharata, each divided into a hundred separate dynasties. The descendants of Yayati and the Bhojas are great, both in extent (number) and accomplishments. O king, these last are to-day scattered all over the earth.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->O exalted one, the eighteen tribes of the Bhojas, from fear of Jarasandha, have all fled towards the west; so also have the Surasenas, the Bhadrakas, the Vodhas, the Salwas, the Patachchavas, the Susthalas, the Mukuttas, and the Kulindas, along with the Kuntis. And the king of the Salwayana tribe with their brethren and followers; and the southern Panchalas and the eastern Kosalas have all fled to the country of the Kuntis.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
A different context:
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Reflecting upon everything, all decided to flee towards the west. There is a delightful town towards the west called Kusasthali, adorned by the mountains of Raivata. In that city, we took up our abode, built forts and fortifications.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yet another context. Rajasuya has been done. Yudhishthira had sent each of his brothers in 4 different directions for conquests. Nakula was the one sent to conquer the west. There is good description of his exploits in Mbt. Starting with the Kartikeya's grand-city of Rohitaka (Rohatak) moving westwards to Mlechchha countries.