02-22-2014, 04:18 PM
Hello, Evan & Tongar,
Yes, many tribal leaders were multilingual. They had to be, a expedient way of acquiring prestiege and luxury items for their followers... which, in itself, was a multi-ethnic community. Interesting, because this is the very root of "language-spread," how certain languages increased across cultural frontiers. The perfect example is Latin, a stem from old Italic. The Romans had the best land (constantly increasing), luxury goods, etc.; and barbarians and conquered peoples needed to learn Latin to advance their status and living conditions. Latin hung in there for a long time, becoming the official language of science and the Church. Only in the past century did it dwindle but still important in Vatican City... where it more-or-less began, geographically and historically.
The same can be said for both stems of Indo-European. We find the earliest bronze metal-work not in Western Europe but in the North Caucasus... just a few hundred miles below the Indo-European "homeland." The spread of early bronze then ran across the steppe as a valuable commodity for both art and war until it reached China. Indo-European speaking "barbarians" controlled its movement and trade. And to participate in this long-range trade, a motivated non-Indo-Iranian speaking tribal leader had to learn one of the "languages of trade." Too many people believe language-spread was the result of encroaching war, but it can be better-linked to trade, prestiege, and a want for comfort. The Huns are a perfect example of this phenomenon.
mile:
Yes, many tribal leaders were multilingual. They had to be, a expedient way of acquiring prestiege and luxury items for their followers... which, in itself, was a multi-ethnic community. Interesting, because this is the very root of "language-spread," how certain languages increased across cultural frontiers. The perfect example is Latin, a stem from old Italic. The Romans had the best land (constantly increasing), luxury goods, etc.; and barbarians and conquered peoples needed to learn Latin to advance their status and living conditions. Latin hung in there for a long time, becoming the official language of science and the Church. Only in the past century did it dwindle but still important in Vatican City... where it more-or-less began, geographically and historically.
The same can be said for both stems of Indo-European. We find the earliest bronze metal-work not in Western Europe but in the North Caucasus... just a few hundred miles below the Indo-European "homeland." The spread of early bronze then ran across the steppe as a valuable commodity for both art and war until it reached China. Indo-European speaking "barbarians" controlled its movement and trade. And to participate in this long-range trade, a motivated non-Indo-Iranian speaking tribal leader had to learn one of the "languages of trade." Too many people believe language-spread was the result of encroaching war, but it can be better-linked to trade, prestiege, and a want for comfort. The Huns are a perfect example of this phenomenon.
mile:
Alan J. Campbell
member of Legio III Cyrenaica and the Uncouth Barbarians
Author of:
The Demon's Door Bolt (2011)
Forging the Blade (2012)
"It's good to be king. Even when you're dead!"
Old Yuezhi/Pazyrk proverb
member of Legio III Cyrenaica and the Uncouth Barbarians
Author of:
The Demon's Door Bolt (2011)
Forging the Blade (2012)
"It's good to be king. Even when you're dead!"
Old Yuezhi/Pazyrk proverb
