Jean-Paul Demoule - The canonical Indo-European model, which was originally a purely linguistic model, is founded on a central assumption: that of an original people (Urvolk in German), who inhabited an original homeland (Urheimat) where they spoke an original language (Ursprache). They left this homeland to spread throughout a large part of Eurasia, giving rise to all of the known Indo-European languages. One can nevertheless challenge this model on at least for levels. First, on a factual, strictly extra-linguistic level, based on data provided by archaeology, comparative mythology, biological anthropology and linguistic palaeontology: this approach leads to the conclusion that, in the present state of knowledge, it is impossible to confirm the validity of the centrifugal tree model in its various forms. Secondly, on a historical and cultural level, we have to call into question the correspondence, based on the model of the 19 th century Nation State, between an “archaeological material culture”, a “people” and a homogenous language. Thirdly, on a linguistic level, we can question the validity of the tree model for charting the resemblances and correspondences between languages. Finally, on an ideological level, we can show by means of historiography how the idea of an original people was constructed over time by European thinkers. So much so that one can also question the starting point, which takes the existence of a unique language that could be entirely reconstructed (“Ursprache”) as the only model possible for the undeniable resemblances between the Indo-European languages.
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