Editing Pelasgians (section)

==== Greek ====
[[Edward Bulwer-Lytton]] argued that the Pelasgians spoke [[Greek language|Greek]] based on the fact that areas traditionally inhabited by the "Pelasgi" (i.e. Arcadia and Attica) only spoke Greek and the few surviving Pelasgian words and inscriptions (i.e., Lamina Borgiana,<ref>An inscription discovered in Calabria in 1785 and preserved in Cardinal Borgia's collection at Velletri, discussed in Luigi Lanza, ''Saggio di lingua Latina e altri antichi d'Italia'', vol. I, 2nd ed. Florence 1824.</ref> Herodotus 2.52.1) betray Greek linguistic features despite the classical identification of Pelasgian as a [[barbarian]] language.<ref>{{harvnb|Lytton|1837|pp=[https://books.google.com/books?id=-E4EAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA5 5–8]}}.</ref> According to Thomas Harrison of [[Saint Andrews University]], the Greek etymology of Pelasgian terms mentioned in Herodotus such as ''θεοί'' (derived from ''θέντες'') indicates that the {{qi|Pelasgians spoke a language at least 'akin to' Greek}}.<ref>{{harvnb|Harrison|1998|pp=25–26: "Herodotus' account, for example, of the adoption by the Pelasgians of the names of the gods (2.52.1) suggests a much closer relationship between the Pelasgian and Greek languages. Before they heard the names of the gods, the Pelasgians (assuming, interestingly, the existence of a number of gods) called them simply θεοί, on the grounds that they had 'established (θέντες) all affairs in their order'. This etymology, advanced apparently in all seriousness, seems to suggest that the Pelasgians spoke a language at least 'akin to' Greek."}}</ref> According to French classical scholar [[Pierre Henri Larcher]], if this linguistic affiliation is true, then it proves that the Pelasgians and the Greeks were the same people.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Larcher |first=Pierre-Henri |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TdzfAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA54 |title=Notes on Herodotus: Historical and Critical Comments on the History of Herodotus, with a Chronological Table |date=1844 |publisher=Whittaker |pages=54 |language=en |quote=If this affiliation of language be admitted, then the Pelasgians and Greeks were of the same race.}}</ref>