# Basque language question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 13, 2011, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basque-language-question/567448 "2011-01-13T13:47:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2012, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basque-language-question/567448/21 "2012-05-11T15:12:42Z")
It’s true - I always find Polish and Portuguese sound similar. Indeed, they share a number of sounds (mostly nasal) that you don’t get in a lot of other European languages, but other than that they’re obviously completely different languages. ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2012, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basque-language-question/567448/22 "2012-05-11T15:43:35Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Ego te absolvo, my son, but mostly because I use it to decipher the German documentation in the Big Blue Database. Now go and sin no more. I’ll sin all I damned well want to, thank you very much 😃 Actually GT does have its uses, for instance when you’re trying to locate a phrase in a language you don’t speak so you can format it identically to the equivalent phrase in English in the PowerPoint presentation you’re having translated. But yeah, other than that dirty dirty nasty filthy yuck! ---
**Author:** ![medicated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@medicated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medicated)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2012, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basque-language-question/567448/23 "2012-05-11T16:15:55Z")
Hmm. Never had a thread return from the grave before. I suppose I have to buy everyone a round of drinks or something now 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2012, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basque-language-question/567448/24 "2012-05-11T16:56:21Z")
It got zombified by some disciple of Edo Nyland who doesn’t even know what they’re talking about. You’re all good. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basque-language-question/567448/25 "2012-05-11T17:37:25Z")
So does that mean we should expect to also see how Hebrew and Basque are related? ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2012, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basque-language-question/567448/26 "2012-05-11T17:48:23Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > So does that mean we should expect to also see how Hebrew and Basque are related? There’s actually a theory that the _Germanic_ languages (e.g. English, German, and Swedish) started as a creole with an Indo-European superstrate and a Semitic substrate, possibly Phoenician (which was related to Hebrew, Aramaic, and Arabic). I found this in a book but can’t remember the title our author (yeah, yeah, I know). Here’s one discussion : [http://linguistics.stackexchange.com/questions/911/was-there-a-semitic-influence-on-proto-germanic](http://linguistics.stackexchange.com/questions/911/was-there-a-semitic-influence-on-proto-germanic) ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2012, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basque-language-question/567448/27 "2012-05-11T17:58:55Z")
Yep. [Here’s a discussion](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=315163) on that very subject from some years ago. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2012, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basque-language-question/567448/28 "2012-05-11T18:30:05Z")
> [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](#): > > Yep. [Here’s a discussion](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=315163) on that very subject from some years ago. I had to laugh reading that thread. As I went through the posts, I kept wondering if I knew precisely what people meant by the term “substratum”, and then I stumble onto my own post asking just that question. It was a long time ago, I guess, because I don’t remember that thread or that I had participated in it. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2012, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basque-language-question/567448/29 "2012-05-11T18:42:22Z")
Speaking of Edo Nyland, [here’s a thread on that brand of nuttiness from a while back.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=524909) ---
**Author:** ![neohumanid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f9b8f/32.png) [@neohumanid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neohumanid)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2012, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basque-language-question/567448/30 "2012-05-12T17:58:18Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > OOOOOOH! Man, I hadn’t realized he thought that was Basque! For me it’s so evident it’s not that I just never thought someone might make that mistake.. Well duh it wasn’t Basque! However, Google translator is capable of translating Spanish when I select the Basque (mood), try it yourself 🙂 So lets do this again, something else this time: llegando finalmente a la gran final donde la audiencia decidió a Camilo Sesto como el ganador When pasted into the Google translator In **Spanish to English** 100% match: finally reaching the grand final where the audience decided the winner as a Camilo Sesto In **Basque to English** 100% match: finally reaching the grand final where the audience decided the winner as a Camilo Sesto Same Translation, that means Google figured out that Basque & Spanish are made out of the same mud. In **Italian to English** 25% match: llegando finally to the great final hence the Audiencia Decidius Camilo Sesto como el ganador Basque closer to Spanish than any other Latin language, case closed for me. Low IQ trolls, who are allergic to critical thinking…can save it, if you can confirm this on Google Translator…please do so, because I am trying to make sure the Basque translator that Google installed is not simply Spanish?? I always accepted that Basque & Spanish shared words, but I was not aware that Basque & Spanish are closer to each other than Spanish & Catalan. I am not suggesting that Basques & Spaniards should respect each other…so please don’t assume I am pushing a hidden agenda…just needed input from someone who can test the google translator (use Spanish sentences) & try translating them as Basque to see how Google will translate it… Repeat with other Latin languages to see the drift ---
**Author:** ![medicated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@medicated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medicated)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2012, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basque-language-question/567448/31 "2012-05-12T17:59:40Z")
> [@neohumanid](#): > > Well duh it wasn’t Basque! > > However, Google translator is capable of translating Spanish when I select the Basque (mood), try it yourself 🙂 > So lets do this again, something else this time: > > llegando finalmente a la gran final donde la audiencia decidió a Camilo Sesto como el ganador > > When pasted into the Google translator > > In **Spanish to English** 100% match: > finally reaching the grand final where the audience decided the winner as a Camilo Sesto > > In **Basque to English** 100% match: > finally reaching the grand final where the audience decided the winner as a Camilo Sesto > > Same Translation, that means Google figured out that Basque & Spanish are made out of the same mud. > > In **Italian to English** 25% match: > llegando finally to the great final hence the Audiencia Decidius Camilo Sesto como el ganador > Basque closer to Spanish than any other Latin language, case closed for me. > > Low IQ trolls, who are allergic to critical thinking…can save it, if you can confirm this on Google Translator…please do so, because I am trying to make sure the Basque translator that Google installed is not simply Spanish?? > > I always accepted that Basque & Spanish shared words, but I was not aware that Basque & Spanish are closer to each other than Spanish & Catalan. > > I am not suggesting that Basques & Spaniards should respect each other…so please don’t assume I am pushing a hidden agenda…just needed input from someone who can test the google translator (use Spanish sentences) & try translating them as Basque to see how Google will translate it… Repeat with other Latin languages to see the drift Congratulations. You’ve discovered something about the way Google works, if not about the Basque language. ---
**Author:** ![neohumanid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f9b8f/32.png) [@neohumanid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neohumanid)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2012, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basque-language-question/567448/32 "2012-05-12T18:07:25Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > Speaking of Edo Nyland, [here’s a thread on that brand of nuttiness from a while back.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=524909) I knew their will be an uber-nationalist who thinks I am either anti-basque or Pro-Basque :smack: If It makes you feel better, let me omit the things that Iberians hate most: I am not a fellow Iberian! I am not a Jew! I am not a Muslim! So please keep it in your pants ---
**Author:** ![neohumanid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f9b8f/32.png) [@neohumanid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neohumanid)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2012, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basque-language-question/567448/33 "2012-05-12T18:09:27Z")
> [@medicated](#): > > Congratulations. You’ve discovered something about the way Google works, if not about the Basque language. I am about to start accusing Google of undermining the integrity of the Basque language, but first I have to make sure the native speakers test this translator :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2012, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basque-language-question/567448/34 "2012-05-12T20:10:34Z")
> [@neohumanid](#): > > Low IQ trolls, who are allergic to critical thinking…can save it, if you can confirm this on Google Translator…please do so, because I am trying to make sure the Basque translator that Google installed is not simply Spanish?? > [@neohumanid](#): > > I knew their will be an uber-nationalist who thinks I am either anti-basque or Pro-Basque :smack: > > If It makes you feel better, let me omit the things that Iberians hate most: > > I am not a fellow Iberian! > I am not a Jew! > I am not a Muslim! > > So please keep it in your pants **Moderator Note** **neohumanid** , insults and political jabs are not permitted in General Questions. I am making this a note instead of an official warning because you are new here. But further posts of this kind will be subject to a warning. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![neohumanid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f9b8f/32.png) [@neohumanid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neohumanid)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2012, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basque-language-question/567448/35 "2012-05-12T20:47:21Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > **Moderator Note** > > **neohumanid** , insults and political jabs are not permitted in General Questions. I am making this a note instead of an official warning because you are new here. But further posts of this kind will be subject to a warning. > > Colibri > General Questions Moderator Are you being serious 😕 If all the posters in this forum are as dull as you, then please save yourself time & delete my account please. I might be luckier getting an answer to my question in Topix BTW also delete the original post,because thats how I discovered this forum ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2012, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basque-language-question/567448/36 "2012-05-12T20:58:34Z")
> [@neohumanid](#): > > Are you being serious 😕 > > If all the posters in this forum are as dull as you, then please save yourself time & delete my account please. I might be luckier getting an answer to my question in Topix > > BTW also delete the original post,because thats how I discovered this forum No, we usually don’t delete posts here. However, since it’s clear that you don’t intend to abide by the registration agreement you agreed to when you joined and follow forum rules, I’ll oblige you to the extent of banning you. Given that this thread is old, I’m going to close it. Anyone with unresolved questions may open a new thread. Colibri General [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basque-language-question/567448.md?page=1)