>..."h" (which is written like an "X") is pronounced like the "ch" in "loch""...<

Yes, good points Steve. The x on our xmas cards of course derives from the Greek where it sounds something like 'kish'. The Greek family name of Xilas is pronounced something like Kishilas.

What interests me here however is the possibility of an original common language and how that might help us understand how (and perhaps when) ancient peoples moved around the world. I believe some linguists have started researching this but we're talking of a time that pre-dates even the earliest language groups such as Indo-European - fascinating stuff though :-)