Kicking Roman Butt

[Robert Vermaat]

I'd say that baltic tribes would have spoken a baltic language.

Well, that settles it, Baltic languages are different from Gothic languages.

The (in-)famous Ulfila's bible being the only historical source about a supposedly 'Goths' language, it's a very weak position to base a germanic origin of the Goths

I would say it is an excellent position. You're mixing things up I'm afraid. This bible is not so much a historical source as it is a linguistical source, and as such it identifies the Gothic language clearly in favour of a Germanic-related language. Not similar, mind you, but as a related group. Baltic languages, afaik, are different. And besides the Ulfila bible, there are of course name, inscriptions, etc.

Apart from that, the said source is not used to pinpoint the geographical origin of the Goths. That's mostly done from Jordanes et al. All these sources all point to a Scandinavian origin in however mythical terms. I my opinion, other sources aopart from Ulfila are by no means ignored, and not in the least to 'hide' a baltic origin.

I am aware that there's a strong germanic-phile litherature behind our studies of the area

Be that as it may, I kinda resent such discussions. For mentioning such a thing immediately politicices the discussion and makes it impossible to exchange ideas on an impartial footing, "because the other party is such-and-such". Germano-phile or not, the discussion can only be scientifically sound if it's a good discussion. Apart from that, I think that these days, Gothic studies are not that tarnished any longer by germanophile or baltophile or hispanophile sentiments.