In recent times, there has been lots of speculative pseudo-research that has flimsy footing in superficial similarities between similar words or roots in otherwise different languages.

One can compare these linguistic theories with the other pseudo science (often by non specialists) such as the revised chronologies of David Rohl and Ahmed Osman.

Much of this pseudo-research is politically motivated. Whether it is chauvinistic nationalism, or resentment for some situation (e.g. Zionism as an ideology and the claims that Israel as a state is based in the Bible), and the zeal to refute it takes people often too far.

The sad part is that this junk science gets more media exposure than proper science and research. Consequently, the junk science is the one that sticks in the collective mind of the non-specialized public, be it coffee table books, or debate among friends.