Grammar of the Gothic Language

377 Pages·13.034 MB·

by  Wright Joseph.

GRAMMAR OF THE
GOTHIC LANGUAGE
AND
THE GOSPEL OF ST. MARK
SELECTIONS FROM TIIE OTI-IER GOSPELS
AND THE SECOND EPISTLE TO TIhlOTHY
WITH NOTES AND GLOSSARY
JOSEPH WRIGHT
PH.D., D.C.L.. LL.D., L1TT.D.
Fellau of the British Acodmy
Cmpus Chrutt Profcssm of Comparattiu Pkibiogy
m Ihd University of OxJord
SECOND EDITION WITH A
SUPPLEMENT TO THE GRAMMAR
BY
0.L . SAY C E, M.A.
U u mi n German in tk Univwsity oj Oxfwd
OXFORD
AT THE CLARENDON PRESS
Oxford U~riwvsityP ress, Ely House, London W.r
CLASGOW SEG' YORK 108ONTO MELBOURNE WELLINGTON
CAPE TOWN SALlSUURY 1UAnAN h..AIROBI LUSAKA ADDIS ABABA
BOIBAY CALCC'TT* MADR.AS KARACHI LAHORE DACCA
KU.\I.A LUUPCR HONG KONC
FIPS't I'CBLl5ilEU I'jfir
REI'RINTEP I ~7,I :9 21
rv4, 10-10, 1937, 1046, 1949
SECOND E1)ITIOS I?j+
REPRIS.TED 13j8, 1362, 1966
PRINTED IN GREAT RRITATN
PREFACE
IT was originally intended that this Grammar should
form one of the volumes of the Students' Series of Com-
parative and Historical Grammars, but some time ago
f was informed by the Delegates of the Clarendon Press
that a third edition of my Gothic Primer was required. It
then became a question whether it would be better to issue
the Primer in a revised form, or to set to work at once to
write the present Grammar. I laid the two alternatives
before the Delegates, and they preferred to accept the
latter.
As a knowledge of Gothic is indispensable to students of
the oldest periods of the other Germanic languages, this
book will, I trust, be found useful at any rate to students
whose interests are mainly philological and linguistic.
I have adopted as far as possible the same method of
treating the subject as in my Old English and Historical
German Grammars. Considerable care and trouble have
been taken in the selection of the material contained in
the chapters relating to the phonology and accidence, and
I venture to say that the student, who thoroughly masters
the book, will not only have gained a comprehensive know-
ledge of Gothic, but will also have acquired a considerable
knowledge of Comparative Germanic Grammar.
In selecting examples to illustrate the sound-laws I have
tried as far as possible to give words which also occur
in the other Germanic languages, especially in Old English
and Old High German. The Old English and Old High
German cognates have been added in the Glossary.
In order to give the student some idea of the skill of
Ulfilas as a translator I have added the Greek text to
St. Matthew Ch. V1, St. Mark Chapters I-V, and St. Luke
Ch. XV. This will also be useful as showing the influence
which the Greek syntax had upon the Gothic.
The Glossary not only contains all the words occurring
in the Gothic Text (pp. zoo-g~),b ut also all the words
contained in the Phonology and Accidence, each referred
to its respective paragraph. A short list of the most
important works relating to Gothic will be found on
PP- 197-9.
From my long experience as teacher of the subject,
I should strongly recommend the beginner not to work
through the Phonology and the philological part of the
Accidence at the outset, but to read Chapter I on Gothic
pronunciation, and then to learn the paradigms, and at the
same time to read some of the easier portions of the
Gospels. This is undoubtedly the best plan in the end,
and will lead to the most satisfactory results. In fact, it
is in my opinion a sheer waste of time for a student to
attempt to study in detail the phonology of any language
before he has acquired a good working knowledge of its
vocabufary and inflexions.
In conclusion I wish to express in some measure the
heartfelt thanks I owe to my wife for her valuable help in
compiling the Glossary.
JOSEPH WRIGHT.
OXFORD,
January, 1910.
CONTENTS
. . . . . . . . PAGES
INTRODUCTION 1-3
Classification of the Indo-Germanic languages, and
a few characteristics of the Germanic languages (5 I).
CHAPTER I
. .
. .
ALPHABEATN D PRONUNCIATION , 4-16
The Gothic alphabet ($ 2). Representation of the
Gothic vowel-system ($ 3). Pronunciation of the Gothic
vowels :-a, B (ft 4) ; E (5 5) ; i, ei ($ 6) ; 6 ($ 7) ; u, ii
((j 8) ; iu ($ 9) ; af, Bi, ai ($ ro) ; ait, tiu, au (9 11). The
Gothic vowel-system (§ 12). Representation of the
Gothic consonant-system (F) 13). Pronunciation of the
Gothic consonants :-b ($ 14) ; d ($ 15) ; f ($16); g (§ 17);
h (5 18) ; (§ 19) ; j (§ 20) ; k (§ 21) ; 1, m, n (8 22) ;
~(§23);9(§24)r;( § 25); ~($26)t(;§ "7);P(§28);
w (4 29); z ($ 30)- Phonetic survey of the Gothic
sound-system (F) 31). Stress ($9 32-4).
CHAPTER I1
THGEER PMRAIMN.IG CE~ROMWAENLIC-ES QOUUINV. ADLSE. NTOS.F T.H E .IN DO. I- & ~ I
The Indo-Germanic vowel-system ($ 35). a ((j 36) ;
e (5 37); i (§ 38) ; 0 (8 39) ; u (§ 40) ; 6 (§ 41) ; (§ 42) ;
5 (§ 431 ; ? (9 44) ; 6 (§ 45) ; 5 (§ 46) ; ai (9 47) ; ei (§ 48) ;
oi ($ 49); au (F) so); eu ($ 51) ; ou ($ 52). The Indg.
vocalic nasals and liquids :-m ($53); n (F) 54) ; r (5 55) ;
CP
1 56).
CHAPTER I11
. . .
THEP RIHG. ERMAXTICV OWEL-SYSTEM . 22-25
Table of the Prim. Germanic vowel-system (4 57).
The change ofa to H ($ 59) ; the change of e to i, and of
PAGES
i to i (4 60) ; the change of i to e (5 61); the change of
u to o, and of u to ti ($6 2) ; the change of eu to iu ($ 63).
The vowel-system at the close of the Prim. Germanic
period, and table showing the normal development of
the vowels in the various Germanic languages (5 64).
CHAPTER IV
THEG OTHICD EVELOPMEONFT THE G. ENE. RA.GL ER.M ANIC
VOWELSO F ACCENTESDY LLABLES 26-33
Short vowels: a (5 65); e ($3 66-7); i ($4 68-9) ; o
($4 70-1) ; u ($5 72-31. Long vowels : H (§ 74); %
($8 754) ; ($ 77) ; (§ 78) ; 5 (§§ 79-81) ; ii (4 82).
Diphthongs : ai ($ 83) ; au ($ 84) ; iu ($85) ; eu (Q 86).
CHAPTER V
THE GOTHIC DEVELOPMENOTF THE PRIM. GERMANIC
. . .
VOWELSO F UNACCENTESDY LLABLES 33-39
Indg. final consonants in the Germanic languages
(5 87). Final short vowels ($ 88). Final long vowels
(5
($ 89). Final diphthongs go).
CHAPTER VI
THVEO WPRELIM-S.O GUENRD.~ SI A.N IECQ. U IV.A LE.N TOSF. TH.E GO. THIC3 9-45
A. The vowels of accented syllables. (I) Short
vowels: a (§ 91) ; ai ($ 92) ; i (§ 93) ; a6 ($ 94) ; u (§ 95).
(2) Long vowels : Zi ($96); G ($97); ai ($ 98) ; ei (59 9) ;
Zi ($ 100); RU (9 10:); ii (f) 102). (3) Dlplithongs : bi
(Q1 03); au (4 104); iu ($ 105).
B. The vowels of medial syllables. (I) Short
vowels: a ($ 106); i ($ 107) ; u ($ 108). (2) Long
vowels: T (§ ~og;) ei (5 110) ; 6 ($ 111). (3) Diph-
thongs : &i( $ I 12) ; BU ($ 113).
C. Final vowels. (Ij Short vowels : a (5 114) ;
i (4 "5) ; u ($ 116). (2) Long vowels: B (5 117); ei
(4 118) ; 6 ($ 1x9). (3) Diphthongs : &i (Q 120) ; bu
(§ 131).
Co?rle?tls vii
PAGES
.C HAPTER VII
. . . .
ABLAUT($ 5 122-5) 45-49
CHAPTER VIlI
THEF IRSTS OUND-SHIFTVEINRNGE, R'SL AW,A ND OTHER
CONSONANCTH ANGEWS FIICH TOOK PLACE IN THE PRIM.
GERMANILC ANGUAGE. . 50-70
Table of the Indo-Germanic consonant-system
(8 16).T he normal equivalents of the Indg. explosives
in Latin, Greek, and the Germanic languages ($ 127).
The first sound-shifting :-the tenues (8 128) ; the
mediae (8 129) ; tlle tenues aspiratae (4 130) ; the
mediae aspiratae ($$ 131-3). The twofold develop-
ment of the Indg. velars in the Germanic languages
(§ 134). The chronological order of the first sound-
($5
shifting ($ 135). Verner's law 136 7). Other con-
sonant changes ($$ 138 47). Table of Prim. Germanic
consonants (Q r 48).
CHAPTER tX
THE GOTHICD EVELOPMENOTF THE GENERAGL ERMANIC
. . . . . . .
CONSONANT-SYSTEM 70-83
Semivowels : w ($5 14g-51) ; j ($5 152-7). Con-
sonantal liquids and nasals ($ 158); vocalic liquids and
nasals ($ 159). Labiais:-p, f (3 160) ; b, 8 ($ 161).
Gutturals :-k (6 162) ; kw (§ 163) ; h, x (5 164) ; xw
($ r65) ; g, 3 ($8 16-91. Dentals :-t ($ 170) ; P ($171) ;
d, d ($8 r72-3). Sibilants :-s ($ 174); z ($ 175).
CHAPTER X
. . .
DECLENSIOONF NOUNS. 84-103
A. The strong declension :-Masculine a-stems
($5 179-80); neuter a-sterns ($9 181-2) ; masculine
ja-stems ($5 184-5); neuter ja-stems ($$ 186-7) ; mascu-
line wa-stems (§ 188) ; neuter wa-steins ($ 189). The
feminine 6-, j6., and w6.stems ($8 190-4). Masculine
i.stems (f$ 195-7) ; feminine iastems ($5 198-aoo).
...
vl11 Cbntents
PACES
Masculine and feminine u-stems ($$aoz-4) ; neuter
u-stems ($ 2051. B. The weak declension :-Masculine
n.stems ($6 207-9); fernininen-stems ($$z~o-rz); n euter
n-stems ($6 213-14). C. Minor declensions:-Stems in
-r ($$zIs-16); stems in .nd ($$ZIT-18) ; masculines
(Qzrg! ; feminines ($4 220-1) ; neuters ($222).
CHAPTER XI . .
ADJECTIVES. , . . . . 103-118
,
General remarks on the declension of adjectives
($6 223-4). A. The strong declension :-a-stems
2261)
(64 ; ja-stems ($9 228-3r) ; wa-stems ($ 232) ;
i-stems l$$233-4) ; u-stems (44235-6). B. The weak
declension ($9 237-8). C. The declension of participles
($$239-42). D. The comparison of adjectives ($9243-6).
Numerals ($9 247-58).
CHAPTER XI1 (see also Appendix, Note G)
PRONOUN. S . , . . . . . I 18-132
General remarks on the pronouns ($ 259). Personal
pronouns ($§z60-I). Reflexive pronouns ($262). POS-
sessive pronouns ($6 263-4). Demonstrative pronouns
($4255-9). Relative pronouns ($$27o-z). Interrogative
pronouns ($5 273-4). Indefinite pronouns (5s 275-9).
VERBS . . . C. HA.P TE.R X.I 11 . . . 132-1 66
The classification of verbs ($4 280-4). The full con-
jugation of the model strong verbs niman and hBitan
(4 286). The endings of strong verbs ($4 287-97). The
classification of strong verbs:-Class I ($4 299-300) ;
Class 11 ($6301-2); Class I11 ($4303-4); Class IV
($6 305-6) ; Class V ($5 307-8) ; Class VI (48 309-10) ;
Class VII ($4 311-14). The classification of weak
verbs :-Class I ($$ 316 zz) ; Class I1 ($4 323-5) ; Class
111 ($9326-a! : Class IV (@3q-31). Minor groups :-
Preterite-presents ($8 332-qoj ; verbs in -mi ($5 341-3).
PAGES
CHAPTER XIV .
ADVERBS,P REPOSITIONSA,N D CONJUNCTIONS 166-169
Adverbs ($$ 344-9), Prepositions (8 350)~ Conjunc-
tions (5 351).
CHAPTER XV .
. . . . .
WORD-FORMATION . 170-182
Simple and derivative nouns (45 353-4) ; noun and
adjectival prefixes ($$ 355-78) ; noun suffixes ($$379-
88) ; compound nouns ($ 389). Simple and derivative
adjectives ($5 390-1) ; adjectival suffixes ($$ 392-6) ;
compound adjectives ($9 397-8). Simple and com-
pound verbs ($5 399-401) ; verbal prefixes ($$40a-23) ;
verbal suffixes ($8 424-5).
CHAPTER XVI
. . . . . . .
SYNTAX. 182-194
Cases :-Accusative (3 426) ; genitive (3 427) ; dative
(5 428). Adjectives (8s 429-30). Pronouns ($ 431).
Verbs :-Tenses (5 432) ; Voices (4 433) ; Subjunctive
(5 434) ; Infinitive (5 435) ; Participles (5 436).
TEXT :- . . . . . . .
Introduction . ,. . . . . . . 195-19 9
St. Matthew. . . . . . . . . 200-209
St. Mark . . . . . . . . . 210-264
St. Luke 265-277
St. John . . . . . . . . . 278-286
The Second Epistle to Timothy . . . . 287-291
.
. .
NOTES . . . - . . 292-301
GLOSSARY ,. , 302 358
. . .
PROPER NAMES . 359-362
. . .
GLOSSARY OF PROPER NAMES 363-366
APPGERNADMIXM. ARS UPP. LEM. EN.T T.O T. HE . .. 367
SUPPLEMENTARY BIBLIOGRAPHY . 382