Table Of ContentSUPRASEGMENTALS, METER, AND THE
MANUSCRIPT OF BEOWULF
JANUA LINGUARUM
STUDIA MEMORIAE
NICOLAI VAN WIJK DEDICATA
edenda curai
C. H. VAN SCHOONEYELD
INDIANA UNIVERSITY
SERIES PRACTICA
71
1968
MOUTON
THE HAGUE • PARIS
SUPRASEGMENTALS,
METER, AND THE
MANUSCRIPT OF BEOWULF
by
ROBERT D. STEVICK
UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON
1968
MOUTON
THE HAGUE • PARIS
© Copyright 1968 in The Netherlands.
Mouton & Co. N.V., Publishers, The Hague.
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Printed in The Netherlands by Mouton & Co., Printers, The Hague.
CONTENTS
I. The Nature of Non-Segmental Linear Manuscript Data 7
Illustration of the manuscript data (1). The need to integrate linguistic, metrical, and
manuscript data (8-12), in view of Bliss's scansion (8-9) and Joynes' scansion (9-12).
The nature of spacing variation in the Nowell Codex (12-17), with illustration from
Beowulf (12-15) and prose texts (15-17).
II. Potentialities of Notation Systems for Prosodic Features 18
Spacing does not occur systematically only at 'word' boundaries, but in some systematic
relation to phonological phrasing (18). Analysis of probabilities for scribal 'writing'
of non-segmental features of a (spoken) text: non-alphabetic diacritics (19), punctua-
tion (19), reduplication in spelling (19), spacing (19-21), 'accents' (21-23). Only spacing
seems to be operative in the Nowell Codex (23). The mode of analysis (using 'supra-
segmentals') (24); the assumption of 'suprasegmentals' for Old English (24-25).
III. Graphotactic Patterns in Some Fixed-Phrase Constructions 26
Analysis of spacing within compound names: spacing not correlated with section divi-
sions in the MS. (26), nor with position in verse line (26), nor with grammatical case
inflections (26-30), nor with difference in the two scribal hands (30-32), nor with metrical
patterns according to Bliss or Pope (32). Rather, variation in spacing is correlated in
some way with syntax (32-34) and is consistent with the assumption that Old English is
'stress-timed' (34-37). Some tests of the extent of scribal deviation from the syntax-
meter-spacing pattern of correlation (37-40).
IV. Phonological and Syntactic Correlates of Some Graphotactic Patterns . . 41
Analysis of spacing within compounds other than names: spacing not correlated solely
with morphology or syntax (41-46). Phonological factors are also operative: disyllabic
first-element of compounds (46-49) and with consonant terminations (49-52) and vocalic
terminations of first-element of compounds (52-53). Comparison of prose and verse texts
(53-57). Comparison of name and non-name compounds (57-59). Correlation of spacing,
syntax, and stress-timing (59-60).
V. Graphotactic Evidence for the Meter of Beowulf 61
Analysis of continuous text: distinctive verse half-line spacing is prevalent (61-64), and is
superseded only when syllable rate exceeds the norm (64-67). Spacing is directly correlated
to timing (67). The relation of manuscript evidence to earlier formulations of meter
(67-70). The evidence for isochronic meter (70-72), and the extent and preciseness of that
evidence (72-73).
6 CONTENTS
VI. The Suprasegmentals and Meter of Beowulf 74
Analysis of continuous text: metrical stress (74-76), alliteration (76-77), extra-metrical
lines (77-78). The convergent evidence for pitch features and their relation to junctures
(78-80). The reconstruction of meter and suprasegmentals from the manuscript of
Beowulf (81-83).
References Cited 84
Index of Manuscript Citations 85
I
THE NATURE OF NON-SEGMENTAL LINEAR MANUSCRIPT DATA
The scribe who began the extant manuscript of Beowulf in the Nowell Codex copied
the compound beorsele three times, all in the portion of the poem centering on the
hero's encounter with Grendel.
Ful oft gebeotedon beore druncne
ofer ealowsge oretmecgas,
482 J>aet hie in beorsele bidan woldon
Grendles gu£e mid gryrum ecga.
'Full-often warriors, having drunk beer,
boasted over the ale-cup
that they in the beer-hall would await
Grendel's attack with terror of swords.'
t>a waes Geatmsecgum geador aetsomne
492 on beorsele bene gerymed.
'Then for the men-of-the-Geats together
in the beer-hall was a bench vacated.'
swa he Fresena cyn
1094 on beorsele byldan wolde.
'[as much] as he the Frisian people
in the beer-hall intended to encourage.'
In the first instance the scribe separated the elements of the compound noun by less
than enough space for a one-minim letter, in the second he began -sele on a new line,
and in the third he left space enough for a two-minim letter. The second scribe copied
line 2635a in biorsele with space only between bior- and -sele, about enough for one
minim. The writing of beorsele illustrates features of the manuscript I deal with and
problems in gathering and analyzing evidence for those features. Spacing between
morphic elements in Beowulf appears to reflect manipulation of linguistic features for
the making of verse, though in many instances chance factors such as division of words
at line-ends or damage to the manuscript or change of scribe puts the evidence, or its
significance, beyond reach.
8 NON-SEGMENTAL LINEAR MANUSCRIPT DATA
Word-separation, Worttrennung, has been studied before, of course, in Beowulf as
well as in other Old English texts. Analysis of scribal spacing necessarily proceeded
from a general language-sense until linguistic techniques were developed sufficiently
to supersede the more impressionistic procedures, though for good reasons the older
and the recent analyses differ principally in precision and hence in some consequences
but not altogether in substance. It is to confirming and revising somewhat but primarily
to extending the study of scribal practice in morphic spacing that I proceed in the
following pages. The ultimate purpose is to establish some further information about
scribal practices, about the meter of Beowulf,\ and about some suprasegmental features
of Old English.
Where to begin is clear. Two systematizing kinds of knowledge, through long and
careful development, now have substantial scope and exactness, and both are essential
to an analysis of measure in the manuscript of Beowulf. One is linguistic findings
about Old English, the other is metrical analysis of Anglo-Saxon verse. Spacing of
morphs in the manuscript, if it is to be regarded as something more than the whims of
the scribes and the bane of editors, will have to be integrated into the systemic formula-
tions of Old English and of Anglo-Saxon metrics. If the extent to which it can be
integrated proves to be significant, that extent of integration will make it possible at
once to confirm or modify the formulations in language and meter that have been
established almost entirely apart from study of morphic spacing, and in some details,
at the least, extend those formulations.
One reason for careful analysis of the scribal habits may be illustrated first by com-
paring manuscript evidence to a metrical marking undertaken without consideration
of what an Anglo-Saxon scribe may have revealed in copying the manuscript.
A. J. Bliss (in The Metre of Beowulf) scans all half-lines containing bëorsele as
Type d3, with differences only in number of syllables in anacrusis.
X X X — hx
d3c t»aet hie on bëorsele (482)
X — ¿X
d3a on bëorsele (492, 1094, 2635 bïorsele)
Bliss's scansion, an extension of Sievers' system, is based on syllable-count and classi-
fication by stress pattern of words. Yet, as mentioned above, the scribes distinguish
the spacings of bëor- and -sele. So if it can be shown that the spacing of the elements
of the compound is consistent with certain systemic factors necessarily present in the
poem, then there is reason to believe that the scribal distinctions are meaningful and
that the metrical analysis requires correcting. We need only assume that the text
accurately represents the poetic composition and that the composition is normal verse.
Without these assumptions, of course, any analysis is pointless.
One set of systemic factors in the poem is the pattern of two syllables under major
stress in each half-line and the occurrence of alliteration coincident with at least two
of those stressed syllables in every full line, one of the alliterating positions apparently
