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CHAPTER IV

THE GOTHIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE GENERAL GERMANIC VOWEL-SYSTEM

A. The Short Vowels of Accented Syllables

a

Germanic a remained unchanged in Gothic, as Goth. dags, OE. dæg, OS. dag, OHG. tag, O.Icel. dagr, day; Goth. gasts, OS. OHG. gast, guest; Goth. fadar, OE. fæder, O.Icel. faðir, OS. fader, OHG. fater, father; Goth. ahtáu, OS. OHG. ahto, eight; Goth. OE. OS. OHG. faran, O.Icel. fara, to go; Goth. OE. OS. band, OHG. bant, he bound, Goth. inf. bindan (§ 303); Goth. OS. OHG. O.Icel. nam, he took, Goth. inf. niman (§ 305); Goth. OS. O.Icel. gaf, OHG. gab, he gave, Goth. inf. giban (§ 307).

e

Germanic e became i, as Goth. wigs, OE. OS. OHG. weg, O.Icel. vegr, way; Goth. hilms, OE. OS. OHG. helm, helm; Goth. swistar, OS. swestar, OHG. swester, sister; Goth. hilpan (§ 303), OE. OS. helpan, OHG helfan, to help; Goth. stilan (§ 306), OE. OS. OHG. stelan, O.Icel. stela, to steal; Goth. itan (§ 308), OE. OS. etan, OHG. eȥȥan, O.Icel. eta, to eat.

Note.—The stem-vowel in Goth. waíla (cp. OE. OS. wel, OHG. wela), well; and in Goth. aíþþáu (cp. OE. eþþa, oþþe, OHG. eddo, edo), or, has not yet been satisfactorily explained, in spite of the explanations suggested by various scholars.

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This i became broken to e (written ) before r, h, and ƕ, as Goth. haírtō, OS. herta, OHG. herza, heart; Goth. aírþa, OS. ertha, OHG. erda, earth; Goth. waírþan (§ 303), OS. werthan, OHG. werdan, O.Icel. verða, to become; Goth. baíran (§ 305), OE. OS. OHG. beran, O.Icel. bera, to bear; Goth. raíhts, OS. OHG. reht, right; Goth. taíhun, OS. tehan, OHG. zehan, ten; Goth. saíƕan (§ 307), OS. OHG. sehan, to see.

Note.—For nih, and not, from older *ni-ƕi = Lat. neque, we should expect *naíh, but the word has been influenced by the simple negative ni, not.

i

Germanic i generally remained in Gothic, as Goth. fisks, OS. OE. fisc, OHG. fisk, O.Icel. fiskr, fish; Goth. widuwō, OE. widewe, OS. widowa, OHG. wituwa, widow; Goth. OE. OS. witan, OHG. wiȥȥan, O.Icel. vita, to know; Goth. nimiþ, OE. nimeþ, OS. nimid, OHG. nimit, he takes; Goth. bitum, OE. biton, OHG. biȥȥum, O.Icel. bitom, we bit, inf. Goth. beitan (§ 299), pp. Goth. bitans, OE. biten, OHG. gibiȥȥan, O.Icel. bitenn; Goth. bidjan, OE. biddan, O.Icel. biðja, OS. biddian, OHG. bitten, to pray, beg, entreat. See § 60.

Germanic i became broken to e (written ) before r, h, ƕ, as Goth. baíriþ, OS. birid, OHG. birit, he bears, cp. § 60 (2), Goth. inf. baíran; Goth. maíhstus, OHG. mist (from *mihst), dunghill, cp. Mod. English dial. mixen; Goth. ga-taíhun, they told, OE. tigon, OHG. zigun, they accused, Goth. inf. ga-teihan (§ 299), pp. Goth. taíhans, OE. tigen, OHG. gi-zigan; Goth. laíƕum, OE. -ligon, OHG. liwum, we lent, inf. Goth. leiƕan (§ 299), pp. Goth. laíƕans, OE. -ligen, OHG. giliwan, OS. -liwan.

Note.—On the forms hiri, hirjats, hirjiþ, see note to Mark xii. 7.

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o

Germanic o became u, as Goth. juk, OHG. joh, OE. geoc, yoke; Goth. guþ, OE. OS. god, OHG. got, god; Goth. huzd, OS. hord, OHG. hort, treasure; pp. Goth. budans, OE. geboden, OS. gibodan, OHG. gibotan, O.Icel. boðenn, inf. Goth. biudan (§ 301), to offer; Goth. pp. hulpans, OE. geholpen, OS. giholpan, OHG. giholfan, Goth. inf. hilpan (§ 303), to help; pp. Goth. numans, OHG. ginoman, Goth. inf. niman (§ 305), to take. See § 62.

The u, which arose from Germanic o (§ 70), became broken to o (written ) before r and h, as Goth. waúrd, OE. OS. word, OHG. wort, word; Goth. daúhtar, OE. dohtor, OS. dohtar, OHG. tohter, daughter; pp. Goth. taúhans, OE. getogen, OS. -togan, OHG. gizogan, O.Icel. togenn, Goth. inf. tiuhan (§ 301), to lead; Goth. waúrhta, OE. worhte, OHG. worhta, he worked, inf. Goth. waúrkjan, OHG. wurken; pp. Goth. waúrþans, OE. geworden, OS. giwordan, OHG. wortan, O.Icel. orðenn, Goth. inf. waírþan (§ 303), to become; pp. Goth. baúrans, OE. geboren, OS. OHG. giboran, O.Icel. borenn, inf. Goth. baíran (§ 305), to bear; Goth. ga-daúrsta, OE. dorste, OS. gi-dorsta, OHG. gi-torsta, he dared; inf. Goth. ga-daúrsan (§ 335).

u

Germanic u generally remained in Gothic, as Goth. juggs, OS. OHG. jung, young; Goth. hunds, OE. OS. hund, O.Icel. hundr, OHG. hunt, dog, hound; Goth. sunus, OE. OS. OHG. sunu, son; Goth. hugjan, OS. huggian, OHG. huggen, to think; Goth. budum, OE. budon, OS. budun, OHG. butum, O.Icel. buðom, we offered, announced, inf. Goth. biudan (§ 301); Goth. bundum, OE. bundon, OS. bundun, OHG. buntum, O.Icel. bundom, we bound, Goth. inf. bindan (§ 303), pp. Goth. bundans, 29OE. gebunden, OS. gibundan, OHG. gibuntan, O.Icel. bundenn. See § 40.

Germanic u became broken to o (written ) before r and h, as Goth. saúhts, OS. OHG. suht, Germanic stem suhti-, sickness; Goth. waúrms, OS. OHG. wurm, OE. wyrm, stem wurmi-, serpent, worm; Goth. waúrkjan, OHG. wurken, to work; Goth. waúrþun, OE. wurdon, OS. wurdun, OHG. wurtun, O.Icel. urðo, they became, Goth. inf. waírþan (§ 303); Goth. taúhun, OE. tugon, OHG. zugun, they drew, pulled; Goth. inf. tiuhan (§ 301).

Note.—u was not broken to before r which arose from older s by assimilation, as ur-runs, a running out; ur-reisan, to arise (§ 175 note 3). It is difficult to account for the u in the enclitic particle -uh, and; and in the interrogative particle nuh, then.

B. The Long Vowels of Accented Syllables

ā

The ā, which arose from a according to § 59, remained in Gothic, as hāhan, to hang; faúrahāh (faúrhāh), curtain, veil, lit. that which hangs before; gahāhjō (av.), in order, connectedly; brāhta, he brought, inf. briggan; gafāhs, a catch, haul, related to gafāhan, to seize; fram-gāhts, progress, related to gaggan, to go; þāhō, clay; unwāhs, blameless.

ǣ

Germanic ǣ (= OE. ǣ, OS. OHG. O.Icel. ā) became ē in Gothic, as Goth. ga-dēþs, OE. dǣd, OS. dād, OHG. tāt, deed; Goth. mana-sēþs, multitude, world, lit. man-seed, OE. sǣd, OS. sād, OHG. sāt, seed; Goth. ga-rēdan, to reflect upon, OE. rǣdan, OS. rādan, OHG. rātan, O.Icel. rāða, to advise; Goth. bērum, OE. bǣron, 30OS. OHG. bārum, O.Icel. bārom, we bore, Goth. inf. baíran (§ 305); Goth. sētun, OE. sǣton, OS. sātun, OHG. sāȥun, O.Icel. sāto, they sat, Goth. inf. sitan (§ 308).

The Germanic combination ǣj became ǣ (written ai, the long vowel corresponding to ) in Gothic before vowels. This ai was a long open e-sound like the ǣ in OE. slǣpan or the vowel sound in English their. It occurs in very few words: as Goth. saian, OE. sāwan, OS. sāian, OHG. sāen, O.Icel. , to sow; Goth. waian, OE. wāwan, OHG. wāen (wājen), to blow; Goth. faianda, they are blamed. But in unaccented syllables the combination -ǣji- became -ái-, as habáis, thou hast, habáiþ, he has, from prim. Germanic *χaҌǣjizi, *χaҌǣjiđi.

ē

Germanic ē, which cannot be traced back phonologically to Indo-Germanic ē (§ 43), is of obscure origin. In Gothic the two sounds fell together in ē, but in the other Germanic languages they are kept quite apart, cp. §§ 43, 75.

Germanic ē appears in Gothic as ē (OE. OS. O.Icel. ē, OHG. ē, later ea, ia, ie). In Goth. it occurs in a few words only, as Goth. OE. OS. O.Icel. hēr, OHG. hēr (hear, hiar, hier), here; Goth. fēra, OHG. fēra (feara, fiara), country, region, side, part; Goth. mēs, OE. mēse (mȳse), OHG. meas (mias), table, borrowed from Lat. mēnsa. Cp. § 5.

ī

Germanic ī, written ei in Gothic, remained, as Goth. swein, OE. OS. OHG. swīn, O.Icel. svīn, pig, cp. Lat. su-īnu-s, pertaining to a pig; Goth. ƕeila, a while, time, season, OE. hwīl, a while OS. hwīla (hwīl), time, OHG. wīla (hwīl), time, hour, O.Icel. hvīl, place of rest; Goth. seins, OE. OS. OHG. sīn, his; Goth. steigan 31(§ 300), OE. OS. OHG. stīgan, O.Icel. stīga, to ascend. Cp. §§ 5, 6, 44, 48.

ō

Germanic ō remained in Gothic, as Goth. fōtus, OE. OS. fōt, OHG. fuoȥ, O.Icel. fōtr, foot, cp. Gr. Doric πώς; Goth. flōdus, OE. OS. flōd, OHG. fluot, O.Icel. flōð, flood, stream; Goth. brōpar, O.Icel. brōðir, OE. brōpor, OS. brōðer, OHG. bruoder, brother; Goth. OE. OS. O.Icel. fōr, OHG. fuor, I fared, went, Goth. inf. faran (§ 309). Cp. §§ 42, 45 .

The Germanic combination ōw became a long open o-sound (written au) before vowels, as Goth. sauil, sun,cp. OE. O.Icel. Lat. sōl; Goth. staua, (masc.) judge, (fem.) judgment, stauida, I judged (inf. stōjan), cp. Lithuanian stovéti, to stand, O.Bulgarian staviti, to place; taui (gen. tōjis), deed; afdauidai, pp. masc. nom. pl. exhausted, inf. *afdōjan.

Here probably belong also bauan, to inhabit, OE. OHG. būan, to till, dwell; bnauan, to rub; trauan, OHG. trūēn, OS. trūōn, to trow, trust.

The Germanic combination ōwj became ōj, as stōja, I judge, from *stōwjō, older *stōwijo; tōjis (from *tōwjis), gen. sing. of taui, deed.

ū

Germanic ū remained in Gothic, as Goth. hūs (in gud-hūs, temple), OE. OS. OHG. O.Icel. hūs, house; Goth. rūms, OE. OS. OHG. O.Icel. rūm, room, related to Lat. rū-s (gen. rū-ris), open country; Goth. þūsundi, OE. þūsend, OS. thūsundig, OHG. dūsunt, O.Icel. þūsund, thousand; Goth. fūls, OE. OHG. fūl, O.Icel. fūll, foul; Goth. ga-lūkan, to shut, close, OE. lūcan, OHG. lūhhan, O.Icel. lūka, to lock.

On the ū in forms like pūhta, it seemed, appeared; 32 hūhrus, hunger; jūhiza, younger; ūhtwō, early morn, see § 62.

C. The Diphthongs of Accented Syllables

ai

Germanic ai (OE. ā, OS. ē, OHG. ei (ē), O.Icel. ei) remained in Gothic, as Goth. áins, OE. ān, OS. ēn, OHG. ein, O.Icel. einn, one; Goth. háils, OE. hāl, OS. hēl, OHG. heil, hale, whole, sound; Goth. stáins, OE. stān, OS. stēn, OHG. stein, O.Icel. steinn, stone; Goth. stáig, OE. stāg, OS. stēg, OHG. steig, he ascended, Goth. inf. steigan (§ 300); Goth. háitan (§ 313), OE. hātan, OS. hētan, OHG. heiȥan, O.Icel. heita, to name, call. Cp. §§ 47, 49.

au

Germanic au (OE. ēa, OS. ō, OHG. ou (ō), O.Icel. au) remained in Gothic, as Goth. áugō, OE. ēage, OS. ōga, OHG. ouga, O.Icel. auga, eye; Goth. háubiþ (gen. háubidis), OE. hēafod, OS. hōҌid, OHG. houbit, O.Icel. haufuþ, head; Goth. dáupus, OE. dēað, OS. dōth, OHG. tōd, death; Goth. ráuþs, O.Icel. rauðr, OE. rēad, OS. rōd, OHG. rōt, red; Goth. gáumjan, to perceive, observe, OS. gōmian, OHG. goumen, to pay attention to; Goth. -hláupan, OE. hlēapan, OS. -hlōpan, OHG. louffan, O.Icel. hlaupa, to leap, run; pret. 1, 3 sing. Goth. káus, OE. cēas, OS. OHG. kōs, O.Icel. kaus, inf. Goth. kiusan (§ 302), to choose. Cp. §§ 50, 52.

iu

The iu, which arose from older eu (§ 63), remained in Gothic, as Goth. niujis, OS. OHG. niuwi, stem *niuja-, older *neujo-, new; Goth. stiurei (in us-stiurei, excess, riot), cp. OHG. stiurī, greatness, magnificence; Goth. kiusiþ, OS. kiusid, OHG. kiusit, he chooses, tests; Goth. 33liuhtjan, OS. liuhtian, OHG. liuhten, to light; Goth. stiurjan, to establish, OHG. stiuren, to support, steer.

eu

eu (OE. ēo, OS. OHG. io(eo), O.Icel. ()) became iu in Gothic, as Goth. diups, OE. dēop, OS. diop, OHG. tiof, O.Icel. djūpr, deep; Goth. liuhaþ, OE. lēoht, OS. OHG. lioht, a light, cp. Gr. λευκός, light, bright; Goth. liufs, OE. lēof, OS. liof, OHG. liob, O.Icel. ljūfr, dear; Goth. tiuhan (§ 301), OS. tiohan, OHG. ziohan, to draw, pull; Goth. fra-liusan, OE. for-lēosan, OS. far-liosan, OHG. fìr-liosan, to lose.