Studies in the history of the Germanic r-stems
This thesis presents the first comprehensive history of the Germanic r-stems, the words preserved as Modern English âfatherâ,âmotherâ, âbrotherâ, âsisterâ, âdaughterâ; and âfourâ. A brief introduction gives general orientation and indicates the position taken by the author on the question of the grouping of the Germanic languages and the laws of final syllables. It also contains specimen paradigms. The main body of the work falls into three parts. The first traces the history of the cardinal numeral âfourâ (Proto-Indo-European *kwetwĂłr-) in Germanic, discussing in particular the initial and medial consonantism and the relation of the two types of Germanic inflection (Gothic and West Germanic versus North Germanic) to one another and of both to the paradigm of the Indo-European parent language. The second part concerns itself with the sole Indo-European -or stem relationship noun, *swĂ©sor- âsisterâ. A new analysis of the Older Runic form swestar (Opedal Stone) is given, interpreting it as a(n -er-stem) vocative form, and the dating and mechanism of the shift to Germanic -ter inflection is reconsidered in connection with the question of the development of the Indo-European sequence
Stiles, P. V.
Germanic linguistics
Studies in the history of the Germanic r-stems. This thesis presents the first comprehensive history of the Germanic r-stems, the words preserved as Modern English âfatherâ,âmotherâ, âbrotherâ, âsisterâ, âdaughterâ; and âfourâ. A brief introduction gives general orientation and indicates the position taken by the author on the question of the grouping of the Germanic languages and the laws of final syllables. It also contains specimen paradigms. The main body of the work falls into three parts. The first traces the history of the cardinal numeral âfourâ (Proto-Indo-European *kwetwĂłr-) in Germanic, discussing in particular the initial and medial consonantism and the relation of the two types of Germanic inflection (Gothic and West Germanic versus North Germanic) to one another and of both to the paradigm of the Indo-European parent language. The second part concerns itself with the sole Indo-European -or stem relationship noun, *swĂ©sor- âsisterâ. A new analysis of the Older Runic form swestar (Opedal Stone) is given, interpreting it as a(n -er-stem) vocative form, and the dating and mechanism of the shift to Germanic -ter inflection is reconsidered in connection with the question of the development of the Indo-European sequence
studies history germanic present first_comprehensive history germanic word preserve modern_english father mother brother sister daughter brief_introduction give general orientation indicate position_take author question group germanic language law final syllable also_contain specimen paradigm main_body work fall_three part first trace_history cardinal proto indo_european germanic discuss particular initial relation two_type germanic inflection west germanic versus north germanic one_another paradigm indo_european parent language second_part concern sole indo_european stem relationship noun sister new analysis older form stone give interpret stem form date mechanism shift germanic inflection reconsider connection question development indo_european sequence