The etymology of the old high German weak verb
This thesis is an examination of the origin and development of the weak verbs of Old High German. The problem surrounding the origin and early development of the preterite tense of the weak verb in Germanic, and which as yet lacks any satisfactory explanation, is outlined in the Introduction. Following this, it is hypothesized that, if a relative chronology can be established for the weak verbs, it may be possible to arrive at important insights concerning their overall pattern of development, from the Germanic stratum through to Old High German. It is also hoped that such a chronologically organized data-set may succeed in isolating a key group of primary or Pre-Germanic verbs which may represent the earliest group of verbs belonging to the weak formation. It is further hypothesized that these and other early groups provided patterns for the analogical extension and growth of the weak verbs as an inflectional category. Important evidence concerning the early stages and analogical growth patterns of the weak verbs can, it is hoped, be gained through a morpho-semantic analysis of these early groups. Methodologically, the verbs are first analysed according to the linguistic period of their formation, and thus
Bailey, Christopher Gordon
Linguistics
The etymology of the old high German weak verb. This thesis is an examination of the origin and development of the weak verbs of Old High German. The problem surrounding the origin and early development of the preterite tense of the weak verb in Germanic, and which as yet lacks any satisfactory explanation, is outlined in the Introduction. Following this, it is hypothesized that, if a relative chronology can be established for the weak verbs, it may be possible to arrive at important insights concerning their overall pattern of development, from the Germanic stratum through to Old High German. It is also hoped that such a chronologically organized data-set may succeed in isolating a key group of primary or Pre-Germanic verbs which may represent the earliest group of verbs belonging to the weak formation. It is further hypothesized that these and other early groups provided patterns for the analogical extension and growth of the weak verbs as an inflectional category. Important evidence concerning the early stages and analogical growth patterns of the weak verbs can, it is hoped, be gained through a morpho-semantic analysis of these early groups. Methodologically, the verbs are first analysed according to the linguistic period of their formation, and thus
etymology old high german weak verb examination origin_development weak verb old high german problem surround origin early_development tense weak verb germanic yet lack satisfactory explanation outline introduction following hypothesize relative_chronology establish weak verb may possible arrive important insight concern overall pattern development germanic stratum old high german also hop chronologically organize data_set may succeed isolate key group primary pre germanic verb may_represent early group verbs belong weak formation hypothesize early group provide pattern analogical extension growth weak verbs inflectional category important evidence_concern early_stage analogical growth pattern weak verb hop gain morpho semantic_analysis early group methodologically verb first analyse accord linguistic period formation thus