g_ - 0084.htm

74 Phonology [§§ i57~⁸

Gothic, and -ggj·, -gg- in O.Icel., whereas the West-Germanic languages developed an i before this -j-, which united with the preceding vowel to form a diphthong, or ī (when the preceding vowel was i). A satisfactory explanation of this sound-law has not yet been found. The examples are:—gen. Goth, twaddjē, O.Icel. tveggja, OHG. zweio, of two, cp, Skr. dváyōs ; Goth, waddjus, O.Icel. veggr, wall, related to Lat. viēre, to plait; Goth, iđdja, / went, cp. Skr. áyām, / went; Goth, dadđjan, to suckle, cp. Skr. dháyāmi, / suckle.

§ 157. In Indg. -j- alternated with -ij·. The former occurred after short and the latter after long syllables, as Gr. μέσοϊ, (j.eWos from *μέθ/'ο5, Skr. madhyas, Indg. *medhjos, middle, beside Gr. πάτριο? from *πάτρι/ο5, Skr. pítríyas, Indg. *patrijos, paternal. This original distinction was not fully preserved in Gothic, because the -ij-became simplified to -j- before guttural vowels which remained as such in the historic period of the language, as nom. pi. haírdjōs from *xlrđ(ijjōz, shepherds; and similarly in the other plural forms and in the dat. singular (§ 184).

Prim. Germanic -ij- from Indg. -ej- had become -j- before guttural vowels in the prehistoric period of all the Germanic languages, as nasjan, to save; sōkjan, to seek = Indg. *nosejonom, *sāgejonom; pres. first pers. sing. nasja, sōkja = Indg. *nosejō, *sāgejō; pi. nasjam, sōkjam. Cp. § 152, (3).

LIQUIDS AND NASALS.

§ 158. Germanic 1, m, n, rj, r generally remained in Gothic:

1. Goth, lagjan, O.Icel. leggja, OE. lecgan, OS. leggian, OHG. leggen, to lay; Goth. O.Icel. OS. OHG. skal, OE. sceal, shall; and similarly laggs, long; haldan, to hold; salt, salt; wulfs, wolf; mēl, time; wulla, wool; fulls,/;///.



		74 Phonology [§§ i57~⁸ Gothic, and -ggj·, -gg- in O.Icel., whereas the West-Germanic languages developed an i before this -j-, which united with the preceding vowel to form a diphthong, or ī (when the preceding vowel was i). A satisfactory explanation of this sound-law has not yet been found. The examples are:—gen. Goth, twaddjē, O.Icel. tveggja, OHG. zweio, of two, cp, Skr. dváyōs ; Goth, waddjus, O.Icel. veggr, wall, related to Lat. viēre, to plait; Goth, iđdja, / went, cp. Skr. áyām, / went; Goth, dadđjan, to suckle, cp. Skr. dháyāmi, / suckle. § 157. In Indg. -j- alternated with -ij·. The former occurred after short and the latter after long syllables, as Gr. μέσοϊ, (j.eWos from μέθ/'ο5, Skr. madhyas, Indg. medhjos, middle, beside Gr. πάτριο? from πάτρι/ο5, Skr. pítríyas, Indg. patrijos, paternal. This original distinction was not fully preserved in Gothic, because the -ij-became simplified to -j- before guttural vowels which remained as such in the historic period of the language, as nom. pi. haírdjōs from xlrđ(ijjōz, shepherds;* and similarly in the other plural forms and in the dat. singular (§ 184). Prim. Germanic -ij- from Indg. -ej- had become -j- before guttural vowels in the prehistoric period of all the Germanic languages, as nasjan, to save; sōkjan, to seek = Indg. nosejonom, sāgejonom; pres. first pers. sing. nasja, sōkja = Indg. nosejō, sāgejō; pi. nasjam, sōkjam. Cp. § 152, (3). LIQUIDS AND NASALS. § 158. Germanic 1, m, n, rj, r generally remained in Gothic: 1. Goth, lagjan, O.Icel. leggja, OE. lecgan, OS. leggian, OHG. leggen, to lay; Goth. O.Icel. OS. OHG. skal, OE. sceal, shall; and similarly laggs, long; haldan, to hold; salt, salt; wulfs, wolf; mēl, time; wulla, wool; fulls,/;///.