Difference between revisions of "Evolution of German"

Revision as of 19:30, 3 February 2007

These are just notes to get my thoughts together for a test; no guarantee is given as to the accuracy of this information and the site license stands.

Evolution

Branching Tree of Germanic Languages

Proto-IE to Proto-Germanic

IE ablaut rule:
- V → V → [e(:), o(:), 0] in a m.c. environment
- kneigʰ → kniigʰ/knīgʰ
o → a
l̥, m̥, n̥, r̥ → ul, um, un, ur
"First" umlaut:
- e → i / _ {C₀ i(:), j | [+nasal C]C }
- i, u → e, o / _ C₀ a(:), o(:), e(:) | (C ≠ [+nasal C] C)
ē → ā

Verner's Law

Continuant options if after a vowel.

/ V_[-stressed] C_0[+sonorant] _ {#,C_[+sonorant]}

p	t	k	kʷ
→
β/b	d/ð	ɣ/ɡ	ɣʷ/ɡʷ

The first sound shift

Continuant options if after a vowel

voiceless stops → fricatives

p	t	k	kʷ	s
→
f	θ	x/h	xʷ/hʷ	s

voiced stops → unvoiced stops

b	d	ɡ	ɡʷ
→
p	t	k	kʷ

voiced aspirated stops → voiced stops

bʰ	dʰ	ɡʰ	ɡʷʰ
→
β/b	d/ð	ɣ/ɡ	ɣʷ/ɡʷ

Stress Shift

Germanic to NW Germanic

z → r

NW Germanic to West Germanic

ð → d

Gemination

C → CC / _ C_[+son]
- (i.e.: n, m, l, (r,) w, j }
- skalj → shell
- → latter, ladder
- → button
- → happen
- → bubble
- → bottle
- sitj(an) → sit(ting)

West Germanic to OHG

Voiceless Stops Fricativise

ship → shif

Second Sound Shift

Voiceless Aspirated Stops Fricativise (a.k.a. Affricatisation)

pʰ	tʰ	kʰ	→
pf	ts	kx	/ {#,C} _
ff	ss	xx	/ {V} _

Voiced stops devoice

d → t (except after a nasal?)
g,b → k,p

Other stuff

θ → d
β → b
ɣ → ɡ

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 == Proto-IE to Proto-Germanic ==
+* IE ablaut rule:
+** V → V → [e(:), o(:), 0] in a m.c. environment
+** kneigʰ → kniigʰ/knīgʰ
+* o → a
+* l̥, m̥, n̥, r̥ → ul, um, un, ur
+* "First" umlaut:
+** e → i / _ {C<sub>0</sub> i(:), j | [+nasal C]C }
+** i, u → e, o / _ C<sub>0</sub> a(:), o(:), e(:) | (C ≠ [+nasal C] C)
+* ē → ā
 === Verner's Law ===
 Continuant options if after a vowel.

Difference between revisions of "Evolution of German"

Revision as of 19:30, 3 February 2007

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