Part 1

A

GOTHIC GRAMMAR

WITH SELECTIONS FOR READING AND A GLOSSARY

BY

WILHELM BRAUNE.

TRANSLATED

(FROM THE FOURTH GERMAN EDITION)

AND EDITED, WITH

EXPLANATORY NOTES, COMPLETE CITATIONS, DERIVATIONS, AND CORRESPONDENCES,

BY

GERHARD H. BALG.

SECOND EDITION.

MILWAUKEE, WIS.: THE AUTHOR. NEW YORK: B. WESTERMANN & CO., LEMCKE & BUECHNER. LONDON, ENG.: KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRUEBNER & CO.

* * * * *

ENTERD ACCORDING TO ACT OF CONGRESS, IN THE YEAR 1895, BY

G. H. BALG,

IN THE OFFICE OF THE LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS, AT WASHINGTON.

ELECTROTYPED AND PRINTED BY THE GERMANIA PUB. CO., MILWAUKEE, WIS.

* * * * *

AUTHOR'S PREFACE.

The main object of this Gothic Grammar is to render service to academic instruction, as a basis for lectures and Gothic exercises; it is intended, at the same time, to afford the student sufficient aid in acquiring a practical knowledge of the Gothic language and thus enable him to follow more advantageously the lectures on historical and comparativ grammar. For this purpose the Gothic Fonology and Inflection ar, as far as possibl, set forth by themselves, without resorting to Comparativ Grammar for an explanation of the facts. Occasionally another Germanic dialect, as the Old High German, has rather been referd to. The linguistic elucidation is left to the lectures. To him, however, who lerns Gothic from this book, without any possibility of hearing lectures, wishing at the same time to gain profounder knowledge, there may be especially recommended the following helps: K. BRUGMANN'S 'Grundriss der vergleichenden grammatik' and FR. KLUGE'S 'Vorgeschichte der altgermanischen dialekte' (in PAUL'S 'Grundriss der germ. philologie', I, 300-406).

The references to literary works containd in the Grammar itself ar not intended to act as linguistic explanations, but refer to works and treatises which present much of profit concerning the establishment and conception of facts from a purely Gothic point of view; several references to BRUGMANN'S 'Grundriss' ar perhaps the only exceptions.

The Reading Exercises ar intended to offer sufficient material for Gothic exercises; they giv students working independently of a teacher an opportunity to apply what they hav lernd from the Grammar. The beginner may be advized at first simply to read over the chapters on Fonology, but to giv more attention to those on Inflection (for the beginning without the notes) and then to commence reading a text. This exercise ought to be accumpanied by a more extended lerning of the Grammar, just as a thuro analysis of the text wil require a constant reference to the Grammar.

The Glossary contains not only the vocabulary of the Reading Exercises, but also all words occurring in the Grammar. The citations from the Inflection hav been givn in ful, those from the Fonology in every case where a word is not givn merely as an arbitrary chozen exampl. Thus the Glossary may at the same time serv as an Index to the Grammar.

Sinse its first appearance in 1880, this book has not undergone essential changes; the success seemd to me to garantee the appropriateness of the plan, so that also in the present edition I hav not complied with several wishes for a farther scope. I stil hold that an admixture of elements from Comparativ Filology would be opposed to the object of the book. The question could rather arize as to whether there ought not to be added any chapters on Word-Formation and Syntax as main parts to the Fonology and Inflection. However this also has been disregarded. Such points of word-formation as may promote the practical study of the Gothic language, wil be found interwoven in the Inflection; a systematic presentation of the Gothic alone does not seem to me to prove very beneficial, but only in connection with the other Germanic, resp. Indo-Germanic, languages. And particularly with respect to this, excellent assistance is afforded the student by KLUGE's 'Nominale stammbildungslehre der altgermanischen dialekte' (cp. § 223) which has been amply referd to under Inflection, and which is easily accessibl as a supplementary number to the 'Sammlung kurzer grammatiken germanischer dialekte'. The addition of a syntax in harmony with the rest of the grammar would likely hav increast the book to dubl its size, which, as regards its sale, seemd to me a point wurthy of consideration. There are, moreover, easily attainabl summaries of the Gothic language. Therefore I hav for the present contented myself with annexing a list of grammatical and lexical helps (§ 224), which may serv as a guide to the inquirer.

For this edition I hav again receivd kind informations from sum that uze the book. Beside the correction of misprints, the contents of the book has been favorably influenced by notes receivd from Mssrs. G. H. Balg, R. Bethge, J. Franck, and M. H. Jellinek. I herewith express my sincerest thanks to all. Mr. Roediger's review has also been thankfully uzed. For assistance renderd me in correcting the proof-sheets, I ow many thanks to my friend E. Sievers.

HEIDELBERG, May 1st, 1895.

W. BRAUNE.

EDITOR'S PREFACE.

The present edition contains all of the latest (fourth) German edition and such additional matter as has been deemd fit to enable the student to lern Gothic more quickly than he would without it. The addition of the Explanatory Notes and of the comprehensiv amplification of the Glossary has, in a mezure, been suggested and desired by many. At first it was intended to ad explanatory notes only, leaving the glossary intact. But from numerous communications I lernd that the present glossary must be welcum to many, if not all, students of Gothic.

In writing down the Notes I hav taken great pains to place myself in the position of the beginner, and it is hoped that the more advanced student wil pardon what might seem superfluous to him. Sum of the explanations ar due to Bernhardt's critical notes in his 'Wulfila' to which I hav often referd. The Notes wer much more comprehensiv before the glossary was workt out, but many of them hav been transferd to the latter, in a few cases without being deleted in their first place, as I observd in reading the proof-sheets. The Glossary has been prepared upon the following plan: It is strictly alfabetic. The compound verbs ar mentiond with the simpl verbs. Many inflectional forms which the beginner who has not yet fully masterd the declensions and conjugations, is not likely to recognize in the texts, hav been givn as vocabulary words. The inflection of every word is indicated by figures in parentheses. The figures in () immediately after the vocabulary words refer to the paragrafs on Fonology. Proper nouns hav been inflected in full inasmuch as they occur in the Selections. The references to the texts ar complete and may be regarded as the first supplement to my 'Comparativ Glossary of the Gothic Language'. Tho admitting accidental omissions in this respect, I am certain that the references ar more complete than those of any other glossary. This tiresum work has cost me much time and labor, but I hope soon to be able to continue and complete it for the remaining part of the Gothic texts.

In the square brackets the derivation of the Gothic words is givn first; then follow the correspondences or cognates, both being, with one or two exceptions, Germanic. The cognates ar always preceded by cp. or cf. It is possibl, however, that I hav faild in sum cases to point out the transference of a word from one declension or conjugation to another.

This part of the book makes no claim to completeness. Several articls had been laid aside for further consideration, but professional and other duties as wel as the sudden appearance of the German edition ar the causes of leaving them untucht. As regards derivation and composition, the student wil do wel by reading carefully §§ 79-82 and § 88ᵃ together with the notes. To point out the various root-grades from which words are derived, is left to the lecturer.

The translation of the Grammar was made from the advanced plate proofs for which I am obliged to the eminent author, Prof. Wm. Braune, who kindly and promptly forwarded them to me. Altho this part of the work was done as fast as it was demanded by the printer, I feel sure that nothing has been omitted. In this respect I am indetted to my wife and one of my pupils, Miss Matilda Uihlein who, in comparing my translation with the German text, red the latter from the beginning to the end. Another pupil, Miss Ida Uihlein, is to be credited for the translation of Prof. Braune's preface, which could be sent to press with comparativly few emendations.

Beside the books often cited in the square brackets and in the Notes I have thankfully uzed Mayhew and Skeat's Midl English Dictionary, Skeat's Etymological Dictionary, and Mac Lean's Old and Midl English Reader.

MILWAUKEE, Aug. 15th, 1895.

G. H. BALG.

CONTENTS.

Fonology. Page

Chap. I. Alfabet (§§ 1-2) 1

Chap. II. Vowels (§§ 3-27) 3

Chap. III. Table of the Vowels (§§ 28-36) 14 A. Fonetic System (§ 28). B. Historical System (§§ 29-36).

Chap. IV. Consonants (§§ 37-82) 18 A. Sonorous Consonants (§§ 38-50). B. Noizd Sounds (§§ 51-78). Labials (§§ 51-56). Gutturals (§§ 57-68). Dentals (§§ 69-78). Appendix. General Remarks on the Consonants (§§ 79-82).

Inflections.

Chap. I. Declension of Substantivs (§§ 83-120) 37 General Remarks (§§ 83-88). A. Vowel (Strong) Declension (§§ 89-106). B. N-Declension (Weak Declension) (§§ 107-113). C. Minor Declensions (§§ 114-118). Appendix. Declension of Foren Words (§§ 119-120).

Chap. II. Declension of Adjectivs (§§ 121-139) 51 A. Strong Adjectivs (§§ 122-139). B. Weak Adjectivs (§ 132). C. Declension of Participls (§§ 133-134). D. Comparison of Adjectivs (§§ 135-139).

Chap. III. Numerals (§§ 140-149) 58

Chap. IV. Pronouns (§§ 150-166) 61

Chap. V. Conjugation (§§ 167-209) 66 I. Strong Verbs (§§ 169-182). II. Weak Verbs (§§ 183-195). III. Irregular Verbs (§§ 196-209).

Chap. VI. Particls (§§ 210-219) 85

Appendix. The Goths, Sources, Editions, Grammatical and Lexical Helps, Literature of the Goth. Syntax (§§ 220-224) 89

Selections for Reading 97

Explanatory Notes 117

Glossary 135

ABBREVIATIONS.

anv., anomalous verb. cf. or cp., compare. E., English. follg., following. G., German. Gr., Greek. Idg., Indo-Germanic. Lt., Latin. ME., Midl English. MHG., Midl High German. NE., New English. NHG., New High German. Nth., Northumbrian. OE., Old English. OHG., Old High German. ON., Old Norse. OS., Old Saxon. pp., past participl. prec., preceding. prsp., present participl. prt.-prs., preterit present. Sc., Scotch. Shak., Shakspere. Sp., Spenser. sta., strong adjectiv. stv., strong verb. th. s., the same. w., with or word. wa., weak adjectiv. wv., weak verb. <, from; >, whense.

Anz. fda., Anzeiger für deutsches alterthum, s. Zs. fda.

Beitr., Beiträge zur geschichte der deutschen sprache und literatur. Halle 1874 ff.

Bezzenb. beitr., Beiträge zur kunde der indogerm. sprachen, hg. v. A. Bezzenberger. Göttingen 1875 ff.

Brugm., Grundriss der vergleichenden grammatik der indog. sprachen von K. Brugmann (Engl. edition). Strassburg 1886-92.

Dietrich, aussprache des got., s. § 2 n. 1.

Germ., Germania, hg. von Pfeiffer-Bartsch-Behaghel (1856-92).

Grundr., Grundriss der germ. philologie, hg. v. H. Paul. Strassburg 1889-93.

IF., Indogerm. forschungen, hg. v. K. Brugmann und W. Streitberg. Strassburg 1892 ff.

Kl. W., Kluge, Wörterbuch.

Kuhns zs., Zeitschrift für vergleichende sprachforschung. Berlin 1852 ff.

Litbl., Literaturblatt für germ. und roman. philologie. Heilbronn 1880 ff.

Sk., Skeat, Etymological Dictionary.

vB., von Bahder, Verbalabstracta.

Wrede, Wand., Sprache der Wandalen, s. § 220 n. 4.

Wrede, Ostg., Sprache der Ostgoten, s. § 221 n. 4.

Zs. fda., Zeitschrift für deutsches alterthum. Berlin 1841 ff. With this sinse vol. 19: Anzeiger für d. alt. Berlin 1876 ff.

Zs. fdph., Zeitschrift für deutsche philologie. Halle 1869 ff.

FONOLOGY.

CHAP. I. THE ALFABET.

§ 1. The monuments of the Gothic language ar handed down to us in a peculiar alfabet which, according to Greek ecclesiastic writers, was invented by Wulfila (s. § 221). The Gothic alfabet, however, is not entirely a new creation, but Wulfila based it on the Greek alfabet which he accomodated to the Gothic sounds, increasing it by several signs from the Latin alfabet, and, in a few cases, availing himself of the familiar runic alfabet. Of the Greek alfabet he also retaind the order and numerical value. The Gothic alfabet is now sufficiently represented in Roman letters. In the following we giv in the first line the original Gothic characters, in the second their numerical values, in the third the transliteration of the Gothic characters by Roman letters, which latter we shall uze exclusivly in this book.

NOTE 1. Of these signs one (=i=, _10_) is represented by two forms. The =i= without dots occurs oftener, the =i= with dots stands at the beginning of a word, and in the midl of a word after a vowel, to show that it forms a syllabl for itself and does not form a difthong with the preceding vowel; e. g., =fraïtiþ= (= =fra-itiþ=). In transliteration =i= is employd thruout.

NOTE 2. Two characters, the Greek episema 'koppa' (_90_) and 'sampi' (_900_), hav no fonetic values, but serv only as numerals. When the symbols denote numerals, they ar markt by a horizontal stroke abuv them, or by dots before and after them: =i̅b̅= or =·ib·= = 12.

NOTE 3. The transliteration of the Gothic symbols is not alike in all cases. Most editors hav hitherto uzed =v= for =w= (§ 39, n. 1); for the singl symbols =q= (§ 39, n. 1) and =ƕ= (§ 63) we find =kv= or =qu= and =hv= or =w=, respectivly; for =þ=, which is borrowd from the Norse-A.-S. alfabet, also =th= occurs (§ 70, n. 1).

NOTE 4. The Gothic monuments show but few abbreviations; the holy names, =guþ=, =frauja=, =iêsus=, =Χristus=, ar always abbreviated. Abbreviations ar denoted by a stroke abuv the word, but in our texts the abbreviated words ar uzually printed in ful; as, =g̅þ̅= = =guþ=, =f̅a̅=, =f̅i̅n̅s̅= = =frauja=, =fraujins=.--For more on this point, s. Gabelentz-Loebe's grammar, p. 19 et seq.

NOTE 5. The Goths alredy had the Germanic runic letters before Wulfila. The names of these letters wer uzed also for the new characters. The names of the Gothic symbols, together with a few Gothic words and alfabets, ar preservd in a Salzburg-Vienna manuscript of the 9th century: W. Grimm, 'Wiener Jahrbücher der Litteratur 43', p. 4 et seq. Massmann, zs. fda. 1, p. 296 et seq.--The form of the names, however, is very corrupt. As to this, cp. A. Kirchhoff, 'Das Gotische Runenalphabet', 2nd edit., Berlin 1854; J. Zacher, 'Das Gotische Alphabet Vulfilas und das Runenalphabet', Leipzig 1855.--Of special importance is Wimmer's treatis on Wulfila's alfabet, as 'Appendix I' to his book: 'Die Runenschrift', Berlin 1887, pp. 259-274.

§ 2. Of the 27 characters two hav only numerical values, (§ 1, n. 2), a third, the χ, is retaind only in Greek foren words, especially in the name 'Christus', and denotes no Gothic sound. Hense there remain the following 24 characters whose fonetic values ar to be determind:

(a) Consonants:

=p b f m w | t d þ s z n l r | k q g h ƕ j.=

(b) Vowels:

=a e i o u.=

(c) Difthongs:

=ei iu ai au.=

In determining the fonetic values of these characters we ar guided by the following means: (1) The Gothic alfabet is based on the Greek alfabet; hense, the pronunciation of the Greek letters to be determind for the 4th century, must also be regarded as that of the Gothic letters so long as there is no proof to the contrary. (2) The rendition of the numerous Greek foren words and proper nouns by Wulfila. (3) The transliteration of the Gothic proper nouns in Latin documents and by Latin authors of the 4th-8th centuries. (4) The testimony of the cognate Germanic languages. (5) Fonetic changes and grammatical fenomena in the Gothic language itself permit us to draw conclusions about the nature of the sounds.

NOTE 1. Concerning the pronunciation of the Gothic letters, cp. Weingärtner, 'Die Aussprache des Gotischen zur Zeit des Ulfilas', Leipzig 1858; Fr. Dietrich, 'Ueber die Aussprache des Gotischen während der Zeit seines Bestehens', Marburg 1862; about the consonants, Paul, 'Zur Lautverschiebung', Beitr. 1, p. 147 et seq.

NOTE 2. An old testimony for the Gothic pronunciation in the Salzburg-Vienna MS.:

_uuortun otan auar euangeliū ther lucam_ =waurþun uþþan afar aiwaggeljo þairh Lokan=

_uuorthun auar thuo iachuedant iachᵘatun_ =waurþun afar þo jah qeþun.=

ubi dicit. genuit _.j._ ponitur ubi gabriel _.g._ ponunt et alia his sim̅ ubi aspiratione . ut dicitur gah libeda _jah libaida_ diptongon _ai_ pro e longa p ch _q_ ponunt.--Cp. § 1, n. 5, and, for explanation, especially Kirchhoff, p. 20 et seq.

CHAP. II. THE VOWELS.

a

§ 3. The Gothic =a= signifies as a rule the short a-sound [as in G. mann].

NOTE 1. Foren words and names; as, =Annas=, Ἀννας; =Akaja=, Ἀχαΐα; =barbarus=, βάρβαρος; =aggilus=, ἄγγελος; =karkara=, _carcer_; =lukarn=, _lucerna_; =Kafarnaum=, Καπερναούμ.

NOTE 2. Gothic names: =Athanaricus=, =Ariaricus=, =Amalafrigda= (_Ammian._)

§ 4. Short =a= is very frequent both in stem-syllabls and in inflection. E. g.

(a) Stem-syllabls: =agis=, _aw_; =aljis=, '_alius_'; =tagr=, _tear_; =aƕa=, '_aqua_'; =alan=, _to grow_; =hafjan=, _to heav_; =saltan=, _to salt_; =haldan=, _to hold_; =waldan=, _to rule_; =fadar=, _father_; =staþs=, _place_.--=ahtau=, '_octo_'; =gasts=, _guest_; =ƕaþar=, '_uter_'; =awistr=, _sheepfold_ (OHG. au, '_ovis_'; ahd. gr., § 219, n. 3); =bandi=, _band_; =barn=, _child_; =saggws=, _song_; all preterits of the III.-V. ablaut-series: =bar=, _I bore_; =hlaf=, _I stole_; =band=, _I bound_; =gaf=, _I gave_, etc.

(b) Inflections: =daga= (dat. sg., § 90), =waúrda= (nom. acc. pl., § 93), =giba= (nom. acc. sg., § 96), =guma= (nom. sg., § 107), =haírtôna= (nom. acc. pl., § 109); --=blindamma=, =blindana=, =blinda=, =blindata= (str. adj., § 123); --=imma=, =ina=, =ita=, =ija=, =meina= (prn.; § 150 et seq.); --=nima= (1st pers. sg. prs. ind.); =nimaima=, =nimaiwa=, =nimaina= (1st pers. pl. du. and 3d pers. pl. opt., § 170); =haitada= (medio-passiv, § 170); =sôkida= (weak prt., § 184); --adverbs: =-ba= (as, =glaggwuba=), =nêƕa=, =inna=, =ana=, =waíla=, etc.

NOTE 1. Apocope of an unaccented =a= before enclitics: =þat-ist=, =þat-ei=, =þan-uh=, =þamm-uh=, =þan-ei=, =þamm-ei=, =kar-ist=.--Also =frêt= and =frêtum= (prt. of =fra-itan=, _to devour_, § 176, n. 3).

NOTE 2. For =a= in the difthongs =ai=, =au=, s. §§ 21. 25.

§ 5. In a few cases =a= is long [as in E. father]. (Comp. Holtzmann, Altd. Gr., I, 3 et seq.).

(a) In foren words: =Silbânus= (_Silvanus_), =aurâli= (_orale_), =spaíkulâtur= (_speculator_), =Peilâtus=, etc.;

(b) In the following Gothic words: =fâhan= (OHG. fâhan), _to cach_; =hâhan= (OHG. hâhan), _to hang_; =þâhta= (prt. of =þagkjan=, _to think_); =brâhta= (prt. of =briggan=, _to bring_); =gafâhs=, _a haul_; =faúrhâh=, _curtain_; =gahâhjô=, _in order_; =-gâhts=, _a going_; also =þâhô= (OHG. dâha), _clay_; =unwâhs=, _blameless_ (OE. wôh, _wrong_).

NOTE. In the words mentiond under (b) =âh= arose from =anh= (§ 50, n. 1). Cp. also Litbl. 1886, p. 485.

e

§ 6. =e= is always a long, close vowel (=ê=) approaching very much the sound of =i= [as in E. they].

NOTE 1. In Greek words η is regularly represented by =ê=; e. g., =Gabriêl=, =Kêfas=, =aíkklêsjô=, =Krêta=; --sumtimes also ι: =Naên=, Ναίν; =Tykêkus=, Τυχικός; =aíloê=, ἐλωί; likewise e: =Jarêd=, Ἰαρέδ.

NOTE 2. In Gothic names Latin writers employ =e= for Gothic =ê=: =Sigismêres=, =Gelimêr=, =Reccarêd=; besides, as erly as the 6th century, quite regularly also =i=; as, =Theodemir=, =Valamir=. Cp. Beitr., 11, 7 et seq.; Wrede, Wand., 92 et seq. #/Ναίν

§ 7. Goth. =ê= (which regularly corresponds to OHG. and OS. â; ahd. gr., § 34) is found:

(a) in reduplicating verbs, in part with the ablaut =ô= (§§ 179. 181): =grêtan=, =lêtan=, =slêpan=; (b) in the prt. pl. of the IV. and V. ablaut-series: =sêtum= (inf. =sitan=, _to sit_), =nêmun= (inf. =niman=, _to take_), =têmum= (inf. =timan=, _to befit_), =êtum= (inf. _itan_), and in the prt. sg. =frêt=; Luc. XV, 30 (§ 176, n. 3); (c) in derivativs from the verbal stems givn under (b); as, =andanêms=, _agreeabl_; =andanêm=, _a receiving_; =gatêmiba=, _becumingly_; =uzêta=, _manger_; (d) in other words; as, =jêr=, _year_; =qêns=, _wife_; =mêna=, _moon_; =lêkeis=, _fysician_; =mêrjan=, _to preach_; =manasêþs= ('_man-seed_'), _world_, etc.; (e) in formativ syllabls: =fahêþs=, _joy_; =awêþi=, _flock of sheep_ (cp. however § 17, n. 1); =azêts=, _easy_; 2nd pers. sg. prt. of wvs., =-dês= (=nasidês=, § 184); (f) final: in the ending of the gen. pl.; as, =dagê=; in monosyllabic instrumentals: =þê=, =ƕê= (§§ 153. 159); in particls and advs.; as, =swê=, =untê=, =hidrê=, =bisunjanê=; lastly, in the dativs =ƕammêh=, =ƕarjammêh=, =ainummê-hun= (cp. §§ 163-166).

NOTE 1. =ê= before vowels appears as =ai=; s. § 22.

NOTE 2. =ei= occurs quite often for =ê=, especially in the Gospel of St. Luke; as, =qeins= (= =qêns=), =faheid= (= =fahêd=), =fraleitais= (= =fralêtais=); Lu. II, 5. 10. 29; =afleitan=; Mt. IX, 6, etc.

NOTE 3. Sporadically also =i= for =ê=; so, frequently, in the Gospel of St. Lu.; as, =b~i~rusjôs=; Lu. II, 41; =q~i~þeina=; VIII, 56. IX, 21; =tawid~i~deina=; VI, 11; =duatsn~i~wun=; Mk. VI, 53. Only =i= is found in =wriþus=, _herd_; Lu. VIII, 33 (for =wrêþus=; cp. Bezzenb. Beitr. 3, 114).

NOTE 4. Reversely, also =e= occurs for =i= and =ei= (§ 10, n. 5; § 17, n. 1).--These deviations (in ns. 2-4) seem due to East Gothic writers; cp. Wrede, 'Ostg.', 161.

§ 8. From the preceding =ê= must be separated the =ê= of sum Gothic words in which it corresponds to OHG. ea, ia (not â): =hêr=, _here_; =Krêks=, _Greek_; =fêra=, _side_, _region_; =mês=, _table_. Cp. ahd. gr., §§ 35. 36; Beitr., 18, 409 et seq.

i

§ 9. Gothic =i=, as a rule, denotes the short vowel =i= [as in E. it], while its corresponding long sound is represented by =ei= [= ie in E. believ]; s. § 16.

NOTE 1. The =i= in Greek words stands for short ι, only exceptionally for η which is generally represented by =ê=; e. g., =Aúnisimus=, Ὀνήσιμος; =Biþania=, Βηθανία.

NOTE 2. =i= in Gothic words is long, when it is incorrectly employd for =ê= (cp. § 7, n. 3).

§ 10. The Gothic =i=, from an historical point of view, is of two kinds: It represents two originally distinct sounds which, from a purely Gothic standpoint, can not be separated.