Part 3

i: Short, =i= (§ 10). Long, =ei= (§§ 16. 17). e: Short, wanting. Long, =ê= (§§ 6-8). æ: Short, =aí= (§ 20). Long? (perhaps the ai in § 22). a: Short, =a= (§§ 3. 4). Long, =â= (§ 5). ǫ: Short, wanting. Long, =ô= (§§ 11. 12). u: Short, =u= (§§ 13. 14). Long, =û= (§ 15).

Difthongs: iu: §§ 18. 19. ai: § 21. au: § 25.

B. HISTORICAL SYSTEM (Ablaut-Series).

§ 29. The Gothic vowels, as regarded from a historico-etymological point of view, may be groupt into a number of series of related vowels. The vowels belonging to such a series may interchange in formations with the same root; in the formation of tenses and in the verbal and nominal derivation all vowels of the same series may occur, but not such as hav nothing in common with that series. This change of vowels within a series is calld +ablaut+ (or gradation), the series themselvs +ablaut-series+. The ablaut-series ar most perceptibl in the verb. The relation between the vowels of the same series is not a fonetic but a +historical+ one; to establish it, we must pass beyond the limits of the Germanic languages and take recourse to the comparativ grammar of the Indo-Germanic languages. The Gothic ablaut-series as appearing in verbal inflection ar these (cp. § 172 et seq.):

§ 30. I. Series: =ei= =ai= =i (aí)=.

Exampls: =reisan= (=urreisan=), =rais=, =risum=, =risans=, _to rize_; =urraisjan=, _to raiz_; =urrists=, f., _resurrection_; --=þeihan=, =þaíh=, =þaíhum=, =þaíhans=, _to thrive_; --=wait=, _I know_; pl. =witum=; =weitan=, _to see_; =weitwôds=, _witness_; =miþ-wissei=, _conscience_; =witubni=, n., _knowledge_; --=lais=, _I know_; =lubja-leisei=, f., _wichcraft_; =lists=, f. (?), _stratagem_; =laisjan=, _to teach_.

NOTE. The =i= of this series is the proethnic Germanic i mentiond in § 10, b.

§ 31. II. Series: =iu= =au= =u (aú)=.

Exampls: =giuta=, =gaut=, =gutum=, =gutans=, _to pour_; =gutnan=, _to pour_ (intr.); --=liugan=, =laug=, =lugum=, =lugans=, _to lie_; =liugnja=, m., _liar_; =liugn=, n., _lie_; =analaugns=, _hidn_; =laugnjan=, _to deny_; --=galaubjan=, _to believ_; =galaubeins=, _belief_; =liufs=, _dear_; =lubô=, f., _luv_; =lubains=, f., _hope_; --=siuks=, _sick_; =saúhts=, f., _sickness_; --=driusan=, _to fall_; =drausjan=, _to drop_ (tr.); =drus=, m., _fall_; =driusô=, f., _slope_.

NOTE. The vowel =û= is rare in this series; cp. =lûkan=, _to lock_ (§ 173, n. 2); =anabûsns= (? § 15, n. 1), _command_, < =biudan=.

§ 32. III. Series: =i (aí)= =a= =u (aú)=.

The themes of this series always hav two consonants after the vowel, mostly a liquid or a nasal in gemination, or a liquid or a nasal + another consonant. E. g.

=bindan=, =band=, =bundum=, =bundans=, _to bind_; =bandi=, f., _band_; =bandja=, m., _prisoner_; =gabinda=, f., _band, bond_; =and-bundnan=, _to becum loose_; =gabundi=, f., _bond_; --=rinnan=, _to run_; =rannjan=, _to cause to run_; =runs=, m., _a run, course_; =rinnô=, f., _brook_; --=waírpan=, =warp=, =waúrpum=, =waúrpans=, _to throw_; =uswaúrpa=, f., _a casting out_ or _away, an outcast_; --=þaírsan=, _to be dry_; =þaúrsnan=, _to wither_; =þaúrsus=, _dry, witherd_; =þaúrstei=, _thirst_; --=drigkan=, _to drink_; =dragkjan=, _to giv to drink_; =dragk=, n., _a drink, potion_; =-drukja=, m., _a drinker_; =drugkanei=, f., _drunkenness_; --=þriskan=, _to thresh_; =gaþrask=, n., _threshing-floor_.

NOTE. The =i= of this and the following two series is that givn in § 10, a (= proethnic Germanic e).

§ 33. IV. Series: =i (aí)= =a= =ê= =u (aú)=.

The stems of this series hav a simpl liquid or nasal after the vowel. E. g.

=niman=, =nam=, =nêmum=, =numans=, _to take_; =-numja=, m., _taker_; =anda-numts=, f., _a receiving_; =andanêms=, _agreeabl_; =andanêm=, n., _a receiving_; --=baíran=, =bar=, =bêrum=, =baúrans=, _to bear_; =baúr=, m., '_natus_'; =barn=, n., _child_; =bêrusjôs=, _parents_; --=ga-timan=, _to becum, suit_; =ga-tamjan=, _to tame_; =gatêmiba=, _fitly_.

NOTE. To this series belongs also =brikan=, =brak=, =brêkum=, =brukans=, _to break_: =gabruka=, f., _a broken bit_; =us-bruknan=, _to break off_ (intr.); =brakja=, f., _strugl_.--Also =trudan=, _to tred_; § 175, n. 2.

§ 34. V. Series: =i (aí)= =a= =ê=.

The vowel of the stems of this series is followd by a singl consonant other than a liquid or a nasal. E. g.

=giban=, =gaf=, =gêbum=, =gibans=, _to giv_; =giba=, f., _gift_; =gabei=, f., _richness_; --=sitan=, _to sit_; =satjan=, _to set_; =anda-sêts=, _abominabl_; --=mitan=, _to mezure_; =mitôn=, _to consider_; =mitaþs=, f., _mezure_; =usmêt=, n., _manner of life_; --=ga-nisan=, _to be saved_, _recuver_; =nasjan=, _to save_; =ganists=, _salvation_.

NOTE. Also =saíƕan=, =saƕ=, =sêƕum=, =saíƕans=, belongs to this class, because =ƕ= represents a singl sound; § 63, n. 1.

§ 35. VI. Series: =a= =ô=.

Most of the stems of this series end in a singl consonant. E. g.

=wakan=, =wôk=, =wôkum=, =wakans=, _to wake_; =waknan=, _to awake_; =wahtwô=, f., _wach_; =wôkains=, f., _a waching_; --=graban=, _to dig_; =grôba=, f., _pit, hole_; =graba=, f., _dich_; --=fraþjan=, =frôþ=, _to understand_; =fraþi=, n., _understanding_; =frôþs=, _wise_; =frôdei=, f., _understanding, wisdom_; --=hafjan=, =hôf=, _to heav_ (tr.); =-hafnan=, _to heav_ (intr.); =haban=, _to hav, hold_; =ungahôbains=, f., _incontinency_; --=ôg=, _I fear_; =unagands=, _fearless_; =ôgjan=, _to frighten_; =usagjan=, _to terrify_; =agis=, n., _fear_; --=sakan=, _to contend_; =sakjô=, f., _strife_; =sôkjan=, _to seek_; =sôkns=, f., _serch, inquiry_; =unand-sôks=, _irrefutabl_.

§ 36. Series: =ê= =ô= (VII. Ablaut-Series).

A connection between =ê= and =ô= occurs in the so-calld reduplicating ablaut-verbs =lêtan=, =laílôt=, etc.; =saian= (= =*sêan=, § 22), =saísô=, etc.; cp. § 180 et seq.

NOTE. This series is no longer found in the verbal inflection of the remaining Germanic languages, but its existence is proved by its occurring in word-formation; as, OHG. (â: ô) tât, f., tôn, tuon, _to do_; --knâan, _to know_: knôt, chnuat, f., _kin_.--For more on this point, s. Beitr. 11, 262 et seq.

CHAP. IV. THE CONSONANTS.

§ 37. The consonant-signs to be discust here both in regard to value and occurrence in the Gothic language hav alredy been enumerated in § 2. We divide the consonantal sounds in +sonorous+ consonants and +noizd sounds+. Cp. Sievers, Grundzüge der Phonetik⁴, p. 70 et seq. Accordingly, the Gothic consonant-signs =w=, =j=, =l=, =m=, =n=, =r=, represent the +sonorous sounds+, the rest the noizd sounds.

A. SONOROUS CONSONANTS.

1. The semivowels w and j.

§ 38. Germanic w and j ar the vowels u and i uzed as consonants; hense in Gothic the interchange between =i= and =j=, =u= and =w=, according to their position which determins their fonetic values as vowels or consonants. The consonantal i and u, which in other languages ar denoted by the same signs as the vocalic i and u, hav special signs in Gothic, =j= and =w=. These sounds ar also calld 'semivowels'.

w

§ 39. The sign of the Gothic alfabet which we represent by =w=, is, according to its form and alfabetic position, the Gr. υ. For this it also stands in Greek foren words, for exampl, =Pawlus=, Παῦλος; =Daweid=, Δαυίδ; =aíwaggêljô=, εὐαγγέλιον; =paraskaíwê=, παρασκευή. But the Gothic =w= stands not only for the Gr. υ of the combinations αυ, ευ, in which it had perhaps at that time assumed the value of a spirant, but also for simpl Greek υ, namely vocalic υ; as, =Swmaíôn=, Συμεών; =swnagôgê=, συναγωγή; =martwr=, μάρτυρ. But in our transcriptions of the Gothic texts the Greek vocalic υ is exprest by =y= instead of =w= (=Symaíôn=, =synagôgê=, =martyr=); so, also, for practical reasons, in this book.

NOTE 1. A noteworthy Gothic transcription is =kawtsjô= (= Lt. cautio) in the document at Naples (§ 221, n. 3). Cp. Wrede, 'Ostg.', 166; Zs. fda., 36, 273.

NOTE 2. The Gothic sign is in most of the later editions represented by =v=. But because of its correspondence in the other Germanic languages the letter =w= should be uzed (as, Goth. =wilja=, MHG. NHG. wille, OE. willa, NE. wil). Cp. Beitr., 12, 218 et seq.

§ 40. In Gothic words the =w= originally had the fonetic value of the consonantal =u= (= E. w). But at Wulfila's time the =u=-sound seems to hav alredy containd sumwhat of a spirant. Cp. Zs. fda., 36, 266 et seq. (37, 121 et seq.).

NOTE. Latin writers uzually express the =w= in proper nouns by uu. =Vvilia=, =Uualamir=; but also often by Ub: =Ubadala= (= =Wadila=), =Ubadamirus= (= =Wadamêrs=), etc. Greek authors mostly put οὐ for the Goth. =w= (as in Οὐάνδαλοι), but also β (as in Βάνδαλοι). Cp. Dietrich, pp. 77-80. Wrede, 'Wand.', 102; 'Ostg.', 167 et seq.

§ 41. Initial Gothic =w= occurs frequently; e. g., =wasjan=, _to clothe_; =witan=, _to know_; =wiljan=, _to wil_; =waír=, _man_; =warmjan=, _to warm_.

So also before =l= and =r=; as, =wlits=, _countenance_; =wrikan=, _to persecute_; =wrôhjan=, _to accuse_.

After the consonants: =t=, =d=, =þ=, =s=; e. g., =twai=, _two_; =dwals=, _foolish_; =þwahan=, _to wash_; =swistar=, _sister_.

Medial =w= before vowels; e. g., =awistr=, _sheepfold_; =saiwala=, _soul_; =hneiwan=, _to bow_; =siggwan=, _to sing_; =ûhtwô=, _dawn_; =taíhswô=, _right hand_; =nidwa=, _rust_.

NOTE. The signs =q= (=kw=) and =ƕ= (=hw=) ar also uzually explaind as combinations of =w= with =k= and =h=. There ar reasons, however, to assume that =q= and =ƕ= ar simpl labialized gutturals (§§ 59. 63). But on the other hand =q= and =ƕ= in High German ar treated precisely like Goth. =tw=, =gw=, etc. (= t, g, etc., medial w being dropt); for exampl, Goth. =ûhtwô=, =siggwan= = OHG. ûhta, singan; and Goth. =sigqan=, =saíƕan= = OHG. sinkan, sehan. Altho this proves nothing as to the values of the +Gothic+ signs, it certainly shows that in +proethnic Germanic+ the tw, gw, etc., must hav denoted sounds analogous to those of kw and hw.

§ 42. (1) =w= remains unchanged after +long+ vowels, +difthongs+, and +consonants+, (a) finally, (b) before the =s= of the nominativ, (c) before =j=; e. g., (a) =lêw=, n., _opportunity_; =hlaiw=, n., _grave_;, =waúrstw=, n., _work_; (b) =snaiws=, _snow_; =triggws=, _tru, faithful_; (c) =lêwjan=, _to betray_; =hnaiwjan=, _to abase_; =skadwjan=, _to cast a shade_ (< =skadus=, _shade_); =arwjô=, adv., _in vain_.

(2) in all three positions, however, =w= becums =u= after a +short+ vowel; e. g., (a) =snau= (prt. to =sniwan=, § 176, n. 2); =triu=, _tree_ (gen. =triwis=); =*kniu=, _knee_ (gen. =kniwis=, § 94, n. 1); (b) =naus=, m., _a ded person_ (gen. =nawis=); =*þius=, _servant_ (gen. =þiwis=, § 91, n. 3); (c) =mawi=, gen. =maujôs=, _girl_; =gawi=, gen. =gaujis=, _district_; =þiwi=, gen. =þiujôs=, _maid-servant_; =tawida=, pres. =taujan=, _to do_; =*straujan=, _to strew_, prt. =strawida; iujan=, _to quicken_, prt. =qiwida=.--Cp. Grundr., I, 414; Zs. fda., 36, 277.

NOTE 1. Hense a word does not end in =aw=, =iw=; =aws=, =iws=, except the isolated =lasiws=, _weak_ (II. Cor. X, 10).

NOTE 2. =aw= for =au= occurs before =j= in =usskawjan=, _to awake_; II. Tim. II, 26 (in B); I. Cor. XV, 34 (=ussk..jiþ= in MS.); and in the nom. pl. =usskawai= (=unskawai= in MS.), _wakeful_; I. Thess. V, 8; cp. § 124, n. 3.

NOTE 3. No exampl occurs for the position of medial =w= before consonants other than =j= and =s=; before =n= after a short vowel =u= is found in =qiunan= (< =qiwa-=), _to becum alive_; =siuns= (cp. =saíƕa-=).

j

§ 43. The sign =j= stands, as a rule, for the Greek antevocalic ι, in =Akaja=, Αχαία; =Marja=, Μαρία; =Judas=, Ἰούδας; =Iskarjôtês=, Ἰσκαριώτης, etc. But Gr. antevocalic ι is also often represented by Goth. =i=; as, =Iskariôtês=, =Zakarias=, =Gabriêl=, =Iûdas=.--The sign =j= in Gothic pronunciation probably has the value of a consonantal =i=, not that of the spirant j in German.

§ 44. (a) +Initial+ =j= in Gothic words: =juk=, _yoke_; =jêr=, _year_; =ju=, _alredy_; =jus=, _yu_. (b) +Medial+ =j= occurs after vowels and after consonants, but always +before+ vowels, never before consonants; e. g., =midjis=, '_medius_'; =lagjan=, _to lay_; =niujis=, _new_; =frauja=, _lord_; =þrija=, '_tria_'; =bajôþs=, _both_. (c) =ji= is contracted into =ei= after a consonant belonging to the same syllabl, but is retaind when the syllabl begins with =j= (cp. Beitr. 16, 282). The latter is the case when it is preceded by a short high-toned vowel with a singl consonant or by a long stem-vowel without a consonant. Exampls--concerning particularly the masculins (and neuters) of the =ja=-stems (§§ 92. 127)--ar: =har-jis=, =tô-jis= (_doer_), but =haír-deis=, dat. =haírd-ja=; --also the I. Weak Conjugation (§ 185): =sô-kja=, =sô-keis=, =sô-keiþ=; =san-dja=, =san-deiþ=; =miki-lja=, =miki-leiþ=; but =nas-ja=, =nas-jis=, =nas-jiþ=; =stô-ja=, =stô-jis=, =stô-jiþ=.

NOTE 1. The rule under (c) may, practically, also be worded in the following manner: =ji= becums =ei= after a long stem-syllabl and after secondary syllabls, but remains =ji= after a short stem-syllabl and immediately after a long stem-vowel.--For exceptions, s. § 95; § 108, n. 2; § 132, n. 1.

NOTE 2. Only =i= is often employd for medial =ij= before vowels; s. § 10, n. 4; for =j= occurring sporadically in the inflection of =saian=, s. § 22, n. 1.

§ 45. =j= is never +final+; in this position it always becums =i=; e. g., =harjis=, acc. =hari=; =mawi=, gen. =maujôs= (s. § 42, 2, c); =taui=, _deed_, gen. =tôjis=.

NOTE 1. For the change of =aj= and =ai=, s. § 21, n. 2.

2. Liquids.

l

§ 46. Gothic =l= occurs often,--initially, medially, and finally; as, =laggs=, _long_; =galaubjan=, _to believ_; =liuhaþ=, _light_; =laúhmuni=, _lightning_; =wiljan=, _to wil_; =aljis=, '_alius_'; =blôma=, _flower_; --dubl =l=, as in =fill=, _hide_; =fulls=, _ful_; =wulla=, _wool_.

NOTE 1. =l= is syllabic (§ 27), for exampl, in =fugls=, _bird_ (_fowl_); =tuggl=, _constellation, star_; =tagl=, _hair_; =swumfsl=, _pond_; =sigljan=, _to seal_.

NOTE 2. Goth. =l= always corresponds to Gr. λ. It is interpolated in =alabalstraún=, ἀλάβαστρον.

r

§ 47. =r= is equivalent to Gr. ρ and occurs frequently in Gothic words; e. g., =raíhts=, _right_; =raubôn=, _to rob_; =baíran=, _to bear_; =fidwôr=, _four_.--Dubl =r= is rare: =qaírrus=, _meek_; =andstaúrran=, _to threten_; =faírra=, _far_.

NOTE 1. Syllabic =r= (§ 27) occurs, for exampl, in =ak~r~s=, _field_; =brôþ~r~=, dat. sg. of =brôþar= (§ 114), _brother_; =figg~r~s=, _finger_; =tag~r~=, _tear_; =hlût~r~s=, _pure_; =fag~r~s=, _suitabl_; =maúrþ~r~=, _murder_; =hugg~r~jan=, _to hunger_.

NOTE 2. Every =i= before =r= becums =aí=, and every =u= in the same position =aú=; s. §§ 20. 24.

NOTE 3. Concerning =r= from =z=, s. § 78, n. 4; § 24, n. 2.

3. Nasals.

m

§ 48. =m= occurs in all positions of a word; as, =mizdô=, f., _reward_; =mêna=, m., _moon_; =ams=, m., _shoulder_; =guma=, m., _man_; finally: =nam=, _I took_; in the terminations of the dat. pl.,--=dagam=, etc.; 1st pers. pl.,--=nimam=, =nêmum=, etc.--Dubl (=mm=) in =swamms= (cp. § 80, n. 1), _spunge_; =wamm=, n., _spot_; in the pronominal dat. sg.,--=imma=, =blindamma=.

NOTE. Syllabic =m= (§ 27) in =maiþ~m~s=, _present_; =bag~m~s=, _tree_.

n

§ 49. Initial =n= in =nahts=, _night_; =niujis=, _new_; =ni= (negation), etc.; medial: =kuni=, n., _kin_; =ains=, _one_, etc.; final: =laun=, n., _reward_; =niun=, _nine_; often in inflection; as, dat. sg. =hanin=, inf. =niman=, =nêmun= (3d pers. pl. prt.), etc.

Dubl =n= (=nn=) occurs frequently; e. g., =brinnan=, _to burn_; =spinnan=, _to spin_; =rinnan=, _to run_; =kann=, _I know_; =kannjan=, _to make known_; =manna=, _man_; =brunna=, _wel, spring_. Dubl =n= remains finally and before =j=, but is simplified before other consonants (s. § 80): =kant=, =kunþa= (inf. =kunnan=), =rant= (2nd pers. sg. prt.; inf. =rinnan=), =brunsts= (inf. =brinnan=), =ur-runs= (< =rinnan=), _outlet_.

NOTE. Syllabic =n= (§ 27) in =usbeis~n~s=, f., _expectation_; =taik~n~s=, f., _token_; =ib~n~s=, _even_; =laug~n~jan=, _to deny_; =swêg~n~jan=, _to triumf, rejoice_.

§ 50. Before guttural consonants =n= becums a guttural nasal which (in imitation of the Gr.) is denoted by =g= (=gg=; s. § 67).

NOTE. The (guttural) nasal disappears before =h=, and the preceding short vowel is lengthend. S. § 5, b; § 15, b (Brgm., I, 182 et seq.).

B. NOIZD SOUNDS.

1. Labials.

p

§ 51. The letter =p=, which does not occur very often in Gothic, corresponds to Gr. π.

(a) +Initially+, =p= may be regarded as being altogether wanting in purely Gothic words; the exampls which do occur ar either obviously foren words or at least etymologically obscure, if not loanwords too: =plinsjan=, _to dance_; =plats=, _pach_; =anapraggan=, _to harass_; =paida=, _coat_; =puggs=, _purse_; =peikabagms=, _date-palm_; =pund=, _pound_; =plapja=, _street_ ('platea'); =pistikeins=, πιστικός, =paúrpura=, _purpl_.

(b) =p= occurs in purely Gothic words +medially+ and +finally+; e. g., =slêpan=, _to sleep_; =greipan=, _to gripe_; =ƕôpan=, _to boast_; =skapjan=, _to shape, make_; =hlaupan=, _to run_; =diups=, _deep_; =waírpan=, _to throw_; =hilpan=, _to help_; =skip=, _ship_; =iup=, _upwards_.--Initial =sp= in =speiwan=, _to spit_; =sparwa=, _sparrow_; =spillôn=, _to narrate_; =spinnôn=, _to spin_.

NOTE 1. =pp= does not occur.

NOTE 2. =p= before =t= becums =f= in =gaskafts=, f., _creature_ (cp. =skapjan=); =ƕôftuli=, f., _glory_ (cp. =ƕôpan=). Cp. § 81.

f

§ 52. Gothic =f= in foren words corresponds to Gr. φ; e. g., =Filippus=, Φίλιππος; =Kajafa=, Καϊάφας. Latin writers render Goth. =f= mostly by =ph= (Dietrich, p. 75); as, =Dagalaiphus=, =Phaeba=. Hense Goth. =f= was probably a +bilabial+, not a labiodental spirant, as is also evident from Goth. =fimf=, =hamfs=.

NOTE. =f= is regarded as labiodental by Jellinek; Zs. fda., 36, 275 et seq.

§ 53. (a) +Initial+ =f= occurs often in Gothic words; e. g., =fôtus=, _foot_; =fadar=, _father_; =flôdus=, _flud_; =faíhu= (_catl_), _muney_; =fûls=, _foul_; =frôþs=, _wise, judicious_; =frius=, _cold_; =fidwôr=, _4_.

(b) +Medially+ and +finally+ =f= occurs in but a small number of Gothic words; as, =hlifan=, _to steal_; =hafjan=, _to heav_; =hiufan=, _to lament_; =lôfa=, m., _palm of the hand_; =ufar=, _over_; =afar=, _after_. Before consonants: =luftus=, _air_; =hamfs=, _maimd_; =tweifls=, _dout_; =wulfs=, _wolf_; --(final) =fimf=, _five_; =hôf= (prt. of =hafjan=); =þarf=, _I need_ (inf. =þaúrban=).

NOTE 1. Finally and before the =s= of the nom., =f= occurs very often for medial =b=; s. § 56.

NOTE 2. Medial =f= before =t= (=n=) stands for =b= (§ 56, n. 4), before =t= also for =p= (§ 51, n. 2).

NOTE 3. =ff= is not found.

b

§ 54. =b= corresponds to Gr. β, for which it stands in foren words; e. g., =barbarus=, βάρβαρος; =Iakôb=, Ἰακώβ. The pronunciation of the Gr. β was that of a labial soft spirant [nearly = E. v]. In like manner Goth. =b= has the value of a soft (voiced) labiolabial spirant +medially+ after vowels, while +initially+ and medially after consonants it denotes a soft stop (= E. b).

NOTE 1. Gothic =b= between vowels in Latin foren words stands for Lt. v, but after =m= for b: =Silbanus=, _Silvanus_; =Naúbaímbaír=, _November_; =(ana)kumbjan=, _cumbere_.

NOTE 2. In Gothic names Latin writers employ Lt. b for Gothic =b= initially and after a consonant (as, =Amala-berga=, =Hildi-bald=, =Albila=), but medially between vowels Lt. v is uzed (as, =Liuva=, =Erelieva=); cp. Dietrich, p. 71; Beitr., 1, 148 et seq.; Wrede, 'Ostg.', 169; Zs. fda., 36, 275.

§ 55. Exampls of =b=:

(a) +initially+: =baíran=, _to bear_; =beitan=, _to bite_; =brikan=, _to break_; =brûkjan=, _to uze_; =blêsan=, _to blow_; =biudan=, _to offer_; =blôma=, _flower_; =brôþar=, _brother_; =bôka=, _letter_; =bnauan=, _to rub_.

(b) +medially+: =liuba= (w. m. adj.), _dear_; =galaubjan=, _to believ_; =graban=, _to dig_; =sibja=, _relationship_; =arbi=, _inheritance_; =kalbô=, _hefer_; --=haubiþ=, _hed_; =hlaibis= (gen. of =hlaifs=), _bred_; =sibun=, _seven_; =haban=, _to hav_; =skaban=, _to shave_; =(bi-)leiban=, _to remain_; =liban=, _to liv_; =biraubôn=, _to rob_; =salbôn=, _to salv, anoint_.

NOTE. =bb= occurs in foren words only; as, =sabbatus=.

§ 56. =b= after consonants (=l=, =m=, =r=) remains finally, before the =s= of the nom., and before the =t= of the 2nd pers. sg. prt.; postvocalic =b= becums =f=. This means that postvocalic =b= was a soft spirant (§ 54) which, finally, changed into the corresponding hard spirant, while postconsonantal =b=, medially and finally, had the value of a stop. Hense =giban=, _to giv_, 1st and 3d pers. sg. prt.: =gaf=, 2nd. pers. =gaft=, 2nd sg. imper.: =gif=; =hlaifs=, _bred_, acc. =hlaif=, nom. pl. =hlaibôs=; --but =lamb=, _lam_; =dumbs=, _dum_; =swaírban=, _to wipe_, prt. =swarb=.

NOTE 1. Our texts contain a few exceptions to the rule of final =f= for medial =b= after vowels, but the preponderant number of exampls prove the validity of the rule which is fonetically founded and has a striking analogon in the OS. geƀan--gaf; lioƀo--liof (but lamb). The exceptional cases with final =b= (21 in all) occur only in definit parts of the texts (7 in Lu., 5 in the epistls to the Thess., 4 in Jo., 3 in Skeir., in all the other texts only onse each in Mk. and Eph.). Therefore the anomalous =b=s may be referd to the writers of the respectiv parts, who either from purely orthografic considerations put the medial =b=s also finally, or in order to express a later pronunciation as it existed at their time, according to which voiced sounds occurd also finally. The latter supposition is founded on the fact that in the Arezzo document (of the 6th century) the spelling =Gudilub= occurs.--Cp. also the remarks on the interchange of =d= and =þ= in § 74, n. 1.

The exceptions in the verb ar rare, only =grôb= (Lu. VI, 48) and =gadôb= (Skeir. 42); --the forms with =f= occur in =gaf=, =gaft=, =gif= (very often); onse each: =grôf= (inf. =graban=), =swaif= (inf. =sweiban=), =bilaif= (inf. =bileiban=), =skauf= (inf. =skiuban=). Accordingly, we may safely write =draif= (prt. of =dreiban=, _to drive_).

Of nouns only =hlaifs= is often found: nom. =hlaifs= (12 times, onse =hlaibs=), acc. =hlaif= (19 times, =hlaib= seven times); --=twalif=, _twelv_ (12 times, =twalib= 3 times); accordingly, also =*ainlif= (dat. =ainlibim=).

Furthermore the following nominativs must be regarded as normal forms: =*stafs=, _element_ (only =stabim= occurs); =*laufs=, _leaf_ (only =galaubamma= 3 times, =filugalaubis=, =galubaim=), =*gadôfs=, _becuming_ (onse =gadôf=, 4 times =gadôb=), =*liufs=, _dear_ (only forms with more than one syllabl occur: =liubai=, =liuba=, =liubana=, etc.). Lastly, also =*þiufs= (= OS. thiof), _thief_, tho the nom. accidentally occurs (4 times) as =þiubs=, beside =þiubôs= (twice), =þiubê=.

NOTE 2. Subject to the abuv rule ar also the preps. =of= and =uf=, the =f= of which becums medial by enclisis and is changed into =b= before the following vowel; =ab-u=, =ub-uh=. In composition, however, =f= remains: =af-êtja=, _voracious eater_; =uf-aiþeis=, _under oath_. (Cp. =us= in § 78, n. 4).

NOTE 3. An apparent exception is =þarf=, _I want_ (for =þarb=), pl. =þaúrbum=; but =þarf= has real =f= (§ 53) and must be kept apart from the pl. with =b= (s. ahd. gr., § 101). =b= stands correctly in the adj. =gaþaúrbs=. Cp. § 79, n. 2.

NOTE 4. =f= before =t= in derivativ words stands for =b= elsewhere (§ 81): =gifts=, f., _gift_ (< =giban=, onse =fragibtim=; Lu. I, 27), =þaúrfts=, _necessity_. =b= is common before =n=: =ibns=, =stibna=, =daubnan=, =drôbnan=, but the ending =-ubni= interchanges with =-ufni=; as, =fraistubni=, _temptation_, but =waldufni=, _power_; =aflifnan=, _to remain, be left_; cp. =laiba=, _remnant_.

2. Gutturals.

k