Modern Gothic: Difference between revisions

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| nativename = Γnσɑvþɑʒɔ, ''Gusanrazd''<br> Γnσɜvþɑþɔ, ''Gusenrard''
| nativename = Γnσɑvþɑʒɔ, ''Gusanrazd''<br> Γnσɜvþɑþɔ, ''Gusenrard''
| pronunciation =  /ˈgu.sən.ˌrast/ <br> /ˈgu.sən.ˌrɐrt/
| pronunciation =  /ˈgʊ.sən.ˌrɐst/ <br> /ˈgu.sən.ˌrart/
|-
|-
|creator=sjacik
|creator=sjacik
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  |}
  |}
== Phonology
== Development ==
=== Grammar Changes ===
The Dative merged with either the Genitive, or the Accusative in some cases. Which it does originally depended on the number and the declension class. However, for most words this was leveled out so that the Genitive became the norm.
* 'ɑσ ɑ̑þɥɑσ' in the singular, but 'ɑσ ɑ̑þɥɑv' with the Oblique in the plural.
In the dialects surrounding Trette (Trent), the Oblique and the Nominative merged, as well.
While the Genitive has become the case to use when using prepositions, a new Genitive has emerged used 'ɑƚ' with the Common case.
In the eastern dialects, the dual pronouns were kept. Their retention in Standard Modern Gothic is an artificial archaicism.
=== Sound changes from Biblical Gothic to Middle Gothic ===
==== General ====
/kʷ/ was re-analyzed as /kw/. <br>
* Gothic 𐌵𐌹𐌼𐌰𐌽 ''qiman'' → ''*kwiman'' → pbμɑʒ ''kiomaz'' / pıμɜσ ''kimes'' / pbμσ ''küms'', 'to come'. <br>
/mn/ assimilated to /mː/. <br>
* Gothic 𐌷𐌹𐌼𐌹𐌽𐍃 ''himins'' → ''*himms'' → εμμ ''emm'', 'heaven'.
/iV/ becomes /jV/.
* Gothic 𐌳𐌹𐌰𐌱𐌰𐌿𐌻𐌿𐍃 ''diabaulus'' → ''*djawala'' → ʒ̇ɑɣл ''zhawl'', 'demon'.
==== Metathesis ====
This primarily happened with liquids. if /l r/ are adjacent to /h/, they are switched so /h/ is either directly before or after a vowel. <br>
* Gothic 𐌼𐌰𐍂𐌷𐍃 ''marhs'' → ''*mahrs'' → μɑ̑ɑ̑þ ''mȃȃr'', 'horse'. <br>
* Gothic 𐌷𐌻𐌷𐌾𐌰𐌽 ''hlahjan'' → ''*lhahjn'' → лɑ̑ɑ̑ɥʒ / лɑ̑ɑ̑ɥσ ''lȃȃjz / lȃȃjs'', 'to laugh'.
==== Glottalization ====
Geminate stops are fortified to glottal stops.
* Gothic 𐍅𐌹𐌺𐌺𐍉𐌽 ''wikkon'' → ''*ioʔon'' → ɣbrɑ ''wioha'', 'witch'. N.b. ɣbrɑ is a learned form from Middle Gothic, the CMG and EMG forms are ''ı'' and ''ǿj'', respectively.
This is later dropped in most cases, and in the ones that don't it becomes /h/.
==== Elision ====
Unstressed, short vowels are elided when near stressed and/or long occurrences of the same vowel.
* Gothic 𐌰𐌻𐌰𐌼𐌰𐌽𐌽𐍃 ''alamanns'' → ''*almanns'' → ɑлμɑvv ''almann'', 'German'.
==== Vocalic Effects ====
===== H-Shift =====
V + ''h'' clusters, or ''h'' + V, caused the vowel to be lowered. If the /h/ was after the vowel, said vowel gets lengthened. <br>
* Gothic 𐌷𐌰𐍂𐌳𐌿𐍃 ''hardus'' → ɑ̑þɔ ''ȃrd'', 'hard'. <br>
* Gothic 𐍃𐌰𐌹𐌷𐍃 ''saihs'' → ''*saas'' → σɑɑ ''saa'', 'six'.
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Caption H-shift
|-
! colspan="6" | 𐌷
|-
! Root Vowel !! Outcome 1 !! Outcome 2 !! Root Vowel !! Outcome 1 !! Outcome 2
|-
| a          || ɑ || ɑː || ɛː || aː || aːː
|-
| ɛ          || a || aː || eː || ɛː || ɛːː
|-
| i          || e || eː || iː || eː || eːː
|-
| ɨ          || ɘ || ɘː || uː || oː || oːː
|-
| u          || o || oː || oː || ɔː || ɔːː
|-
| ɔ          || ɑ || ɑː || ɔː || ɑː || ɑːː
|-
| aː        || ɑː || ɑːː ||  ||  ||
|}
===== W-Shift =====
V + ''w'' clusters, or ''w'' + V, caused the vowel to be rounded. If the /w/ or /u̯/ was after the vowel, said vowel gets lengthened. Back vowels, /u ɔ uː oː ɔː/, became longer regardless if /w/ followed or preceded. <br>
* Gothic 𐍅𐌹𐌽𐍄𐍂𐌿𐍃 ''wintrus'' → ''*iontr'' → bꞇꞇþɑ ''iottra'' / ıꞇꞇɜþ ''itter'' / bꞇꞇþ NMG ''yttr'', 'winter'. <br>
* Gothic 𐍆𐌹𐌳𐍅𐍉𐍂 ''fidwor'' →  ƚıɔoɑþ / ƚıɔoþ ''fidoar / fidor '', 'four'. <br>
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Caption W-shift
|-
! colspan="6" | 𐍅
|-
! Root Vowel !! Outcome 1 !! Outcome 2 !! Root Vowel !! Outcome 1 !! Outcome 2
|-
| a          || ɔ || ɔː || ɛː || œː || œːː
|-
| ɛ          || œ || œː || eː || øː || øːː
|-
| i          || y || yː || iː || yː || yːː
|-
| ɨ          || ʉ || ʉː || uː || uːː || uːː
|-
| u          || uː || uːː || oː || oːː || oːː
|-
| ɔ          || ɔː || ɔːː || ɔː || ɔːː || ɔːː
|-
| aː        || ɔː || ɔːː ||  ||  ||
|}
===== Ƕ-Shift =====
Both of the previous shifts can be combined.
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Caption Ƕ-shift
|-
! colspan="6" | 𐌷
|-
! Root Vowel !! Outcome 1 !! Outcome 2 !! Root Vowel !! Outcome 1 !! Outcome 2
|-
| a          || ɔ || ɔː || ɛː || ɔː || ɔːː
|-
| ɛ          || ɔ || ɔː || eː || œː || œːː
|-
| i          || ø || øː || iː || yː || yːː
|-
| ɨ          || ɵ || ɵː || uː || oːː || oːː
|-
| u          || oː || oː || oː || ɔːː || ɔːː
|-
| ɔ          || ɑ || ɔː || ɔː || ɑːː  || ɔːː
|-
| aː        || ɔ || ɔːː ||  ||  ||
|}
==== Nasal Lenition ====
At the end of words, /m/ and /n/ are softened to /ṽ z̃/.
* Gothic -𐌰𐌽 ''-an'' → ''-az̃'' → ''-ɑσ''
=== Middle Gothic to Western Gothic ===
==== /ɣ/ softening ====
Near front vowels /ɣ/ becomes /j~i̯/. Otherwise, it becomes /w~u̯/.
* Gothic 𐍆𐌿𐌲𐌻𐍃 ''fugls'' → ''*fuwl'' → ƚonл ''foul'', 'bird'
In the dialects around Titshin (Pavia), this interacts with the high vowels to create diphthongs.
* Gothic 𐍂𐌹𐌲𐌽 ''rign'' → ''*rejn'' → þεɥσ ''rejs'', 'rain'. Compare this to those in east Gothia, which served as the basis of CMG, þεıσ 'reis'.
==== Plosive Shift ====
Step one: the consonants /p t k/ lenite to /f s x/ between vowels and after a vowel at the end of a word. /x/ later becomes /ç/ when near front vowels.
* Gothic 𐌱𐌰𐍄𐌹𐌶𐌰 ''batiza'' → ''*basiz'' → SMG ηɑσɑσ CMG ηɑσɜþ ''basas baser'', 'better'.
* Gothic 𐌻𐌴𐌹𐌺 ''leik'' → ''*leikh'' → лεıp̑ ''leich'',  'body'.
* Gothic 𐍃𐌺𐌹𐍀 ''skip'' → ''*skif'' → σıƚ ''sif'', 'ship'.
Step two: the nasal-stop clusters coalesce into geminate stops
* Gothic ''asdf'' → ''*asdf'' → ''asdf'', 'asdf'. No words currently suitable for an example.
* Gothic 𐍃𐌹𐌽𐍄𐌴𐌹𐌽𐍃 ''sinteins'' → ''*sittin'' → σıꞇꞇɑv ''sittan'', 'daily'.
* Gothic ''asdf'' → ''*asdf'' → ''asdf'', 'asdf'. No words currently suitable for an example.
* Gothic ''asdf'' → ''*asdf'' → ''asdf'', 'asdf'. No words currently suitable for an example.
* Gothic 𐌲𐍂𐌿𐌽𐌳𐌿𐍃 '' grundus'' → ''*grudda'' → cþovɔɔɑ ''grouda'', 'ground'.
* Gothic 𐍄𐌿𐌲𐌲𐍉 ''tuggo'' → ''*tugga'' → ꞇonccɑ ''touga'', 'tongue'. No words currently suitable for an example.
==== Palatalization ====
/Cj/ clusters are palatalized, except for those that start with a labial consonant.
* Gothic 𐍆𐍉𐍄𐌾𐌿𐍃 ''fotjus'' → ''*footja'' → ƚooσ̇ɑ ''foosja'', 'feet'.
* Gothic 𐍅𐌰𐍃𐌾𐌰𐌽 ''wasjan'' → ''*osjas'' → oσ̇ ''osj'', 'to wear'.
* Gothic 𐌼𐌹𐌳𐌾𐌹𐍃 ''midjis'' → ''*midja'' → μıʒ̇ɑ ''mizha'', 'middle'.
* Gothic 𐌺𐌰𐌿𐌶𐌾𐌰𐌽 ''kauzjan'' → ''*kauzjas'' → pɑnʒ̇ ''kauzj'', 'to taste'.
* Gothic 𐍃𐍀𐍂𐌴𐌺𐌾𐍉 ''sprekjo'' → ''*spreekjo'' → σϖþεεṗ ''spreekj'', 'language'.
* Gothic 𐍅𐌹𐌲𐌾𐌹 ''wigji'' → ''*iogj'' → ɣbċ ''wiogj'', 'mare'.
* Gothic 𐌲𐍂𐍉𐌽𐌾𐌹𐍃 ''gronjis'' → ''*groonj'' → cþoov̇ ''groonj'', 'green'.
* Gothic 𐍆𐌿𐌻𐌻𐌾𐌰𐌽 ''fulljan'' → ''*fuljan'' → ƚnл̇ɑσ ''fuljas'', 'to fill'.
In the eastern dialects this also applies to /rj/, yielding /j/ through intermediary /jː/.
* Gothic -𐌰𐍂𐌹𐌿𐍃 ''-arius'' → ''*-ajja'' → -ɑɥɑ ''-aja'', '-er, agentative'.


==Standard New Gothic ==
==Standard New Gothic ==
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/ɑə̯/ is incredibly rare, as the environment it comes from was mostly found only in compounds. <br>
/ɑə̯/ is incredibly rare, as the environment it comes from was mostly found only in compounds. <br>
The centering diphthongs come from overlong vowels in Middle Gothic. No surviving dialect has kept them as overlong. They were either broken or shortened.
The centering diphthongs come from overlong vowels in Middle Gothic. No surviving dialect has kept them as overlong. They were either broken or shortened.
=== Sound changes from Biblical Gothic to Middle Gothic ===
==== General ====
/kʷ/ was re-analyzed as /kw/. <br>
* Gothic 𐌵𐌹𐌼𐌰𐌽 ''qiman'' → ''*kwiman'' → pbμɑʒ ''kiomaz'' / pıμɜσ ''kimes'' / pbμσ ''kyms'', 'to come'. <br>
/mn/ assimilated to /mː/. <br>
* Gothic 𐌷𐌹𐌼𐌹𐌽𐍃 ''himins'' → ''*himms'' → εμμ ''emm'', 'heaven'.
==== Elision ====
Unstressed, short vowels are elided when near stressed and/or long occurrences of the same vowel.
* Gothic 𐌰𐌻𐌰𐌼𐌰𐌽𐌽𐍃 ''alamanns'' → ''*almanns'' → ɑлμɑvv ''almann'', 'German'.
==== Metathesis ====
This primarily happened with liquids. if /l r/ are adjacent to /h/, they are switched so /h/ is either directly before or after a vowel. <br>
* Gothic 𐌼𐌰𐍂𐌷𐍃 ''marhs'' → ''*mahrs'' → μɑ̑þ ''mȃr'', 'horse'. <br>
* Gothic 𐌷𐌻𐌷𐌾𐌰𐌽 ''hlahjan'' → ''*lhahjn'' → лɑ̑ɑ̑ɥʒ / лɑ̑ɑ̑ɥσ ''lȃȃjz / lȃȃjs'', 'to laugh'.
==== H-Lowering ====
V + ''h'' clusters, or ''h'' + V, caused the vowel to be lowered. If the /h/ was after the vowel, said vowel gets lengthened. <br>
* Gothic 𐌷𐌰𐍂𐌳𐌿𐍃 ''hardus'' → ɑ̑þɔ ''ȃrd'', 'hard'. <br>
* Gothic 𐍃𐌰𐌹𐌷𐍃 ''saihs'' → ''*saas'' → σɑɑ ''saa'', 'six'.
==== W-Rounding ====
V + ''w'' clusters, or ''w'' + V, caused the vowel to be rounded. If the /w/ or /u̯/ was after the vowel, said vowel gets lengthened. Back vowels, /u ɔ uː oː ɔː/, became longer regardless if /w/ followed or preceded. <br>
* Gothic 𐍅𐌹𐌽𐍄𐍂𐌿𐍃 ''wintrus'' → ''*iontrus'' → bꞇꞇþɑ ''iottra'' / ıꞇꞇɜþ ''itter'' / bꞇꞇþ NMG ''yttr'', 'winter'. <br>
* Gothic 𐍆𐌹𐌳𐍅𐍉𐍂 ''fidwor'' →  ƚıɔoɑþ / ƚıɔoþ ''fidoar / fidor '', 'four'. <br>
* Gothic 𐌸𐌹𐌿𐌳𐌰 ''thiuda'' → ψuɔ̑ / ψuψ ''thiudh / thiuth'', 'people'.


== Grammar ==
== Grammar ==

Latest revision as of 18:47, 6 February 2024

Modern Gothic
Γnσɑvþɑʒɔ, Gusanrazd
Γnσɜvþɑþɔ, Gusenrard
Pronunciation[/ˈgʊ.sən.ˌrɐst/
/ˈgu.sən.ˌrart/]
Created bysjacik
SettingUnnamed Alternate Timeline
Native toGothia
Early form
Official status
Official language in
Gothia
This article contains IPA phonetic symbols. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Unicode characters. For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see Help:IPA.

Modern Gothic is an East Germanic language descended from a language similar to Biblical Gothic. Words will be given in Standard Modern Gothic and Colloquial Modern Gothic, if they differ.

Throughout this article I will be using a combination of Greek, Cyrillic, and Latin (both regular as well as some of the Insular forms that have Unicode representations) in order to write MG in a way that resembles its native script.

Introduction

Modern Gothic is used in an alternate timeline where the Ostrogoths survived as a culture to the modern day.The point of divergence is that around the 1st century AD, magic became real. Roughly speaking, from then until the 10th c. is the same. The 10th to 16th c. are marked by differences caused by the survival or death of various powers. While the 16th c. onward has become radically different.

By the end of the 5th c. A.D., the Ostrogoths had made a kingdom in northern Italy. Unlike in our timeline, the Goths retained some strength, enough so that when the Byzantine empire tried to retake the West they were repelled, at first. In the 9th c. the Byzantines were able to conquer the Goths. From then until the 15th c. they were a subject of the Byzantines.

In the early 14th c., the Byzantine-Seljuk wars started. The two empires had a series of wars, until the 16th c. when the Eastern Roman Empire fell. The Seljuk empire followed suit in the 19th c. When the East fell, the Seljuks attempted to claim their territories, but were only able to exert control into the Balkans.

When the Ostrogoths gained independence, they did so alongside the Slovenians forming the Kingdom of Gothia-Slovenia. Relations between the groups decayed until 1933, when the nation fell into a civil war which ended in 1936 with the formal seperation of the kingdom into the Republic of Gothia and the Republic of Slovenia, the latter of which joined Yugoslavia in 1937. Gothia joined the European Confederation in 2007.

Dialects

Modern Gothic is divided into 2 branches: Coastal and Eastern. Coastal is comprised of both the Standard form of the language, as well as the Colloquial form which is closer to how the language is spoken in the modern day. Eastern Gothic is the term for a group of dialects that have diverged heavily from the coastal varieties.

From the late 19th century until 1977, there existed an artificially archaic form of the language that was used as the literary standard.

Orthography

Modern Gothic is written in a version of Wulfilas' Gothic alphabet, albeit with Greek influences. These include the use of sigma form of σɑnɥл saujl, as well as the adoption of bicameralism with the Greek minuscules being used for the majuscules that resembled the Greek uppercase. There are also Romance influences, such as the way spirantized consonants are written with a following r h (called ɑqл awl). However in the modern day it has become a diacritic above the letter that resembles an inverted breve, e.g. μıʒ̑vɑ̑ꞇ mizhnaht.

Gothic Name IPA Latin
Uppercase Lowercase Uppercase Lowercase
GothicA.png Ʌ Gothic.a.png ɑ ɑσp ask a A a
GothicB.png B Gothic.b.png η ηεþp berk b B b
GothicG.png Γ Gothic.g.png c cb gy g G g
GothicD.png Δ Gothic.d.png ɔ ɔɑp̑ dach d D d
GothicE.png Є Gothic.e.png ε ioe e E e
GothicEU.png Ɵ Gothic.eu.png ɵ ɵþϕɑσσ eurthass ɪ Eu eu
GothicÖ.png Ɛ Gothic.ö.png e eþϕ eorth ø Eo eo
GothicSchwa.png Э Gothic.schwa.png ɜ σ̇ƚɑɑ shfaa ə A a
GothicZ.png Z Gothic.z.png ʒ b io z Z z
GothicH.png Һ Gothic.h.png r ɑqл awl h H h
GothicÐ.png Ψ Gothic.ð.png ϕ ϕuϕ thiuth θ Th th
GothicI.png I Gothic.i.png ı εıε eie ɪ I i
GothicIU.png U Gothic.iu.png u μup̑ miuch ɨ Iu iu
GothicY.png Ю Gothic.y.png b cebл geiol ʏ Io io
GothicK.png P Gothic.k.png p pnσɑμ kusam k K k
GothicL.png λ Gothic.l.png л лɑq law l L l
GothicM.png M Gothic.m.png μ μɑvv mann m M m
GothicN.png N Gothic.n.png v vɑnϕ nauth n N n
GothicJ.png G Gothic.j.png ɥ ɥεεþ jeer j J j
GothicU.png Ƞ Gothic.u.png n onþε oure ʊ U u
GothicUI.png Gothic.ui.png m ponı koui ʊ Ui ui
GothicP.png Π Gothic.p.png ϖ ϖεþϕ perth p P p
GothicR.png Gothic.r.png þ þɑıɔ̑ raidh r R r
GothicS.png Σ Gothic.s.png σ σɑnɥл saujl s S s
GothicT.png T Gothic.t.png ꞇεın teiu t T t
GothicW.png Ч Gothic.w.png q qıvɥ winj w W w
GothicV.png Y Gothic.v.png ɣ ɣε ve v V v
GothicF.png F Gothic.f.png ƚ ƚɑɑ faa f F f
GothicO.png O Gothic.o.png o ooϕɑл oothal o O o

== Phonology


Development

Grammar Changes

The Dative merged with either the Genitive, or the Accusative in some cases. Which it does originally depended on the number and the declension class. However, for most words this was leveled out so that the Genitive became the norm.

  • 'ɑσ ɑ̑þɥɑσ' in the singular, but 'ɑσ ɑ̑þɥɑv' with the Oblique in the plural.

In the dialects surrounding Trette (Trent), the Oblique and the Nominative merged, as well.

While the Genitive has become the case to use when using prepositions, a new Genitive has emerged used 'ɑƚ' with the Common case.

In the eastern dialects, the dual pronouns were kept. Their retention in Standard Modern Gothic is an artificial archaicism.

Sound changes from Biblical Gothic to Middle Gothic

General

/kʷ/ was re-analyzed as /kw/.

  • Gothic 𐌵𐌹𐌼𐌰𐌽 qiman*kwiman → pbμɑʒ kiomaz / pıμɜσ kimes / pbμσ küms, 'to come'.

/mn/ assimilated to /mː/.

  • Gothic 𐌷𐌹𐌼𐌹𐌽𐍃 himins*himms → εμμ emm, 'heaven'.

/iV/ becomes /jV/.

  • Gothic 𐌳𐌹𐌰𐌱𐌰𐌿𐌻𐌿𐍃 diabaulus*djawala → ʒ̇ɑɣл zhawl, 'demon'.

Metathesis

This primarily happened with liquids. if /l r/ are adjacent to /h/, they are switched so /h/ is either directly before or after a vowel.

  • Gothic 𐌼𐌰𐍂𐌷𐍃 marhs*mahrs → μɑ̑ɑ̑þ mȃȃr, 'horse'.
  • Gothic 𐌷𐌻𐌷𐌾𐌰𐌽 hlahjan*lhahjn → лɑ̑ɑ̑ɥʒ / лɑ̑ɑ̑ɥσ lȃȃjz / lȃȃjs, 'to laugh'.

Glottalization

Geminate stops are fortified to glottal stops.

  • Gothic 𐍅𐌹𐌺𐌺𐍉𐌽 wikkon*ioʔon → ɣbrɑ wioha, 'witch'. N.b. ɣbrɑ is a learned form from Middle Gothic, the CMG and EMG forms are ı and ǿj, respectively.

This is later dropped in most cases, and in the ones that don't it becomes /h/.

Elision

Unstressed, short vowels are elided when near stressed and/or long occurrences of the same vowel.

  • Gothic 𐌰𐌻𐌰𐌼𐌰𐌽𐌽𐍃 alamanns*almanns → ɑлμɑvv almann, 'German'.

Vocalic Effects

H-Shift

V + h clusters, or h + V, caused the vowel to be lowered. If the /h/ was after the vowel, said vowel gets lengthened.

  • Gothic 𐌷𐌰𐍂𐌳𐌿𐍃 hardus → ɑ̑þɔ ȃrd, 'hard'.
  • Gothic 𐍃𐌰𐌹𐌷𐍃 saihs*saas → σɑɑ saa, 'six'.
Caption H-shift
𐌷
Root Vowel Outcome 1 Outcome 2 Root Vowel Outcome 1 Outcome 2
a ɑ ɑː ɛː aːː
ɛ a ɛː ɛːː
i e eːː
ɨ ɘ ɘː oːː
u o ɔː ɔːː
ɔ ɑ ɑː ɔː ɑː ɑːː
ɑː ɑːː
W-Shift

V + w clusters, or w + V, caused the vowel to be rounded. If the /w/ or /u̯/ was after the vowel, said vowel gets lengthened. Back vowels, /u ɔ uː oː ɔː/, became longer regardless if /w/ followed or preceded.

  • Gothic 𐍅𐌹𐌽𐍄𐍂𐌿𐍃 wintrus*iontr → bꞇꞇþɑ iottra / ıꞇꞇɜþ itter / bꞇꞇþ NMG yttr, 'winter'.
  • Gothic 𐍆𐌹𐌳𐍅𐍉𐍂 fidwor → ƚıɔoɑþ / ƚıɔoþ fidoar / fidor , 'four'.
Caption W-shift
𐍅
Root Vowel Outcome 1 Outcome 2 Root Vowel Outcome 1 Outcome 2
a ɔ ɔː ɛː œː œːː
ɛ œ œː øː øːː
i y yːː
ɨ ʉ ʉː uːː uːː
u uːː oːː oːː
ɔ ɔː ɔːː ɔː ɔːː ɔːː
ɔː ɔːː
Ƕ-Shift

Both of the previous shifts can be combined.

Caption Ƕ-shift
𐌷
Root Vowel Outcome 1 Outcome 2 Root Vowel Outcome 1 Outcome 2
a ɔ ɔː ɛː ɔː ɔːː
ɛ ɔ ɔː œː œːː
i ø øː yːː
ɨ ɵ ɵː oːː oːː
u ɔːː ɔːː
ɔ ɑ ɔː ɔː ɑːː ɔːː
ɔ ɔːː

Nasal Lenition

At the end of words, /m/ and /n/ are softened to /ṽ z̃/.

  • Gothic -𐌰𐌽 -an-az̃-ɑσ

Middle Gothic to Western Gothic

/ɣ/ softening

Near front vowels /ɣ/ becomes /j~i̯/. Otherwise, it becomes /w~u̯/.

  • Gothic 𐍆𐌿𐌲𐌻𐍃 fugls*fuwl → ƚonл foul, 'bird'

In the dialects around Titshin (Pavia), this interacts with the high vowels to create diphthongs.

  • Gothic 𐍂𐌹𐌲𐌽 rign*rejn → þεɥσ rejs, 'rain'. Compare this to those in east Gothia, which served as the basis of CMG, þεıσ 'reis'.

Plosive Shift

Step one: the consonants /p t k/ lenite to /f s x/ between vowels and after a vowel at the end of a word. /x/ later becomes /ç/ when near front vowels.

  • Gothic 𐌱𐌰𐍄𐌹𐌶𐌰 batiza*basiz → SMG ηɑσɑσ CMG ηɑσɜþ basas baser, 'better'.
  • Gothic 𐌻𐌴𐌹𐌺 leik*leikh → лεıp̑ leich, 'body'.
  • Gothic 𐍃𐌺𐌹𐍀 skip*skif → σıƚ sif, 'ship'.

Step two: the nasal-stop clusters coalesce into geminate stops

  • Gothic asdf*asdfasdf, 'asdf'. No words currently suitable for an example.
  • Gothic 𐍃𐌹𐌽𐍄𐌴𐌹𐌽𐍃 sinteins*sittin → σıꞇꞇɑv sittan, 'daily'.
  • Gothic asdf*asdfasdf, 'asdf'. No words currently suitable for an example.
  • Gothic asdf*asdfasdf, 'asdf'. No words currently suitable for an example.
  • Gothic 𐌲𐍂𐌿𐌽𐌳𐌿𐍃 grundus*grudda → cþovɔɔɑ grouda, 'ground'.
  • Gothic 𐍄𐌿𐌲𐌲𐍉 tuggo*tugga → ꞇonccɑ touga, 'tongue'. No words currently suitable for an example.

Palatalization

/Cj/ clusters are palatalized, except for those that start with a labial consonant.

  • Gothic 𐍆𐍉𐍄𐌾𐌿𐍃 fotjus*footja → ƚooσ̇ɑ foosja, 'feet'.
  • Gothic 𐍅𐌰𐍃𐌾𐌰𐌽 wasjan*osjas → oσ̇ osj, 'to wear'.
  • Gothic 𐌼𐌹𐌳𐌾𐌹𐍃 midjis*midja → μıʒ̇ɑ mizha, 'middle'.
  • Gothic 𐌺𐌰𐌿𐌶𐌾𐌰𐌽 kauzjan*kauzjas → pɑnʒ̇ kauzj, 'to taste'.
  • Gothic 𐍃𐍀𐍂𐌴𐌺𐌾𐍉 sprekjo*spreekjo → σϖþεεṗ spreekj, 'language'.
  • Gothic 𐍅𐌹𐌲𐌾𐌹 wigji*iogj → ɣbċ wiogj, 'mare'.
  • Gothic 𐌲𐍂𐍉𐌽𐌾𐌹𐍃 gronjis*groonj → cþoov̇ groonj, 'green'.
  • Gothic 𐍆𐌿𐌻𐌻𐌾𐌰𐌽 fulljan*fuljan → ƚnл̇ɑσ fuljas, 'to fill'.

In the eastern dialects this also applies to /rj/, yielding /j/ through intermediary /jː/.

  • Gothic -𐌰𐍂𐌹𐌿𐍃 -arius*-ajja → -ɑɥɑ -aja, '-er, agentative'.

Standard New Gothic

Phonology

Consonants

Labial Dental Coronal Dorsal Glottal
Nasal m n (ŋ)1
Stop p2 b t2 d k2 g
Affricate tʃ dʒ
Fricative f v3 θ ð t s ʃ ʒ x (h)4
Approximant j
Trill r

1 /ŋ/ is found only before the velar stops
2 The voiceless stops are unaspirated
3 /v/ is realized as [w] intervocally
4 /h/ is only found between vowels, and is used to break up vowel sequences

Vowels

Front Central Back
Unrounded Rounded
Close ɪ iː iə̯ ʏ yː yə̯ ɨ ɨː u uː uə̯
Close-mid e eː eə̯ ø øː øə̯ o oː oə̯
Open-mid ɛː ɛə̯ œː œə̯ ə ɔː ɔə̯
Open a aː aə̯ ɑ ɑː ɑə̯

/ɑə̯/ is incredibly rare, as the environment it comes from was mostly found only in compounds.
The centering diphthongs come from overlong vowels in Middle Gothic. No surviving dialect has kept them as overlong. They were either broken or shortened.

Grammar

Articles

Modern Gothic has two articles, the Definite and the Indefinite. Regardless of dialect, they are invariable.

Standard MG Colloquial MG Eastern MG
Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine
Definite σ- ꞇɑ σ- ꞇε
Indefinite εv εv (ɜv) en

However, the underlying form of the definite may be invariable, but in the Coastal dialects they cause lenition of the following consonant.

σPɑrɑσ ƚɑ̑ɑ εv Monσ
ˈsxa.həs ˈfɑə̯ ɛn ˈmuːs
σ-Pɑr-ɑσ ∅-ƚɑ̑ɑ-∅ εv Monσ-∅
DEF-cat.M-NOM.SG NPFV-catch-IND.PRS.3SG INDEF mouse.F-OBL.SG
The cat is catching a mouse

Compare this to the indefinite ɛn Pɑrɑσ en Kahas /ɛn ˈka.həs/. However, the indefinite is not used as often as in other Germanic languages. In Gothic, it frequently remains to mean 'one', with indefiniteness being secondary.

Determiners

Modern Gothic has both proximal and distal demonstratives, and these are declined to agree with a noun in: case, number, and gender.

Proximal Demonstratives
SMG CMG EMG
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine
Nominative σɑ ϕoo σɑı ϕooσ σɑ ϕoo σɑı ϕooσ̇ ta tóv tej tos
Oblique σɑv σɑv σɑv σɑv tan tan
Genitive-Locative σıσ ϕıσɑσ σıσɑ ϕıσɑ σıþ ϕıþɜ tis zos žéj zóv

The proximal demonstratives are used to both deictically and anaphorically, to indicate that a noun (whether it be concrete or abstract) is somehow relevant. This relevance can be physical nearness or the topic of the clause.

σɑ Ꙡɛıv ıσσ nvσꞇonσ̇
sa ˈrin ɪsː ˌʊn.ˈstuʃ
σɑ Ꙡɛıv-∅ ∅-ıσσ nv-nσꞇonꞇ-ɥ
DEM.M.NOM.SG rain.M-CMN.SG NPFV-to_be.IND.PRS.3SG un-end-M.CMN.SG
This rain is unending

The distal demonstratives are used much the same as the proximal. The difference is that the distal set indicates distance, either deictically or anaphorically.

Distal Demonstratives
SMG CMG EMG
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine
Nominative σɑ̑ɑ̑ ϕɑn σɑı ϕooσɑ σɑ̑ɑ̑ ϕɑn σɑɑ ϕooþ tȃv tov taj zo
Oblique σɑv σɑvɑ σɑvɜ σɑvɜ nȃv tan
Genitive-Locative σıσɑ ϕıσɛ σıσɑ ϕıσo σıþ ϕıþɛ zo zóvz žéjz zov

While the proximal demonstratives can be used to mark the topic, the distal cannot be used to likewise mark the comment.

tov rušk gišt rutnóv
tʷɔw ˈrʷuʃk gʲiʃt ˈrʷut.nʷow
tov rušk-∅ g-išt rut-n-óv
DEM.F.NOM.SG pear.F-NOM.SG PFV-to_be.IND.PRS.3SG rot-PPRT-F.NOM.SG
That pear is rotten

Pronouns

1st Person
SMG CMG EMG
Singular Dual Plural Singular Plural Singular Dual Plural
Nominative Ip̑ Юσ Юɑ Ip̑ Eıσ̇ yc
Oblique Mıp̑ Ƞppɑσ Ƞvσɑσ Mıp̑ Ƞvσɜ mič unčs un
Genitive Mɛıv Ƞppɑþ Ƞvσɑþ Mɛıv Ƞvσɜþ méjn unkr unsr
2nd Person
SMG CMG EMG
Singular Dual Plural Singular Plural Singular Dual Plural
Nominative Ψn Gon Gnσ̇ Ψn Gon tu jut jut
Oblique Ψnp̑ Ippbσ Iσb Ψnp̑ Iþɜ tuk inčs izüs
Genitive Ψɛıv Ippɑþ Iσoþ Ψɛıv Iþɜþ téjn inkr izvr
3rd Person
SMG CMG EMG
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine
Nominative Σı Eıσ Σı Eıσ si éj
Oblique Iv Ivσ Iv Iv éj
Genitive Iσɑσ Iσɑ Iþɜ zos žéj zóv

Clitic pronouns

Colloquial Modern Gothic has a series of clitic pronouns for the Genitive, Accusative, and Dative cases. The accusative is pre-verbal, while the dative and genitive are post-verbal and pre-nominal, respectively.

1st Person 2nd Person 3rd Person
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine
Genitive μɜv σɜþ ϕɜv þɜ ɜ ɜþ
Accusative μɜ σɜ ϕɜ þɜþ ɜv ɜ ɜv ɥɜ
Dative ɥɜ ɜμ ɜþ ɜƚ

Possessive Adjectives

Modern Gothic possessive adjectives have simplified greatly since Wulfilas' time. At the same time, a third person paradigm has been innovated.

Standard Modern Gothic
Possessee
Masculine Feminine
Singular Plural Singular Plural
Possessor 1st Singular μɛıvɑv μɛıvɑvσ μɛıv μɛıvɑσ
Plural nvσɑþɑv nvσɑþɑvσ nvσɑþ nvσɑþɑσ
2nd Singular ϕɛıvɑv ϕɛıvɑvσ ϕɛıv ϕɛıvɑσ
Plural ıσoþɑv ıσoþɑvσ ıσoþ ıσoþɑσ
3rd ıσɑv ıσɑvσ ıσɑσ ıσɑσɑσ
Reflexive σɛıvɑv σɛıvɑvσ σɛıv σɛıvɑσ
Colloquial Modern Gothic
Possessee
Masculine Feminine
Singular Plural
Possessor 1st Singular μɛıvɜv μɛıv μɛıvɜ
Plural nvσɜþv nvσɜþ
2nd Singular ϕɛıvɜv ϕɛıv ϕɛıvɜ
Plural ıþɜþv ıσoþ ıþɜ
3rd ıþɜv ıþɜ
Reflexive σɛıvɜv σɛıv σɛıvɜ
Eastern Modern Gothic
Possessee
Masculine Feminine
Singular Plural
Possessor 1st Singular méjnăn méjn méjnus
Plural unsrn unsr unsur
2nd Singular téjnăn téjn téjnus
Plural zorăn zor zorus
3rd zăn zus
Reflexive séjnăn séjn séjnus

Nouns

In all three dialects discussed here, nouns have two numbers: Singular and Plural. In Colloquial Gothic, they are declined for two cases: Common and the Genitive-Locative. In both Standard and Eastern Modern Gothic nouns are marked for three cases: Nominative, Oblique, and the Genitive(-Locative).

Strong Declensions

Extended content
A-stem
SMG CMG EMG
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative -∅ -ɑσ -∅ -∅ -vs
Oblique -ɑv -ăv
Genitive -ɑσ -js -e
Ja-stem
SMG CMG EMG
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative -ɥɑσ -ɥɑσ -∅, -ɥ -ɥɜ -j -jvs
Oblique -ɥɑv -jăv
Genitive -ɥɑ -ɥɜ -js -je
O-stem
SMG CMG EMG
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative -∅ -ɑσ -∅ -∅ -vs
Oblique -vv
Genitive -ɑσ -vs -u
Jo-stem
SMG CMG EMG
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative -∅ -ɑσ -∅, -ɥ -ɥɜ -∅ -jvs
Oblique -jai
Genitive -ɑσ -ɥɜ -jvs -ju
I-stem
SMG CMG EMG
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative -∅ -ɑσ -∅ -∅ -js
Oblique -ɑv -jv
Genitive -ɑσ -js -e
U-stem
SMG CMG EMG
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative -ɑσ -ɥɑσ -∅ -ɥɜ -∅ -jvs
Oblique -ɥɑv -o -vv
Genitive -ɥɑ -os

Weak Declensions

Extended content
An-stem
SMG CMG EMG
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative -∅ -ɑv -∅ -ɜv -∅ -ăn
Oblique -ɑʒ -vn
Genitive -ɑv -vɑ -ɜv -vɜ -ni
On-stem
SMG CMG EMG
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative -ɑv -ɜv -u -vn
Oblique -ɑʒ -vz -ov
Genitive -ɑv -vɑ -ɜv -ɜvɜ -vn
In-stem
SMG CMG EMG
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative -ɑv -ɜv -i -jn
Oblique -ɑʒ -jz -iv
Genitive -ɑv -vɑ -ɜv -ɜvɜ -jn -inu
R-stem
SMG CMG EMG
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative -ɑþ -þɑσ -∅ -þɜ -r -rs
Oblique -þɑv -rvv
Genitive -ɑþσ -þɑ -ɜþ -ri
Consonant stem
SMG CMG EMG
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative -∅ -σɑ -∅ -∅ -∅ -s
Oblique -ăv
Genitive -ɑσ -js -i

Adjectives

Strong Adjective

Extended content
A-stem
Masculine Feminine
Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative -∅ -∅ -ɑσ
Oblique -ɑv -ɑv
Genitive -ɑσ
Ja-stem
Masculine Feminine
Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative -ɥɑσ -ɥɑ -ɥɑ -ɥɑσ
Oblique -ɥɑv -ɥɑv
Genitive -ɥɑσ
I-stem
Masculine Feminine
Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative -∅ -∅ -ɥɑ -ɥɑσ
Oblique -ɥɑv -ɥɑ -ɥɑv
Genitive -ɥɑσ
U-stem
Masculine Feminine
Singular Plural Singular Plural
Nominative -ɑσ -ɑσ -ɥɑ
Oblique -ɥɑv
Genitive -ɑσ -ɥɑσ

Weak Adjectives

Extended content
Weak stem
SMG CMG EMG
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine
Nominative -∅ -ɥɑv -∅, -ɥ -ɥɜ -ɥɜv -∅ -jouv -jn -jun
Oblique -ɥɑʒ -jz -jun
Genitive -ɥɑv -ɥɜv -jn -jouvn
Weak A-stem
SMG CMG EMG
Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural
Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine
Nominative -∅ -ɑv -∅ -ɜv -∅ -ouv -ăn -un
Oblique -ɑʒ -ăz -un
Genitive -ɑv -ɜv -jn -ouvn

Verbs

Strong

Apart from a few exceptions, the ablaut of the strong verbs has largely collapsed.

Extended content
Standard Modern Gothic Strong Verbs
Indicative Subjunctive Imperative
Active Passive Active Passive
Past Nonpast Imperfective Perfective
Singular 1st -∅ -ɑϕ -ɥɑ -ɑϕ Invalid
2nd -σ, -ꞇɑ -ɑσ -∅
3rd -∅ -ɑϕ -∅ -ɑϕ
Dual 1st -ɑσ Invalid -e -b Invalid
2nd -ɑꞇ -ɑꞇ
Plural 1st -ɑμ -ɑɔɔ -ɑμ -ɑɔɔ -ɑμ
2nd -ɑϕ -ɑϕ -ɑϕ
3rd -ɑv -ɑɔɔ -ɑv -ɑɔɔ
Infinitive -ɑv
Present Participle -ɑɔɔ
Past Participle -ɑv
Colloquial Modern Gothic Strong Verbs
Indicative Imperative Subjunctive Passive
Past Nonpast
Singular 1st -∅ Invalid -∅ -ϕ, -ɜϕ
2nd -σ, -ɜꞇ -σ, -ɜσ -∅
3rd -∅ -ϕ, -ɜϕ
Plural 1st -ƚ, -ɜƚ -ɜμ -ꞇ, -ɜꞇ
2nd -ϕ, -ɜϕ
3rd -σ, -ɜσ -ꞇ, -ɜꞇ -ɜv
Infinitive -ɜσ
Present Participle -ɜꞇ
Past Participle -ɜv
Eastern Modern Gothic Strong Verbs
Indicative Imperative Subjunctive
Past Nonpast Perfective Imperfective
Singular 1st -∅ Invalid
2nd -t -js -∅ -is -és
3rd -∅ -jt -j
Dual 1st -v -us Invalid
2nd -vt -ăt -it -ét
Plural 1st -vv -ăv -im -ém
2nd -vt -jt -it -ét
3rd -vz -ăn -tó -in -én
Infinitive -ăz
Present Participle -ăz, -ănd-
Past Participle -ăz, -ăn-

There is also a Perfective prefix: cɑ- ga-, cɜ- ge-, gă-. This is particularly common in the past tense.

Weak

The Modern Gothic Weak I conjugation corresponds to the Biblical Gothic Weak III verbs.

Extended content
Standard Modern Gothic Weak I Verbs
Indicative Subjunctive Imperative
Active Passive Active Passive
Past Nonpast Imperfective Perfective
Singular 1st -ɑϕ -ɑϕ -ɑϕ Invalid
2nd -ɑσ -ɑσ -ɑσ
3rd -ɑϕ -ɑϕ
Dual 1st -ɑϕ -ɑσ Invalid -e Invalid
2nd -ɑꞇ -ɑꞇ -ɑꞇ
Plural 1st -ɑμ -ɑɔɔ -ɑμ -ɑɔɔ -ɑμ
2nd -ɑϕ -ɑϕ -ɑϕ
3rd -ɑɔɔ -ɑv -ɑɔɔ
Infinitive -ɑv
Present Participle -ɑɔɔ
Past Participle -ɑv
Colloquial Modern Gothic Weak I Verbs
Indicative Imperative Subjunctive Passive
Past Nonpast
Singular 1st -∅ Invalid -∅ -ϕ, -ɜϕ
2nd -σ, -ɜσ -∅
3rd -ϕ, -ɜϕ
Plural 1st -ϕ, -ɜϕ -ƚ, -ɜƚ -ɜμ -ꞇ, -ɜꞇ
2nd -ϕ, -ɜϕ -ɜϕ
3rd -ɜꞇ -ɜv
Infinitive -ɜσ
Present Participle -ɜꞇ
Past Participle -ɜv

The Coastal Gothic conjugations II, III, IV are the same as the first albeit with -j- (II), -w- (III), -n- (IV) between the root and the suffix. In Eastern Gothic, they have the same origin but they have diverged.

Eastern Modern Gothic Weak I Verbs
Indicative Imperative Subjunctive
Past Nonpast Perfective Imperfective
Singular 1st -∅ Invalid
2nd -és -is -és
3rd -ét -it
Dual 1st -ut -us Invalid
2nd -it -ăt -it -ét
Plural 1st -ăv -im -ém
2nd -ăt -it -ét
3rd -nd -ntó -in -én
Infinitive -n
Present Participle -n, -nd-
Past Participle -n
Eastern Modern Gothic Weak II Verbs
Indicative Imperative Subjunctive
Past Nonpast Perfective Imperfective
Singular 1st -j Invalid
2nd -is -js -j -is -és
3rd -jt -jó -it
Dual 1st -it -üs Invalid
2nd -jt -it -ét
Plural 1st -jv -im -ém
2nd -jt -it -ét
3rd -jnd -jtó -in -én
Infinitive -jn
Present Participle -jn, -jnd-
Past Participle -jn
Eastern Modern Gothic Weak III Verbs
Indicative Imperative Subjunctive
Past Nonpast Perfective Imperfective
Singular 1st -v Invalid -u
2nd -us -vs -v -üs -us
3rd -vt -vó -üt -u
Dual 1st -ut -us Invalid
2nd -vt -üt -ut
Plural 1st -vv -üm -um
2nd -vt -üt -ut
3rd -vnd -vtó -ün -un
Infinitive -vn
Present Participle -vn, -vnd-
Past Participle -vn
Eastern Modern Gothic Weak IV Verbs
Indicative Imperative Subjunctive
Past Nonpast Perfective Imperfective
Singular 1st -n Invalid -nvi -nó
2nd -nus -njs -n -nvis -nés
3rd -nvt -nvt -ndó -nvit -né
Dual 1st -nut -nus Invalid -nvi
2nd -nvt -nvit -nét
Plural 1st -nvv -nvim -ném
2nd -nvt -nvit -nét
3rd -nvnd -nvtó -nvin -nén
Infinitive -nvn
Present Participle -nvn, -nvnd-
Past Participle -nvn