Johan Schalin
@schaljoh.bsky.social
PhD, nordiska språk, phonology, etymologi, East Nordic, Finnic, lainasanatutkimus, dialektologi, diachronic linguistics, ortnamn/paikannimet, Northwest Semitic, Catalan.
Researcher affiliated with @utu.fi
#langsky
Researcher affiliated with @utu.fi
#langsky
A little north from the home villages of KAJ, you can find Kronoby and Karleby where all three primary diphthongs of Old Nordic are distinguished and no secondary diphthongisation occurs. The Karleby dialect is the only Swedish dialect with its own issue of Asterix.
www.facebook.com/groups/swedi...
www.facebook.com/groups/swedi...
May 13, 2025 at 2:46 PM
A little north from the home villages of KAJ, you can find Kronoby and Karleby where all three primary diphthongs of Old Nordic are distinguished and no secondary diphthongisation occurs. The Karleby dialect is the only Swedish dialect with its own issue of Asterix.
www.facebook.com/groups/swedi...
www.facebook.com/groups/swedi...
I believe the insertion of -b- & -d- was a synchronic phonological process at least in Old Swedish, as was the insertion of e (or <æ>).
Note that when Icelandic inserts -u- it is lexicalised, as in ”fiskur+inn” ’the fish’ whereas Old Swedish has fiskær+inn=fiskrin
#langsky
Note that when Icelandic inserts -u- it is lexicalised, as in ”fiskur+inn” ’the fish’ whereas Old Swedish has fiskær+inn=fiskrin
#langsky
May 13, 2025 at 6:20 AM
I believe the insertion of -b- & -d- was a synchronic phonological process at least in Old Swedish, as was the insertion of e (or <æ>).
Note that when Icelandic inserts -u- it is lexicalised, as in ”fiskur+inn” ’the fish’ whereas Old Swedish has fiskær+inn=fiskrin
#langsky
Note that when Icelandic inserts -u- it is lexicalised, as in ”fiskur+inn” ’the fish’ whereas Old Swedish has fiskær+inn=fiskrin
#langsky
Fun fact: the sauna was the default place of washing until showers and plumbing were brought into houses. In rural areas in Finland this occurred 1970ies -ish. So in dialect the verb ”bada” by default meant taking a sauna, and a ”bath” meant: …’sauna’.
Singing ”bara bada, bara bada” would also work!
Singing ”bara bada, bara bada” would also work!
May 12, 2025 at 6:42 AM
Fun fact: the sauna was the default place of washing until showers and plumbing were brought into houses. In rural areas in Finland this occurred 1970ies -ish. So in dialect the verb ”bada” by default meant taking a sauna, and a ”bath” meant: …’sauna’.
Singing ”bara bada, bara bada” would also work!
Singing ”bara bada, bara bada” would also work!
From Gordon's grammar:
Middle English "aghtle" cf. Old Icelandic "ætla".
Middle English "aghtle" cf. Old Icelandic "ætla".
January 2, 2025 at 8:30 AM
From Gordon's grammar:
Middle English "aghtle" cf. Old Icelandic "ætla".
Middle English "aghtle" cf. Old Icelandic "ætla".
Advent calendar, last hatch P, X-mas day,👇🏻(image)
It is not sure whether the infinitive of *kwem- ’come’ is *kwemā̃ or *kumā̃, but I stay with the former. In the previous verse I change ’made known’ to *kynnt and ’happened’ to *āht rūm.
This is the last verse translated. Final notes tomorrow.
#langsky
It is not sure whether the infinitive of *kwem- ’come’ is *kwemā̃ or *kumā̃, but I stay with the former. In the previous verse I change ’made known’ to *kynnt and ’happened’ to *āht rūm.
This is the last verse translated. Final notes tomorrow.
#langsky
December 25, 2024 at 6:59 PM
Advent calendar, last hatch P, X-mas day,👇🏻(image)
It is not sure whether the infinitive of *kwem- ’come’ is *kwemā̃ or *kumā̃, but I stay with the former. In the previous verse I change ’made known’ to *kynnt and ’happened’ to *āht rūm.
This is the last verse translated. Final notes tomorrow.
#langsky
It is not sure whether the infinitive of *kwem- ’come’ is *kwemā̃ or *kumā̃, but I stay with the former. In the previous verse I change ’made known’ to *kynnt and ’happened’ to *āht rūm.
This is the last verse translated. Final notes tomorrow.
#langsky
This is a better solution. Notwithstanding that Old Swedish has done strange things to the inflection! But this must be secondary, whatever the reason.
December 25, 2024 at 2:20 PM
This is a better solution. Notwithstanding that Old Swedish has done strange things to the inflection! But this must be secondary, whatever the reason.
Advent calendar, hatch O, X-mas vigil,👇🏻(image)
The shepherds decide to go to Betlehem. The Greek syntax is very complex here.
For ”made known to” both ’gifa til känna’ and ’kunngöra’ are calqued on German. The moribund verb *tɶyjā̃/táþa ’do’ is used, then assumed more idiomatic than ”göra”.
#langsky
The shepherds decide to go to Betlehem. The Greek syntax is very complex here.
For ”made known to” both ’gifa til känna’ and ’kunngöra’ are calqued on German. The moribund verb *tɶyjā̃/táþa ’do’ is used, then assumed more idiomatic than ”göra”.
#langsky
December 24, 2024 at 10:48 PM
Advent calendar, hatch O, X-mas vigil,👇🏻(image)
The shepherds decide to go to Betlehem. The Greek syntax is very complex here.
For ”made known to” both ’gifa til känna’ and ’kunngöra’ are calqued on German. The moribund verb *tɶyjā̃/táþa ’do’ is used, then assumed more idiomatic than ”göra”.
#langsky
The shepherds decide to go to Betlehem. The Greek syntax is very complex here.
For ”made known to” both ’gifa til känna’ and ’kunngöra’ are calqued on German. The moribund verb *tɶyjā̃/táþa ’do’ is used, then assumed more idiomatic than ”göra”.
#langsky
Advent calendar, hatch N, X-mas eve,👇🏻(image)
Gōþā i͡uł!
In this most famous x-mas chant ”peace on earth and to men good will” there are difficult reconstruction problems. The Greek δόξα ’glory’ is one problem and the word for height/highest is even more difficult! (cont.)👇🏻
#langsky
Gōþā i͡uł!
In this most famous x-mas chant ”peace on earth and to men good will” there are difficult reconstruction problems. The Greek δόξα ’glory’ is one problem and the word for height/highest is even more difficult! (cont.)👇🏻
#langsky
December 24, 2024 at 10:18 AM
Advent calendar, hatch N, X-mas eve,👇🏻(image)
Gōþā i͡uł!
In this most famous x-mas chant ”peace on earth and to men good will” there are difficult reconstruction problems. The Greek δόξα ’glory’ is one problem and the word for height/highest is even more difficult! (cont.)👇🏻
#langsky
Gōþā i͡uł!
In this most famous x-mas chant ”peace on earth and to men good will” there are difficult reconstruction problems. The Greek δόξα ’glory’ is one problem and the word for height/highest is even more difficult! (cont.)👇🏻
#langsky
Advent calendar of the X-mas Nativity narrative in Luke 2, hatch M, vrs 13👇🏻(image)
The multitude of the heavenly host joins the angel, and prepares to start chanting.
The word for ’host’ ”hæɹiswæitā̃” exists in both Old Swedish and Old Icelandic. All other synonyms are German loanwords.
#langsky
The multitude of the heavenly host joins the angel, and prepares to start chanting.
The word for ’host’ ”hæɹiswæitā̃” exists in both Old Swedish and Old Icelandic. All other synonyms are German loanwords.
#langsky
December 23, 2024 at 4:26 PM
Advent calendar of the X-mas Nativity narrative in Luke 2, hatch M, vrs 13👇🏻(image)
The multitude of the heavenly host joins the angel, and prepares to start chanting.
The word for ’host’ ”hæɹiswæitā̃” exists in both Old Swedish and Old Icelandic. All other synonyms are German loanwords.
#langsky
The multitude of the heavenly host joins the angel, and prepares to start chanting.
The word for ’host’ ”hæɹiswæitā̃” exists in both Old Swedish and Old Icelandic. All other synonyms are German loanwords.
#langsky
X-mas calendar hatch L👇🏻(image)
Here a deictic pronoun in neuter *hĩnt ’that’ [shall be the sign] is used.
This (or *inn) is the embryo for the determining article, emblematic for later Nordic.
Still, in Swedish dialects, e.g. in Finland, you may hear ”hitt” in this emphatic use (cont…👇🏻)
#langsky
Here a deictic pronoun in neuter *hĩnt ’that’ [shall be the sign] is used.
This (or *inn) is the embryo for the determining article, emblematic for later Nordic.
Still, in Swedish dialects, e.g. in Finland, you may hear ”hitt” in this emphatic use (cont…👇🏻)
#langsky
December 22, 2024 at 10:39 AM
X-mas calendar hatch L👇🏻(image)
Here a deictic pronoun in neuter *hĩnt ’that’ [shall be the sign] is used.
This (or *inn) is the embryo for the determining article, emblematic for later Nordic.
Still, in Swedish dialects, e.g. in Finland, you may hear ”hitt” in this emphatic use (cont…👇🏻)
#langsky
Here a deictic pronoun in neuter *hĩnt ’that’ [shall be the sign] is used.
This (or *inn) is the embryo for the determining article, emblematic for later Nordic.
Still, in Swedish dialects, e.g. in Finland, you may hear ”hitt” in this emphatic use (cont…👇🏻)
#langsky
X-mas calendar hatch K👇🏻(image)
The angel continues to proclaim the birth of Khristos ’the anointed’. I resist reconstructing a past participle of *smyrwã ’anoint’ (the later smurðr cannot possibly be regular), but stick to the principle of nativising the original: Χριστὸς
meaning: Hɹistr̥
#langsky
The angel continues to proclaim the birth of Khristos ’the anointed’. I resist reconstructing a past participle of *smyrwã ’anoint’ (the later smurðr cannot possibly be regular), but stick to the principle of nativising the original: Χριστὸς
meaning: Hɹistr̥
#langsky
December 21, 2024 at 11:08 AM
X-mas calendar hatch K👇🏻(image)
The angel continues to proclaim the birth of Khristos ’the anointed’. I resist reconstructing a past participle of *smyrwã ’anoint’ (the later smurðr cannot possibly be regular), but stick to the principle of nativising the original: Χριστὸς
meaning: Hɹistr̥
#langsky
The angel continues to proclaim the birth of Khristos ’the anointed’. I resist reconstructing a past participle of *smyrwã ’anoint’ (the later smurðr cannot possibly be regular), but stick to the principle of nativising the original: Χριστὸς
meaning: Hɹistr̥
#langsky
X-mas calendar hatch J👇🏻(image)
Now the angel speaks up about good tidings:
Here the east/west divide is older than the reconstructed language and I chose the eastern forms: *jak & *iþuř (western *ek & *yþuř).
In the case of *Sēiþ! the form only looks eastern. In fact, it is just older.
#langsky
Now the angel speaks up about good tidings:
Here the east/west divide is older than the reconstructed language and I chose the eastern forms: *jak & *iþuř (western *ek & *yþuř).
In the case of *Sēiþ! the form only looks eastern. In fact, it is just older.
#langsky
December 20, 2024 at 6:46 AM
X-mas calendar hatch J👇🏻(image)
Now the angel speaks up about good tidings:
Here the east/west divide is older than the reconstructed language and I chose the eastern forms: *jak & *iþuř (western *ek & *yþuř).
In the case of *Sēiþ! the form only looks eastern. In fact, it is just older.
#langsky
Now the angel speaks up about good tidings:
Here the east/west divide is older than the reconstructed language and I chose the eastern forms: *jak & *iþuř (western *ek & *yþuř).
In the case of *Sēiþ! the form only looks eastern. In fact, it is just older.
#langsky
X-mas calendar hatch I👇🏻(image)
Under this hatch the Angel of the Lord appears. All nordic languages and Gothic have a loanword ängel/ engill etc.
In line with the translation principles appropriate for very early language contact I still use the native word *sændībʊþ, and also *dɹōttẽns.
#langsky
Under this hatch the Angel of the Lord appears. All nordic languages and Gothic have a loanword ängel/ engill etc.
In line with the translation principles appropriate for very early language contact I still use the native word *sændībʊþ, and also *dɹōttẽns.
#langsky
December 19, 2024 at 10:52 AM
X-mas calendar hatch I👇🏻(image)
Under this hatch the Angel of the Lord appears. All nordic languages and Gothic have a loanword ängel/ engill etc.
In line with the translation principles appropriate for very early language contact I still use the native word *sændībʊþ, and also *dɹōttẽns.
#langsky
Under this hatch the Angel of the Lord appears. All nordic languages and Gothic have a loanword ängel/ engill etc.
In line with the translation principles appropriate for very early language contact I still use the native word *sændībʊþ, and also *dɹōttẽns.
#langsky
X-mas calendar hatch H👇🏻(image)
The shepherds are introduced to the story. Here are two words (hi͡ɵldũ ’held’ pl. & hi͡ɵɹþ ’flock’) where the segmentation of the rounded breaking diphthong is delayed by the following liquid, notwithstanding that the labial umlaut isn’t of the earliest kind.
#langsky
The shepherds are introduced to the story. Here are two words (hi͡ɵldũ ’held’ pl. & hi͡ɵɹþ ’flock’) where the segmentation of the rounded breaking diphthong is delayed by the following liquid, notwithstanding that the labial umlaut isn’t of the earliest kind.
#langsky
December 18, 2024 at 7:08 AM
X-mas calendar hatch H👇🏻(image)
The shepherds are introduced to the story. Here are two words (hi͡ɵldũ ’held’ pl. & hi͡ɵɹþ ’flock’) where the segmentation of the rounded breaking diphthong is delayed by the following liquid, notwithstanding that the labial umlaut isn’t of the earliest kind.
#langsky
The shepherds are introduced to the story. Here are two words (hi͡ɵldũ ’held’ pl. & hi͡ɵɹþ ’flock’) where the segmentation of the rounded breaking diphthong is delayed by the following liquid, notwithstanding that the labial umlaut isn’t of the earliest kind.
#langsky
X-mas calendar hatch G👇🏻(image)
Here ”sunu” occurs unreduced, so typical for runic attestations of the Early Old Nordic stage.
I use *swaip instead of older *sezwaip for the reduplicative verb.
For the neutralised word-final ’r̥’ (after coronal obstruent) I added a diacritic for devoicing.
#langsky
Here ”sunu” occurs unreduced, so typical for runic attestations of the Early Old Nordic stage.
I use *swaip instead of older *sezwaip for the reduplicative verb.
For the neutralised word-final ’r̥’ (after coronal obstruent) I added a diacritic for devoicing.
#langsky
December 17, 2024 at 9:15 AM
X-mas calendar hatch G👇🏻(image)
Here ”sunu” occurs unreduced, so typical for runic attestations of the Early Old Nordic stage.
I use *swaip instead of older *sezwaip for the reduplicative verb.
For the neutralised word-final ’r̥’ (after coronal obstruent) I added a diacritic for devoicing.
#langsky
Here ”sunu” occurs unreduced, so typical for runic attestations of the Early Old Nordic stage.
I use *swaip instead of older *sezwaip for the reduplicative verb.
For the neutralised word-final ’r̥’ (after coronal obstruent) I added a diacritic for devoicing.
#langsky
X-mas calendar hatch F👇🏻(image)
It is not clear what stage of North Germanic that would qualify as the ”Proto-” language. Even at this early stage (650-850 CE) there were differences. I reconstruct ”bǣrī byrþ sīnã”. In fact, Old East Nordic point to ”bārī”, while O(W)N point to ”byrþ sīnn”.
#langsky
It is not clear what stage of North Germanic that would qualify as the ”Proto-” language. Even at this early stage (650-850 CE) there were differences. I reconstruct ”bǣrī byrþ sīnã”. In fact, Old East Nordic point to ”bārī”, while O(W)N point to ”byrþ sīnn”.
#langsky
December 16, 2024 at 8:24 AM
X-mas calendar hatch F👇🏻(image)
It is not clear what stage of North Germanic that would qualify as the ”Proto-” language. Even at this early stage (650-850 CE) there were differences. I reconstruct ”bǣrī byrþ sīnã”. In fact, Old East Nordic point to ”bārī”, while O(W)N point to ”byrþ sīnn”.
#langsky
It is not clear what stage of North Germanic that would qualify as the ”Proto-” language. Even at this early stage (650-850 CE) there were differences. I reconstruct ”bǣrī byrþ sīnã”. In fact, Old East Nordic point to ”bārī”, while O(W)N point to ”byrþ sīnn”.
#langsky
X-mas calendar, first subsection of Luke 2 (passages 1-5) completed, hatches A-E👇🏻(image)
Before opening hatch F, I here post the text as amended along the way (credit especially to @thorgeir.bsky.social). The last corr being the compound name Natsaɹēþãboɹg in passage 4.
#langsky
Before opening hatch F, I here post the text as amended along the way (credit especially to @thorgeir.bsky.social). The last corr being the compound name Natsaɹēþãboɹg in passage 4.
#langsky
December 16, 2024 at 8:09 AM
X-mas calendar, first subsection of Luke 2 (passages 1-5) completed, hatches A-E👇🏻(image)
Before opening hatch F, I here post the text as amended along the way (credit especially to @thorgeir.bsky.social). The last corr being the compound name Natsaɹēþãboɹg in passage 4.
#langsky
Before opening hatch F, I here post the text as amended along the way (credit especially to @thorgeir.bsky.social). The last corr being the compound name Natsaɹēþãboɹg in passage 4.
#langsky
X-mas calendar hatch E👇🏻(image)
The word õlẽtt-”, literally ”unlight”, means that Maria ’carried a child’ (as the story goes).
Indeed, this Icelandic idiomatic expression has an Old Swedish cognate and hence may perhaps be reconstructed for this early stage.
svenska.se/saob/?sok=ol...
#langsky
The word õlẽtt-”, literally ”unlight”, means that Maria ’carried a child’ (as the story goes).
Indeed, this Icelandic idiomatic expression has an Old Swedish cognate and hence may perhaps be reconstructed for this early stage.
svenska.se/saob/?sok=ol...
#langsky
December 15, 2024 at 9:14 AM
X-mas calendar hatch E👇🏻(image)
The word õlẽtt-”, literally ”unlight”, means that Maria ’carried a child’ (as the story goes).
Indeed, this Icelandic idiomatic expression has an Old Swedish cognate and hence may perhaps be reconstructed for this early stage.
svenska.se/saob/?sok=ol...
#langsky
The word õlẽtt-”, literally ”unlight”, means that Maria ’carried a child’ (as the story goes).
Indeed, this Icelandic idiomatic expression has an Old Swedish cognate and hence may perhaps be reconstructed for this early stage.
svenska.se/saob/?sok=ol...
#langsky
X-mas calendar hatch D👇🏻(image)
The word to become the Scandinavian conjunction ”og/och” ’and’ first appeared in the meaning of German ”auch”: ’also’ ’in addition’. Here ”ɞuk” occurs twice.
Judging from descendants in the peripheries, the diphthong was labialised early, not just fronted.
#langsky
The word to become the Scandinavian conjunction ”og/och” ’and’ first appeared in the meaning of German ”auch”: ’also’ ’in addition’. Here ”ɞuk” occurs twice.
Judging from descendants in the peripheries, the diphthong was labialised early, not just fronted.
#langsky
December 14, 2024 at 11:10 AM
X-mas calendar hatch D👇🏻(image)
The word to become the Scandinavian conjunction ”og/och” ’and’ first appeared in the meaning of German ”auch”: ’also’ ’in addition’. Here ”ɞuk” occurs twice.
Judging from descendants in the peripheries, the diphthong was labialised early, not just fronted.
#langsky
The word to become the Scandinavian conjunction ”og/och” ’and’ first appeared in the meaning of German ”auch”: ’also’ ’in addition’. Here ”ɞuk” occurs twice.
Judging from descendants in the peripheries, the diphthong was labialised early, not just fronted.
#langsky
X-mas calendar hatch C👇🏻(image)
At this stage of the language some words had still one syllable more than in later Old Norse, the second wave of ”syncope” was yet to come. Thus ”hwæɹiř” ’each one’, which had been *hwaɹjaz only 2-3 centuries earlier, was to become ”hwerr” in Old Norse.
#langsky
At this stage of the language some words had still one syllable more than in later Old Norse, the second wave of ”syncope” was yet to come. Thus ”hwæɹiř” ’each one’, which had been *hwaɹjaz only 2-3 centuries earlier, was to become ”hwerr” in Old Norse.
#langsky
December 13, 2024 at 6:57 AM
X-mas calendar hatch C👇🏻(image)
At this stage of the language some words had still one syllable more than in later Old Norse, the second wave of ”syncope” was yet to come. Thus ”hwæɹiř” ’each one’, which had been *hwaɹjaz only 2-3 centuries earlier, was to become ”hwerr” in Old Norse.
#langsky
At this stage of the language some words had still one syllable more than in later Old Norse, the second wave of ”syncope” was yet to come. Thus ”hwæɹiř” ’each one’, which had been *hwaɹjaz only 2-3 centuries earlier, was to become ”hwerr” in Old Norse.
#langsky
A difficult case, isn’t it. Also in Dalecarlian there are ō-stems but they appear to descend from the original long *ī in the root.
To me a zero-grade ō-stem seems derived from a noun, such as n. “skrif”. The Icelandic etymological dictionary acknowledges that possibility: malid.is/leit/skrifa
To me a zero-grade ō-stem seems derived from a noun, such as n. “skrif”. The Icelandic etymological dictionary acknowledges that possibility: malid.is/leit/skrifa
December 12, 2024 at 11:19 AM
A difficult case, isn’t it. Also in Dalecarlian there are ō-stems but they appear to descend from the original long *ī in the root.
To me a zero-grade ō-stem seems derived from a noun, such as n. “skrif”. The Icelandic etymological dictionary acknowledges that possibility: malid.is/leit/skrifa
To me a zero-grade ō-stem seems derived from a noun, such as n. “skrif”. The Icelandic etymological dictionary acknowledges that possibility: malid.is/leit/skrifa
X-mas calendar hatch B👇🏻(image)
Problem: whence nominatives of masculine n-stems get a non-fronting -i in Old Norse? Here a solution is used that it evolved from nasalised *-ẽ, as in “stjȳrandẽ”. A similar solution might explain similar problems in participles in *-in/-it, as in “skɹifẽt”.
#langsky
Problem: whence nominatives of masculine n-stems get a non-fronting -i in Old Norse? Here a solution is used that it evolved from nasalised *-ẽ, as in “stjȳrandẽ”. A similar solution might explain similar problems in participles in *-in/-it, as in “skɹifẽt”.
#langsky
December 12, 2024 at 7:45 AM
X-mas calendar hatch B👇🏻(image)
Problem: whence nominatives of masculine n-stems get a non-fronting -i in Old Norse? Here a solution is used that it evolved from nasalised *-ẽ, as in “stjȳrandẽ”. A similar solution might explain similar problems in participles in *-in/-it, as in “skɹifẽt”.
#langsky
Problem: whence nominatives of masculine n-stems get a non-fronting -i in Old Norse? Here a solution is used that it evolved from nasalised *-ẽ, as in “stjȳrandẽ”. A similar solution might explain similar problems in participles in *-in/-it, as in “skɹifẽt”.
#langsky
Hatch A (image)
Different from later Old Norse, the velarised approximant rhotic <ɹ> contrasted with a rarer coronal rhotic, as in “allř” below. After coronal obstruents the contrast was neutralised, as in “miþgaɹþr”.
Further, unstressed vowels were frequently long, and at times nasalised.
#langsky
Different from later Old Norse, the velarised approximant rhotic <ɹ> contrasted with a rarer coronal rhotic, as in “allř” below. After coronal obstruents the contrast was neutralised, as in “miþgaɹþr”.
Further, unstressed vowels were frequently long, and at times nasalised.
#langsky
December 11, 2024 at 12:07 PM
Hatch A (image)
Different from later Old Norse, the velarised approximant rhotic <ɹ> contrasted with a rarer coronal rhotic, as in “allř” below. After coronal obstruents the contrast was neutralised, as in “miþgaɹþr”.
Further, unstressed vowels were frequently long, and at times nasalised.
#langsky
Different from later Old Norse, the velarised approximant rhotic <ɹ> contrasted with a rarer coronal rhotic, as in “allř” below. After coronal obstruents the contrast was neutralised, as in “miþgaɹþr”.
Further, unstressed vowels were frequently long, and at times nasalised.
#langsky
Early Old Nordic is the stage ca.650-850CE between the first era of umlauts & syncope and the second. This is roughly the common ancestor of Old Norse, Old Danish, Old Swedish, and *Old Dalecarlian (Elvdalian), all contemporaneous daughters. It isn’t certain whether Old Gutnish was rather a ”niece”.
December 10, 2024 at 12:15 PM
Early Old Nordic is the stage ca.650-850CE between the first era of umlauts & syncope and the second. This is roughly the common ancestor of Old Norse, Old Danish, Old Swedish, and *Old Dalecarlian (Elvdalian), all contemporaneous daughters. It isn’t certain whether Old Gutnish was rather a ”niece”.
Now zooming in on cognates of the Old English word ġiefan, ġifan, etc.” ’to give’. The word-initial palato-velar developed into a devoiced [ɟ̥] (or [g̥ʲ]) in Icelandic (and Danish), while it became j- in Swedish and Norwegian, having passed an affricate stage, preserved in East Nylandic and Elvdalian.
December 9, 2024 at 10:38 PM
Now zooming in on cognates of the Old English word ġiefan, ġifan, etc.” ’to give’. The word-initial palato-velar developed into a devoiced [ɟ̥] (or [g̥ʲ]) in Icelandic (and Danish), while it became j- in Swedish and Norwegian, having passed an affricate stage, preserved in East Nylandic and Elvdalian.