§ 28. In the preceding paragrafs the Gothic vowels hav been givn
according to the letters by which they ar represented. Now they wil
be arranged according to the nature of their +sounds+, the following
scale of seven vowels from i to u being taken as a basis:
i e æ a ǫ o u.
e and o denote here the close e and o (which shade very much to i and
u, respectivly); æ = open e (= a in fat, fare); ǫ = open o.
In the following survey we shal state after each of these vowel grades
whether it occurs in Gothic, and by what letter it is exprest.
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.