Re: Gmc. w-/g-, j-/g-

--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "Torsten" <tgpedersen@...> wrote:

> --- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "tgpedersen" <tgpedersen@> wrote:
> >
> > --- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "tgpedersen" <tgpedersen@> wrote:
> > >
> > >
> > > I collected what I could of suspicious-looking pairs of Gmc. words
> > > of similar meaning assuming an alternation w-/g- and j-/g- between a
> > > substrate and Gmc proper. First it should be mentioned
> > >
> > > 1) NGmc has 'Verschärfung' *-ww- > -gw- and *-jj- > *-gj-,
> > > Gothic has 'Verschärfung' *-ww- > -gw- and *-jj- > *-dj-

Actually, almost all Gmc ww / jj came from PIE wx / yxY / etc., and apparently xw / etc., if they underwent opt. met. as in:

* mHixY-wó+ = measuring/big; >>

* mHixY-w+ (v) > mi:va:mi (1s) = grow fat S;

* mHixY-we-Ló+ (dim) = litte fat/round thing >
* mHiw-xYe-Ló+ > wh > ww / uw >
mývell = ball OIc; miggel = snowball Sw;


This is in addition to earlier opt. changes of X > X / q / G / R, etc.; which, since xw > Xw , account for alternations like qius Go; cwic(u) OE; or stack, stow, etc.


Since xWw > XWw ; as in cwic(u) , and XWw opt. > XWXW , either XW could > qW / RW , etc., as well as normal QW opt. > P seen in many words. This explains:

* gWiXW-wó+ > * gWiXW-XWó+ > * gWiXW-RWó+ > * gWiF-RWó+ > cwifer-líc = *lively > keen/eager OE;

as well as in proper names, usually in myths, such as:

* d.er.-xY-wn.-kó+ = small tree/wooden thing / spear/sword >
* d.er.-wiN-kó+ > Rw \ RXW \ RF > Tirfingr \ Tyrfingr ON; Tervingi (p) (L-trans);

and

* n.or.-u-XWón.+ > Narvi \ Narfi \ Naurr \ etc., as well as Nabbi ON;

> > >
> > > 2) the Romance languages rendered Gmc w- as gw-.
> > >

At the time L w- > v- had occurred, but gw- was still very common, so in choosing how to represent words with lacking w- either was possible, and one was chosen w/out regard to previous Gmc w > xW > GW , etc.

> Looking for something else I found this:
> http://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/gokeln
> "mit Feuer spielen"/"play with fire"
>
>
> Torsten
>