LINGUIST List 11.1659

Mon Jul 31 2000

Qs: Expressions for "Language", Old Frankish

Editor for this issue: James Yuells <jameslinguistlist.org>



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  • G�nter Radden, Expressions for "Language"
  • Chris Beckwith, Old Frankish

    Message 1: Expressions for "Language"

     Date: Sun, 30 Jul 2000 15:55:49 +0200
    From: G�nter Radden <fs2a501rrz.uni-hamburg.de>
    Subject: Expressions for "Language"


    Expressions for 'language'

    Dear Linguists, I am researching metonymic and metaphorical expressions in the domain of language which reflect a folk model of language.

    'Language' is commonly expressed metonymically by words for the tongue (as in Latin _lingua_ or English _native tongue_); more rarely other body parts are used as in German _Mundart_ 'mouth manner' or Tok Pisin 'neck'. Another common source for 'language' are words meaning 'speaking' (as in English _speech_ or German _Sprache_).

    Words for 'speaking' and 'saying' typically derive from roots meaning 'sound', 'voice' or are related to words of cognition such as German _reden_, which is related to Latin _ratio_ 'reason'. An interesting form is Polish _po-wiedziec_ 'say', lit. 'after-know'.

    Expressions referring to 'articulation' tend to develop the sense of 'eloquent' as in English _articulate_ or Polish _wy-mowny_ from _wy-mova_ 'pronunciation', lit. 'out-speak'.

    I would appreciate more data from on other, also non-Indoeuropean languages. A summary of the responses will be posted.

    Guenter Radden, Hamburg University

    Message 2: Old Frankish

     Date: Sat, 29 Jul 2000 18:02:23 -0500 (EST)
    From: Chris Beckwith <beckwithindiana.edu>
    Subject: Old Frankish


    I have been trying to find out what, if anything, has been done on the Old Frankish language, meaning specifically the language spoken by the Franks of the Frankish kingdom (of Western Europe), which became the Holy Roman Empire under the Frankish king/emperor Charlemagne (Carl the Great), which broke up when Louis the Pious died in 840 A.D.

    There is a great deal of material on this language in the law codes (written in Latin) of the various tribes of Franks and their relatives, but I haven't been able to find anything of a linguistic nature on it. I'm interested in the phonological system (vis a vis other Germanic languages), and glossaries or dictionaries (both ways), if any exist. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong place or under the wrong name? (I'm not a Germanic specialist.)

    Is there a Germanic Linguistics list out there?

    I'll post anything relevant.

    Chris Beckwith