The History of English Podcast Episode 21: Early Germanic Words
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Mar 5, 2013 Exploring the origins and vocabulary of early Germanic tribes, the impact of Grimm's Law, reconstructing the original Germanic language, changes in sounds, the influence of early Germanic words on English, and tracing the origins of basic English words.
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Oldest Germanic Inscription
- The oldest Germanic inscription, found on a helmet, dates to the 2nd century BC.
- This short inscription, possibly a name (Harigast), reveals early Germanic presence in Southern Europe.
Runic Origins
- Early Germanic tribes lacked a writing system, borrowing the Etruscan alphabet.
- This borrowing led to the development of runic symbols, unique to Germanic languages.
Grimm's Law Impact
- Grimm's Law describes consonant shifts from Indo-European to Germanic languages.
- These shifts, like P to F and K to H, distinguish Germanic languages.