Gothic word order patterns as attested in the Gothic Gospel of Luke

Abstract

Gothic is the oldest attested Germanic language that possesses features similar to Proto-Germanic, i.e. parental language of all contemporary Germanic languages. The grammar of the Gothic language not only comprises distinctive features of native origin, but also contains peculiarities inherited from Proto-Germanic as well as traces of non-Germanic impacts. The peculiar nature of Gothic grammar reveals itself in the Gothic syntax, and notably in the order of words. The article aims at defining word order patterns in an extract from The Gothic Gospel of Luke with special reference to word order in a phrase and sentence. In addition to the principal features of Gothic syntax and word order, the article considers word order of nominal and verbal patterns, analyzes word order patterns in simple sentences, and comments upon the choice of word order in complex sentences and subordinate clauses found in the extract from The Gothic Gospel of Luke. Being the only attested East Germanic language, Gothic has a great linguistic value. Therefore, the study of Gothic word order and syntax is of great significance for the reconstruction of Proto-Germanic, for understanding the order of words in old Germanic languages as well as for identifying common Germanic features. In addition, it may also be useful for analysing the syntactic development of contemporary Germanic languages.