The Germanic strong verbs

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This book contributes to the discussion on the origins of the Germanic language by examining the strong verbs of Proto-Germanic through a novel approach that merges historical and typological morphology with quantitative etymology. It highlights that the complexities and etymological issues surrounding strong verbs have been significantly underestimated. The first section details the transformation of the inherited verb system, which was simplified around a functionalized verbal ablaut, revealing a typological difference in ablaut's systemic role compared to the Indo-European parent language. It also addresses the origins of lengthened grade preterits and other morphological challenges. The second part introduces a methodological framework and offers a quantitative analysis of the strong verbs' etymological landscape, showing that nearly half lack accepted etymologies, contrary to common assumptions. A comparative analysis with primary verbs in Sanskrit and Ancient Greek, which have clearer etymological ties, emphasizes the importance of the Germanic data and supports the analytical approach. Collectively, these findings cast the Germanic strong verbs in a new light, suggesting significant implications for the prehistory of the Germanic languages and opening avenues for further research.