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Indo-European Languages | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Philological Room |  | |
| Davy Putnam Diglot Newbie United States Joined 4838 days ago 5 posts - 37 votes Speaks: Spanish, English* Studies: German, Ancient Greek | Message 9 of 10 05 May 2012 at 8:38pm | IP Logged |
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If you are interested in Old English and Old Norse, I would recommend Old English and its Closest Relatives
by Orrin Robinson. If you haven't read it, it offers a pretty good introduction to the oldest Germanic languages (i.e, Gothic, Old Saxon, Old English, Old Norse, Old Frisian, Old Low Franconian/Old Dutch, Old Norse, and Old High German). I have a bit of a background in historical linguistics, specifically in historical German linguistics, and although the book is not meant for specialists, I still found it very informative. It offers a brief history of the peoples associated with the languages, as well as descriptions of the major linguistic changes that define the language. It also offers texts in the languages along with glossaries. Definitely worth reading since you have an interest in the Germanic languages. As for a general introduction to Indo-European, someone already mentioned Fortson which I've also heard is very good. Oswald Szemerényi also wrote an introduction to Indo-European. I think it's available in both French and English. I've only briefly looked at part of it while researching the Ablaut, but it didn't seem overly technical to me, and I believe he was a respected linguist so it would be worth taking a look at his book. 4 persons have voted this message useful | |
| Antimanner Pentaglot Newbie Denmark Joined 5347 days ago 12 posts - 16 votes Speaks: Danish*, Latin, Sanskrit, English, Ancient Greek Studies: French, Russian, Lithuanian | Message 10 of 10 07 May 2012 at 1:49am | IP Logged |
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Szemerényis book is one of the best but it's too complicated for beginners. He didn't believe in laryngeals so none of his reconstructions contains them. Learn the basics of laryngeal theory and reconstruction through Fortson before you read Szemerényi. It will spare you much confusion. Edited by Antimanner on 07 May 2012 at 2:01am 1 person has voted this message useful |
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