The English Language

by R. G. Latham

[§ 82]. The Low German and Platt-Deutsch.—The words Low German are not only lax in their application, but they are equivocal; since the term has two meanings, a general meaning when it signifies a division of the Germanic languages, comprising English, Dutch, Anglo-Saxon, Old Saxon, and Frisian, and a limited one when it means the particular dialects of the Ems, the Weser, and the Elbe. To avoid this the dialects in question will be henceforth called by their continental name of Platt-Deutsch; which although foreign, is convenient.

[§ 83]. The points of likeness and difference between two languages belonging to different branches of the same Gothic stock may be partially collected from the following comparison between certain Icelandic, Norse or Scandinavian, and certain Anglo-Saxon or Germanic inflections.

Declension of substantives ending with a vowel.

		Saxon.	Icelandic.
		Neuter.	Neuter.
Sing.	Nom.	Eáge (an eye).	Auga (an eye).
	Acc.	Eáge	Auga.
	Dat.	Eágan	Auga.
	Gen.	Eágan	Auga.
Plur.	Nom.	Eágan	Augu.
	Acc.	Eágan	Augu.
	Dat.	Eágan	Augum.
	Gen.	Eágan	Augna.
		Masculine.	Masculine.
Sing.	Nom.	Nama (a name).	Bogi (a bow).
	Acc.	Naman	Boga.
	Dat.	Naman	Boga.
	Gen.	Naman	Boga.
Plur.	Nom.	Naman	Bogar.
	Acc.	Naman	Boga.
	Dat.	Namum	Bogum.
	Gen.	Namena	Boga.
		Feminine.	Feminine.
Sing.	Nom.	Tunge (a tongue).	Túnga (a tongue).
	Acc.	Tungan	Túngu.
	Dat.	Tungan	Túngu.
	Gen.	Tungan	Túngu.
Plur.	Nom.	Tungan	Túngur.
	Acc.	Tungan	Túngur.
	Dat.	Tungum	Túngum.
	Gen.	Tungena	Túngna.

Declension of Substantives ending with a Consonant.

		Saxon.	Icelandic.
		Neuter.	Neuter.
Sing.	Nom.	Leáf (a leaf).	Skip (a ship).
	Acc.	Leáf	Skip.
	Dat.	Leáfe	Skipi.
	Gen.	Leáfes	Skips.
Plur.	Nom.	Leáf	Skip.
	Acc.	Leáf	Skip.
	Dat.	Leáfum	Skipum.
	Gen.	Leáfa	Skipa.
		Masculine.	Masculine.
Sing.	Nom.	Smið (a smith).	Konungr (a king).
	Acc.	Smið	Konung.
	Dat.	Smiðe	Konungi.
	Gen.	Smiðes	Konungs.
Plur.	Nom.	Smiðas	Konungar.
	Acc.	Smiðas	Konunga.
	Dat.	Smiðum	Konungum.
	Gen.	Smiða	Konunga.
		Feminine.	Feminine.
Sing.	Nom.	Sprǽc (a speech).	Brúðr (a bride).
	Acc.	Sprǽce	Brúi.
	Dat.	Sprǽce	Brúði.
	Gen.	Sprǽce	Brúðar.
Plur.	Nom.	Sprǽca	Brúðir.
	Acc.	Sprǽca	Brúðir.
	Dat.	Sprǽcum	Brúðum.
	Gen.	Sprǽca	Brúða.

[§ 84]. The most characteristic difference between the Saxon and Icelandic lies in the peculiar position of the definite article in the latter language. In Saxon, the article corresponding with the modern word the, is þæt, se, seó, for the neuter, masculine, and feminine genders respectively; and these words, regularly declined, are prefixed to the words with which they agree, just as is the case with the English and with the majority of languages. In Icelandic, however, the article, instead of preceding, follows its noun, with which it coalesces, having previously suffered a change in form. The Icelandic article corresponding to þæt, se, seó, is hitt (N.), hinn (M.), hin (F.): from this the h is ejected, so that, instead of the regular inflection (a), we have the forms (b).

			a.
		Neut.	Masc.	Fem.
Sing.	Nom.	Hitt	Hinn	Hin.
	Acc.	Hitt	Hinn	Hina.
	Dat.	Hinu	Hinum	Hinni.
	Gen.	Hins	Hins	Hinnar.
Plur.	Nom.	Hin	Hinir	Hinar.
	Acc.	Hin	Hina	Hinar.
	Dat.	Hinum	Hinum	Hinum.
	Gen.	Hinna	Hinna	Hinna.
			b.
Sing.	Nom.	—it	—inn	—in.
	Acc.	—it	—inn	—ina (-na).
	Dat.	—nu	—num	—inni (-nni).
	Gen.	—ins	—ins	—innar (-nnar).
Plur.	Nom.	—in	—nir	—nar.
	Acc.	—in	—na	—nar.
	Dat.	—num	—num	—num.
	Gen.	—nna	—nna	—nna.

whence, as an affix, in composition,

		Neut.	Masc.	Fem.
Sing.	Nom.	Augat	Boginn	Túngan.
	Acc.	Augat	Boginn	Túnguna.
	Dat.	Auganu	Boganum	Túngunni.
	Gen.	Augans	Bogans	Túngunnar.
Plur.	Nom.	Augun	Bogarnir	Túngurnar.
	Acc.	Augun	Bogana	Túngurnar.
	Dat.	Augunum	Bogunum	Túngunum.
	Gen.	Augnanna	Boganna	Túngnanna.