Language and History in the Early Germanic World [Hardcover]

D. H. Green (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 28, 1998 | ISBN-10: 0521471346 | ISBN-13: 978-0521471343

This book offers a distinctive and accessible approach to the earliest encounters of the barbarian societies of Northern Europe with classical antiquity and with early Christianity. It brings together linguistic evidence from across Europe and dating from before Caesar to about 900 AD, to shed light on important aspects of Germanic culture. It shows how historical phonology and semantics, often avoided by nonspecialists, can provide important clues for historians and archaeologists of the period. Likewise, it demonstrates that philologists and linguists ignore historical evidence at their peril.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...[its] appeal lies in the author's ability to provide a broad survey by way of linguistic evidence and historical findings." Choice

"Green has assembled here virtually all of the evidence, and all of the interpretations of that evidence, regarding the advance of the Germanic peoples from prehistory into history, and presents it in an erudite and thoroughly engaging manner...[He] effectively demonstrates that the study of language is an indispensible prerequisite to the understanding of cultural institutions. Students and seasoned scholars alike will benefit enormously from a careful reading of this book." Michigan Germanic Studies

"Fortunately, as far as this reviewer is concerned, most of the prerequisites necessary to enjoying this book fully were present, and I did enjoy it...readers without much knowledge of historical Germanic linguistics or of Latin will find this book interesting and satisfying, and they should emerge, as I did, with a much clearer understanding of the underpinnings of early medieval Europe." Journal of English and Germanic Philolgy

"It almost goes without saying that this book is a major contribution to the fields that its title encompasses, representing decades of work by one of the world's foremost scholars of medieval literature and philology...To readers unfamiliar with the history of the Germanic populations of Europe, the period Green covers is one of the most interesting and surprising...Language and History in the Early Germanic World represents an extremely important contribution, one that anyone interested in the period or the peoples it addresses will most certainly consult. Its detail and exhaustive scope will leave readers with the taste of the best that rigorous philological investigation has to offer." Anthropological Linguistics

"This well-written and highly readable volume belongs in the library of any medievalist interested in the early Germanic peoples." --Speculum, A Journal of Medieval Studies

Book Description

This book offers a distinctive and accessible approach to the earliest encounters of the barbarian societies of Northern Europe with classical antiquity and with early Christianity. It brings together linguistic evidence from across Europe and dating from before Caesar to about 900 AD, to shed light on important aspects of Germanic culture. It shows how historical phonology and semantics, often avoided by non-specialists, can provide important clues for historians and archaeologists of the period. Likewise, it demonstrates that philologists and linguists ignore historical evidence at their peril.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 464 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (September 28, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521471346
• ISBN-13: 978-0521471343
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,287,032 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #28 in Books > Education & Reference > Foreign Languages > Instruction > Germanic Languages

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Much information, but somewhat plodding, December 16, 2001

By 

William J. Poser (Prince George, BC, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Language and History in the Early Germanic World (Paperback)

The purpose of this book is to use our knowledge of the early Germanic languages to fill in gaps in our knowledge of the history and culture of the peoples who spoke them. The book provides a great deal of information, organized by divisions of
culture, such as warfare and religion. I have two main criticisms. First, the author presupposes a bit more knowledge of the Germanic languages and of Latin than most readers are likely to have. This will from time to time make a point difficult to follow. Second, I found the book a bit plodding. There just didn't seem to be any interesting insights, unexpected discoveries, or unusually clever inferences.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not for the casual historian, February 22, 2004

By 

R. R. Krause (Arden Hills, MN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Language and History in the Early Germanic World (Paperback)

This book is for the serious philologist and/or linguist. Less of an explanation of early German life and language than a lecture-made-into-a-book on the evolution of a handful of words.The book assumes much more familiarity with ancient texts and dialects than the casual armchair historian will have. Lack of preexisting in-depth knowledge makes this book too ponderous and obtuse.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An admirable effort, and a helpful source for Early Germanic, August 28, 2004

By 

Gaiseric "Gaiseric Rex" (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Language and History in the Early Germanic World (Paperback)

After struggling for some time to find some sort of connecting sources of information to build an idea of Early Germanic life. After having read this, I was able to determine ranks and the language forms that came with it in establishing a societal form for many Early German tribes. Although primarily concerned with Germanic language, it helps clear the mist from many confusing theories. Kudos!