The Carthaginian North: Semitic influence on early Germanic

A linguistic and cultural study

Authors

Robert Mailhammer | Western Sydney University

Theo Vennemann | University of Munich

Hardbound – Available

ISBN 9789027204011 | EUR 105.00 | USD 158.00

e-Book –

ISBN 9789027262141 | EUR 105.00 | USD 158.00

This book presents a new and innovative theory on the origin of the Germanic languages. This theory presents solutions to four pivotal problems in the history of Germanic with critical implications for cultural history: the origin of the Germanic writing system (the Runic alphabet), the genesis of the Germanic strong verbs, the development of the Germanic word order, and etymologies for key elements of the Germanic lexicon. The book proposes that all four problems can be solved if it is hypothesized that over 2,000 years ago the ancestor of all Germanic languages, Proto-Germanic, was in intensive contact with Punic, a Semitic language from the Mediterranean. This scenario is explored by focusing on linguistic data, supported by an interdisciplinary mosaic of evidence. This book is of interest to anyone working on the linguistic and cultural history of the Germanic languages.

[NOWELE Supplement Series, 32] 2019. xiii, 268 pp.

Publishing status: Available

https://doi.org/10.1075/nss.32

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements | pp. ix–x

Preface | pp. xi–xiv

Chapter 1. Introduction | pp. 1–30

Chapter 2. Theoretical foundations | pp. 31–42

Chapter 3. Context, location and initial contact setting | pp. 43–56

Chapter 4. Punic elements in the Proto-Germanic lexicon | pp. 57–108

Chapter 5. Punic influence in the Germanic verb system: The strong verbs | pp. 109–134

Chapter 6. Explaining the Germanic split word order | pp. 135–140

Chapter 7. The origin of the oldest Germanic writing system | pp. 141–186

Chapter 8. Extralinguistic evidence | pp. 187–236

Chapter 9. Conclusion | pp. 237–242

References | pp. 243–264

Index | pp. 265–268

“The book brings up many interesting points and possible explanations for unexplained features of Germanic. [...] The big question is whether the underlying hypothesis is correct. Was there contact between Punic and Pre- or Proto-Germanic? The authors are agnostic on this front; they have made a linguistic argument and provided enough extralinguistic evidence to show that contact need not be ruled out. [...] In any case, the book is a fascinating one that is sure to stir up some lively discussions.”

Bev Thurber, on Linguist List 31.1696 (20 May 2020)

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