Frühgermanisch

Frühgermanisch, also known as Proto-Germanic, is the reconstructed common ancestor of all Germanic languages. Linguists hypothesize its existence through comparative methods, analyzing similarities and divergences in modern and historical Germanic tongues like English, German, Dutch, Swedish, and Gothic. While no written records of Frühgermanisch itself exist, its structure and vocabulary have been painstakingly rebuilt based on evidence from its daughter languages and early inscriptions in runic alphabets, which show traits of this ancestral tongue.

The period of Frühgermanisch is generally thought to have lasted from around 500 BCE to 200 CE. During this time, proto-Germanic tribes were expanding and interacting with other cultures, which influenced the language. Key phonological changes, such as Grimm's Law and Verner's Law, are considered hallmarks of the transition from Proto-Indo-European to Frühgermanisch. These sound shifts are crucial for understanding the relationships between Germanic languages and other Indo-European branches.

The reconstruction of Frühgermanisch allows scholars to trace the development of vocabulary and grammar across the Germanic family. Concepts related to warfare, kinship, and agriculture are prominent in the reconstructed lexicon. The study of Frühgermanisch is fundamental to historical linguistics and provides deep insights into the cultural and migratory history of early Germanic peoples.