orthogermanic

Orthogermanic is a term used in historical linguistics to describe the group of Germanic languages that have retained the Proto-Germanic case system, which includes the accusative and dative cases. This group is contrasted with the West Germanic languages, which have largely lost the case system. The orthogermanic languages are further divided into two branches: East Germanic and North Germanic.

East Germanic languages include Gothic, which is the earliest Germanic language with a substantial body of text, and the extinct Burgundian language. North Germanic languages include Old Norse, the ancestor of modern Scandinavian languages, and the extinct Gutnish language.

The orthogermanic languages are characterized by their retention of grammatical gender and the use of strong and weak verb conjugations. They also have a complex system of verb prefixes and suffixes, which can indicate various grammatical categories such as tense, mood, and voice.

The orthogermanic languages have had a significant influence on other Germanic languages, particularly in the development of their verb systems. However, due to the limited textual evidence, the orthogermanic languages are less well understood than the West Germanic languages.

The study of orthogermanic languages is an important area of research in historical linguistics, as it provides insights into the development of the Germanic languages and the broader Indo-European language family.