Contents
| PAGES | |||
| INTRODUCTION | 1 | ||
| The classification of the MHG. dialects (§ 1). | |||
| CHAPTER I | |||
| The Vowels | 2-22 | ||
| The MHG. alphabet (§ 2). Pronunciation of the MHG. vowels (§ 3). Phonetic survey of the MHG. vowel-system (§ 4). The OHG. equivalents of the MHG. vowels (§ 5). The characteristic differences between OHG. and MHG. (§ 6). The weakening of unaccented vowels (§§ 7-8). The loss of unaccented vowels (§ 9). Umlaut (§ 10). The MHG. equivalents of the OHG. vowels (§ 11). Ablaut (§ 12). Other vowel changes (§§ 13-18). | |||
| CHAPTER II | |||
| The Consonants | 22-35 | ||
| Pronunciation of the consonants (§§ 19-20). Phonetic survey of the MHG. consonants (§ 21). Characteristic differences between High German and the other West Germanic languages (§ 22). The High German sound-shifting (§§ 23-7). The interchange between pf, b and f; k, g and h; ȥȥ, ȥ and ss, s (§ 28). The loss of the guttural nasal ŋ (§ 29). Verner’s Law (§ 30). The doubling of consonants (§ 31). The simplification of double consonants (§ 32). The interchange between the lenes and the fortes (§ 33). Interchange between medial h and final ch (§ 34). Initial and medial j (§ 35). Medial and final w (§ 36). The loss of intervocalic b, d, g (§ 37). The loss of intervocalic h (§ 38). The loss of final r (§ 39). The change of medial t to d after nasals and l (§ 40). | |||
| CHAPTER III | |||
| Declension of Nouns | 36-46 | ||
| Introductory remarks (§ 41). A. The vocalic or strong declension:— Masculine nouns (§§ 42-5); Neuter nouns (§§ 46-7); Feminine nouns (§§ 48-9). B. The weak declension (§§ 50-3). C. Declension of proper names (§ 54). | |||
| CHAPTER IV | |||
| Adjectives | 46-52 | ||
| A. The declension of adjectives (§§ 55-6). B. The comparison of adjectives (§§ 57-9). C. The formation of adverbs from adjectives (§§ 60-1). D. Numerals (§§ 62-4). | |||
| CHAPTER V | |||
| Pronouns | 53-57 | ||
| Personal (§ 65). Reflexive (§ 66). Possessive (§ 67). Demonstrative (§ 68). Relative (§ 69). Interrogative (§ 70). Indefinite (§ 71). | |||
| CHAPTER VI | |||
| Verbs | 57-75 | ||
| Classification of MHG. verbs (§ 72). A. Strong verbs:— The conjugation of the model strong verb nëmen (§§ 73-4). Class I (§§ 76-7). Class II (§§ 78-80). Class III (§ 81). Class IV (§ 82). Class V (§§ 83-4). Class VI (§§ 85-6). Class VII (§ 87). B. Weak Verbs:—Classification of MHG. weak verbs (§§ 88-9). Class I (§ 90). Class II (§ 92). C. Minor groups.— Preterite-presents (§ 93). Anomalous verbs (§§ 94-8). Contracted verbs (§ 99). | |||
| CHAPTER VII | |||
| Syntax | 75-78 | ||
| Cases (§§ 100-2). Adjectives (§ 103). Pronouns (§ 104). Verbs (§§ 105-7). Negation (§ 108). | |||
| TEXTS:— | |||
| I. | Berthold von Regensburg | 79-83 | |
| II. | The Swabian Lantrehtbuoch | 83-85 | |
| III. | Hartman von Ouwe | 86-116 | |
| IV. | Walther von der Vogelweide | 116-133 | |
| V. | Reinmar | 133-139 | |
| VI. | Ulrich von Lichtenstein | 140-148 | |
| VII. | Das Nibelungen-Lied | 149-158 | |
| VIII. | Wolfram von Eschenbach | 158-168 | |
| NOTES | 169-171 | ||
| GLOSSARY | 172-213 | ||
Abbreviations, Etc.
| Goth. | = Gothic |
| Gr. | = Greek |
| HG. | = High German |
| Lat. | = Latin |
| MHG. | = Middle High German |
| NHG. | = New High German |
| OE. | = Old English |
| OHG. | = Old High German |
| OS. | = Old Saxon |
| P. Germ. | = Primitive Germanic |
| UF. | = Upper Franconian |
| UG. | = Upper German |
The asterisk * prefixed to a word denotes a theoretical form, as MHG. wärmen from *warmjan, to warm.
In representing prehistoric forms the following signs are used:— þ (= th in Engl. thin), ð (= th in Engl. then), ƀ (= a bilabial spirant, which may be pronounced like the v in Engl. vine), ʒ (= g often heard in German sagen), χ (= NHG. ch and the ch in Scotch loch), ŋ (= n in Engl. sunk).