Latest part in my series of videos covering interesting etymological connections. This video is a recording of a blogpost: michaellindsey.substack.com/p...
Thanks for this video! Just discovered your channel by stumbling upon a video about Limmy (one of my favorite comedians) and then I go to the channel page and immediately see a video about Tolkien - my favorite author. I would be lying if I said that I ever expected to see two videos about such people's work side by side. But here we are: the language and its interesting features brought such different genres together.
Lets not forget an incredibly common name in the Netherlands and Germany is Diederik/Dietrich. "People-king". From this same element. In short 'Dirk', which also reminds me of another name in English, Derek! And there are many many more Germanic names starting with this same element. I can count 30 of them already on the website Taaldacht under Germaanse namen. Like: Diebert. Dieter. Diemar.
Personally I would put the emphasis for the Proto-Germanic words on the first syllable, as this is done in every Germanic language. So, ÞIUdiskaz. Also, regarding reconstruction. I think the most interesting case is that we recently found a word that was previously only reconstructed. A VERY important one, namely that of Wen (Woden). It was reconstructed as *Wodanaz or *Wodinaz. But at least the genetive form found is ᚹᛟᛞᛁᚾᚨᛉ aka WODNAS, which is almost literally the same as WEDNES in form in MODERN ENGLISH. That is 2000 years of consistency, pretty incredible. This would suggest the nominative form is perhaps *Wodnaz and that the insertion of the i and the a came only after the -az was dropped. Because, how else would you pronounce 'Wodn' other than 'Won'. Which we also do by the way in English Wednesday (pronounced Wensday) and Dutch Woensdag.
I like the background music, it takes the edge off from longer, uninterrupted speech. Especially because your sentences are so information-heavy, with almost no filler. But that's just my no-attention-span noggin's preference. 😂
I'm going to disagree with the 'battle battle' meaning of Gunnhildr, or that ever the names did not quite make sense. In my view it is nonsensical for our ancestors to create names of which the meaning makes no sense. Copying names like we do these days, without knowing their meaning, sure. But creating them? Unlikely. So, in my view the explanation of the name is as follows. Hildr is a walkyrie, which makes her a good candidate to name your daughters after. Thus as a second element, hildr does not mean battle, but walkyrie. Thus Gunnhildr is 'battle walkyrie'. That is my two cents on it.
Thoroughly interesting idea - i have to say both seem equally likely to me just because of the “phatic” quality of names in general. I find your theory very plausible though - your comments are always interesting and welcomed.
@@thoughtfox12 Thanks for the compliment Michael. I really like digging into our history and trying to make sense of it. And I think the same of your videos, very nicely made and good info.
Fascinating, thank you.
Only took me two years to continue this series. Hope you like this one chaps :)
My favorite underground channel!
I absolutely love your videos. Please keep making them!
Such a shame this channel doesnt have more videos... GREAT STUFF!!!
Stay tuned
I love this. Thank you for making content like this. Etymological histories and languages are some of my very favorite parts of Tolkien.
Glad you enjoyed it - spread the word
Thanks for this video!
Just discovered your channel by stumbling upon a video about Limmy (one of my favorite comedians) and then I go to the channel page and immediately see a video about Tolkien - my favorite author. I would be lying if I said that I ever expected to see two videos about such people's work side by side. But here we are: the language and its interesting features brought such different genres together.
Expect eclectic subjects on here hahw
Lets not forget an incredibly common name in the Netherlands and Germany is Diederik/Dietrich. "People-king". From this same element.
In short 'Dirk', which also reminds me of another name in English, Derek!
And there are many many more Germanic names starting with this same element.
I can count 30 of them already on the website Taaldacht under Germaanse namen.
Like:
Diebert. Dieter. Diemar.
Personally I would put the emphasis for the Proto-Germanic words on the first syllable, as this is done in every Germanic language.
So, ÞIUdiskaz.
Also, regarding reconstruction. I think the most interesting case is that we recently found a word that was previously only reconstructed.
A VERY important one, namely that of Wen (Woden). It was reconstructed as *Wodanaz or *Wodinaz. But at least the genetive form found is ᚹᛟᛞᛁᚾᚨᛉ aka WODNAS, which is almost literally the same as WEDNES in form in MODERN ENGLISH. That is 2000 years of consistency, pretty incredible.
This would suggest the nominative form is perhaps *Wodnaz and that the insertion of the i and the a came only after the -az was dropped. Because, how else would you pronounce 'Wodn' other than 'Won'. Which we also do by the way in English Wednesday (pronounced Wensday) and Dutch Woensdag.
I think my focus on Italian for the past few years has biased me unconsciously towards habitual penultimate stress
It should be noted that Theoden as a character was modeled after Theodoric I king of the Visigoths who died fighting Attila the Hun.
Is this video better or worse for the lack of background music when compared to the first one? Does it make any difference?
I like the background music, it takes the edge off from longer, uninterrupted speech. Especially because your sentences are so information-heavy, with almost no filler. But that's just my no-attention-span noggin's preference. 😂
Nice
I'm going to disagree with the 'battle battle' meaning of Gunnhildr, or that ever the names did not quite make sense.
In my view it is nonsensical for our ancestors to create names of which the meaning makes no sense.
Copying names like we do these days, without knowing their meaning, sure. But creating them? Unlikely.
So, in my view the explanation of the name is as follows.
Hildr is a walkyrie, which makes her a good candidate to name your daughters after. Thus as a second element, hildr does not mean battle, but walkyrie.
Thus Gunnhildr is 'battle walkyrie'.
That is my two cents on it.
Thoroughly interesting idea - i have to say both seem equally likely to me just because of the “phatic” quality of names in general. I find your theory very plausible though - your comments are always interesting and welcomed.
@@thoughtfox12 Thanks for the compliment Michael. I really like digging into our history and trying to make sense of it. And I think the same of your videos, very nicely made and good info.