Indogermanistik und Germanistik

Abstract

Abstract The term „Sprachgeist“ is essential for Bopp’s conception of language. So far this concept has been almost completely neglected in linguistic research. However, its use shows that Bopp is not only interested in the formal representation of languages, but that he considers language obviously from the perspective of the speaker of the language in his time, and, furthermore, that he tries actually to understand his own language and foreign and extinct languages as well. Firstly, the often-discussed concepts “Lautgesetz” and “Analogy” are compared with the concept “Sprachgeist”. Afterwards the use of these concepts is pursued within in the Germanic languages. The focus is on the verb ‘to be’ and the weak preterite.