Possible Solutions for Long-standing Problems Involving Old English Nominal Forms

Abstract

Solutions are presented, most involving Celtic infl uences in West Germanic (WG) during the ancient period, for some long-standing problems involving nominal forms. The M N-SG forms of /n/-stems in WG may be seen as due to loss of /-n/ (in analogical /-ͻͻn/) having happened after shortening. Apparent replacement of the F G-SG by the D-SG in WG may be seen as due to the D-SG of the F personal pronoun being employed, in “external possession”, as a kind of indirect refl exive, after /siin-/ became limited (for reasons connected with Celtic infl uence) to M SG meaning. This case has analogues in Romance. Final /-s/ in the A-PL of M /a/-stems may be seen as due to Celtic infl uence causing /-nz/ to be replaced by /-ns/.