terisk * prefixed to a word denotes a theoretical form, as MHG.
{w[a:]rmen} from {*warmjan}, to warm.

In representing prehistoric forms the following signs are used:--
{[th]} (= {th} in Engl. {thin}), {[dh]} (= {th} in Engl. {then}), {[bh]}
(= a bilabial spirant, which may be pronounced like the {v} in Engl.
{vine}), {[zh]} (= {g} often heard in German {sagen}), {[ch]} (= NHG. {ch} and
the {ch} in Scotch {loch}), {[ng]} (= {n} in Engl. {sunk}).

GRAMMAR

INTRODUCTION

Sec. 1.

MIDDLE HIGH GERMAN

Middle High German (MHG.) embraces the High German language from about
the year 1100 to 1500. It is divided into three great dialect-groups:
Upper German, Franconian, and East Middle German.

1. Upper German is divided into: (_a_) Alemanic, embracing High Alemanic
(Switzerland), and Low Alemanic (South Baden, Swabia, and Alsace).
(_b_) Bavarian, extending over Bavaria and those parts of Austria where
German is spoken.

2. Franconian (West Middle German), which is subdivided into Upper
Franconian and Middle Franconian. Upper Franconian consists of East
Franconian (the old duchy of Francia Orientalis) and Rhenish Franconian
(the old province of Francia Rhinensis), Middle Franconian extending
over the district along the banks of the Moselle and of the Rhine from
Coblence to D[u:]sseldorf.

3. East Middle German, extending over: Thuringia, Upper Saxony, and
Silesia.

Since it is impossible to deal with all these dialects in an elementary
book like the present, we shall confine ourselves almost exclusively to
Upper German, and shall only deal with that period of Middle High German
which extends from about 1200 to 1300.

PHONOLOGY

CHAPTER I

THE VOWELS

Sec. 2.

MHG. had the following simple vowels and diphthongs:--

Short vowels a, [a:], [e:], e, i, o, u, [o:], [u:].
Long " [a], [ae], [e], [i], [o], [u], [oe], iu.
Diphthongs ei, ie, ou, uo, [o:]u (eu), [u:]e.

NOTE.--{[e:]} represents primitive Germanic {e} (= Gr. epsilon, Lat.
{e}, as in Gr. +deka+, Lat. {decem}, MHG. {z[e:]hen}, _ten_) and is
generally written {[e:]} in Old and Middle High German grammars, in
order to distinguish it from the OHG. umlaut-{e} (Sec. 10). The former
was an open sound like the {e} in English {bed}, whereas the latter
was a close sound like the {['e]} in French {['e]t['e]}. {[a:]} was a very
open sound nearly like the {a} in English {hat}, and arose in MHG. from