ally the
phonology and syntax, can be studied in greater detail. They should also
procure a copy of the _Mittelhochdeutsches Taschenw[o:]rterbuch_ by
Matthias Lexer, tenth edition, Leipzig, 1910, and also have access to
the two standard Middle High German dictionaries-- _Mittelhochdeutsches
W[o:]rterbuch mit Benutzung des Nachlasses von Georg Friedrich Benecke_,
ausgearbeitet von Wilhelm M[u:]ller und Friedrich Zarncke, drei B[a:]nde,
Leipzig, 1854-61, and _Mittelhochdeutsches W[o:]rterbuch_, von Matthias
Lexer, zugleich als Supplement und alphabetischer Index zum
_Mittelhochdeutschen W[o:]rterbuch_ von Benecke-M[u:]ller-Zarncke,
drei B[a:]nde, Leipzig, 1872-78. An excellent bibliography of the best
editions of the Middle High German texts-- classified according to the
dialects in which they were written-- will be found on pp. 20-35 of
Michels' _Elementarbuch_.

May the new edition of the Primer continue to further the study of the
subject in the future to the same extent as it has done in the past!

JOSEPH WRIGHT.

OXFORD,
_October, 1916._

CONTENTS

Pages

INTRODUCTION ... 1

The classification of the MHG. dialects (Sec. 1).

CHAPTER I

The Vowels ... 2-22

The MHG. alphabet (Sec. 2). Pronunciation of the MHG. vowels (Sec. 3).
Phonetic survey of the MHG. vowel-system (Sec. 4). The OHG.
equivalents of the MHG. vowels (Sec. 5). The characteristic
differences between OHG. and MHG. (Sec. 6). The weakening of
unaccented vowels (Secs. 7-8). The loss of unaccented vowels (Sec. 9).
Umlaut (Sec. 10). The MHG. equivalents of the OHG. vowels (Sec. 11).
Ablaut (Sec. 12). Other vowel changes (Secs. 13-18).

CHAPTER II

The Consonants ... 22-35

Pronunciation of the consonants (Secs. 19-20). Phonetic survey of the
MHG. consonants (Sec. 21). Characteristic differences between High
German and the other West Germanic languages (Sec. 22). The High
German sound-shifting (Secs. 23-7). The interchange between {pf, b}
and {f}; {k, g} and {h}; {[zz], [z]} and {ss, s} (Sec. 28). The loss
of the guttural nasal {[ng]} (Sec. 29). Verner's Law (Sec. 30). The doubling
of consonants (Sec. 31). The simplification of double consonants
(Sec. 32). The interchange between the lenes and the fortes (Sec. 33).
Interchange between medial {h} and final {ch} (Sec. 34). Initial and
medial {j} (Sec. 35). Medial and final {w} (Sec. 36). The loss of
intervocalic {b, d, g}