Bibliotheca Arnamagnæana - 01.06.1999, Page 316
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Part Two
A. The Germanic “Satzpartikelgesetz” and “Satzspitzengesetz” and the
position of the finite verb (Kuhn 1933)
Definitions: All unstressed or lightly stressed words that do not belong
to any part of the sentence, but are syntactically independent members
of the sentence, are called sentence particles (“satzpartikeln”). A great
range of words may serve as sentence particles in Old Germanic, not
only pronouns and particles proper, vocatives and finite verbs, as in
Indo-European, but also adverbs and conjunctions as well as some in-
finite verb forms and predicative nouns (Kuhn 1933: 4-5 = 1969:
20-21).
Rule 1: Sentence particles must be in the first unstressed position of the
sentence, in a proclitic position either to its first or second stressed
word.
Exceptions to the general rule may occur after some break or loosen-
ing of the sentence, where a part of the sentence has been moved for-
ward.5
Rule 2: If a sentence begins with an unstressed word, that word must be
a sentence particle.6
Definitions: All subordinate clauses as well as main clauses that are
connected to other sentences by means of conjunctions or other connec-
tives (“bindeworter”), such as relative pronouns, adverbs, particles or
interrogatory words, are called bound clauses (“gebundene satze”). In-
5 “Die satzpartikeln stehen in der ersten senkung des satzes, in der proklise entweder zu
seinem ersten oder zweiten betonten worte” (Kuhn 1933: 8 = 1969: 23).
“Es kommt in fast allen teilen der untersuchten dichtung vor, dal3 satzpartikeln in einer
spateren senkung stehen, wenn sie die erste senkung nach einer unterbrechung oder locke-
rung des satzzusammenhanges ist” (Kuhn 1933: 9 = 1969: 24).
Other minor deviations from the rule are defined by Kuhn (1933: 26-27 = 1969:
37-38), and 17 examples from the “domestic” poems, said to belong to clearly defined
categories of exception, are discussed. Corresponding cases in the “foreign” group are not
registered (Kuhn 1933: 37 = 1969: 46), so the groups cannot be compared with respect to
these types. I am not able to judge the legitimacy of this somewhat suspicious omission.
6 “Im satzauftakt miissen satzpartikeln stehen” (Kuhn 1933: 43 = 1969: 51).