Bibliotheca Arnamagnæana - 01.06.1999, Blaðsíða 324
304
Part Two
certain number of independent clause verbs are in sentence particle
position. The “domestic ” fornyr dislag poems belong to a slightly more
advanced layer, as only a minor part of independent clause verbs are in
the late position that is characteristic of bound clause verbs. Finally, in
drottkvætt all independent clause verbs are in sentence particle position,
and the distinction between the two types of clause is strictly carried
through.14 In a still later development, represented by Old Norse prose,
the distinction is lost, and the finite verb in both categories of clauses was
confined to the second position of the sentence.
As far as the spoken language is concemed, this distinction thus exist-
ed only for a comparatively short period of time, but in parts of Old
Norse poetry it continued for a period of at least 400 years (Kuhn 1933:
65-68, 104-107 =1969: 69-70, 99-100).
Three groups of poetry do not fit into the chronological model. On ac-
count of numerous deviations from the sentence particle rules German
alliterative poetry seems on the one hånd to belong to a more advanced
linguistic State, but on the other hånd it has “not yet” introduced the sen-
tence particle position of the independent clause verb.15
Traces of this German State of the language are also to be found in the
“foreign” poems, as we have seen, as well as in the “Eddie praise
poems” (deviations from rule 1 and 4; cf. Kuhn 1933: 106 = 1969: 100).
The Ijådahåttr poetry, finally, is kept outside all considerations of
linguistic chronology, as the linguistic structure is supposed to have
been destroyed on stylistic grounds,16 the most important being a tend-
ency to front the most heavily stressed part of the sentence, a tendency
that is detrimental to the sentence particle rule (Kuhn 1933: 40 = 1969:
49).
14 “Die drottkvættdichtung steht streng auf dieser stufe; in ihren selbstandigen satzen
stehen alle verben in satzpartikelstellung, obwol mehr als zwei drittel eine hebung tragen”
(Kuhn 1933: 67 = 1969: 70). - I confess that I do not understand this sentence. Can the
verbs carry a lift if they are in sentence particle position? Nevertheless, I think that the
distinction between the two types of sentence is an important discovery of great con-
sequence for the interpretation of skaldic verse, irrespective of the problems discussed in
this context.
15 “Die deutsche stabreimdichtung steht auf einer ziemlich jungen stufe; das satzpartikel-
gesetz ist oft verletzt [...] dagegen hat sich die satzpartikelstellung des verbs im selbstan-
digen satze noch nicht durchgesezt” (Kuhn 1933: 106 = 1969: 100).
16 “In der liéSahåttr-dichtung ist der alte zustand von anfang an aus stilistischen grunden
zerstort” (Kuhn 1933: 106= 1969: 100).