Blair Collection > Celtic studies

12 Introduction.
then, of three categories of phonetic forms, we have, iu reahty,
four : Roots, Stems, being of a two-fold kind, Simple word-forms
or derivatives, and Words clothed with inllexional elements.
Word-formation from roots consists, then, of two distinct pro-
cesses: 1, the formation of stems from roots, or, Stem-formation;
and 2, the formation of words from stems, or Derivation in its
simplest form. Both processes are effected by phonetic means to
be hereafter described, but here it may be useful to mention that
they cannot always be absolutely distinguished, — the same pho-
netic change or addition being at one time stem-formation, and at
another true derivation. There is, however, an essential diffe-
rence between stems and derivatives, the basis of the true stem
is the root, while the derivative always proceeds from the stem.
The two processes are, therefore, logically, even when not pho-
netically, distinct.
The Phonetic methods of primary or Pui'e Stem-formation
may now be described in detail ; they are : —
I. Modification of root-voicel.
1 . Ablaut proper, which is a very frequent change in the Greek ;
it is rather an accompaniment than a means of stem-forma-
tion. It does not often occur in the Latin, but in the Teu-
tonic languages it is very common, and was apparently
the primitive means of stem-formation. Examples : root
N.H.G. brack, stems brich, bruch; root /3aX, stems j3oX,
/SeX, verb e-/3aX-ov, nouns )3oX-7j, {M\-oq (tego, toga).
2. Obscuration of the root-vowels a and i to g, and of u to o.
The Greek and Latin have no fraction of m, i to o, e, the
change is always the inverse. As an example of the
breaking of a to e may be given: root lag, stems Xf-y,
leg, verbs \iyio, lego; and of i to e, the Teutonic root LIB,
to remain ( = Xt7r), Goth, liban, to live = O.H.G. leben.
3. Strengthening of the root-vowel, wliich may take place :
a. By lengthening the short vowel, as : root XaO, stems \r)d,
\u9, verbs Xi}6(t), Dor. XaOa), nouns \{]9r]. Dor. Xada.
b Gunation-' and Diphthongation — Examples of guna-
tion: root t, stem ei, verb a/ii; root (^vy, stem (pevy,
"C^erb ^tvyii)', in Gothic, root brig, stem bavg; root vit,
stem vait. Examples of Diphthongation : root <pav,
stem (ftaiv, verb <f)aivbj ; root rav, weakened root form
rev, stem thv, verb thvm; root Sa, stem Sat, verb
^aito. The latter and similar roots ending in a
vowel show the true relation of the i to the root-
'■' The term gunation is applied to the process by wliich e (ai) is produced by
prefixing a to i or i, or 3 (au) by prefixing a to m or tt. Diphthongation and gu-
nation are well expressed by the German terms nachlaut and variant.