Weser–Rhine Germanic is a proposed group of prehistoric West Germanic dialects, which includes both Central German dialects and Low Franconian, the ancestor of Dutch. The term was introduced by the German linguist Friedrich Maurer as a replacement for the older term Istvaeonic, with which it is essentially synonymous. The term Rhine–Weser Germanic is sometimes preferred.
| Weser–Rhine Germanic | |
|---|---|
| Rhine–Weser Germanic, Istvaeonic | |
| Geographic distribution | Around the Weser and Rhine rivers |
| Linguistic classification | Indo-European
|
| Subdivisions |
|
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-3 | – |
 The distribution of the primary Germanic languages in Europe c. AD 1: North Sea Germanic, or Ingvaeonic Weser–Rhine Germanic, or Istvaeonic Elbe Germanic, or Irminonic | |
Nomenclature
The term Istvaeonic is derived from the Istvæones (or Istvaeones), a culturo-linguistic grouping of Germanic tribes, mentioned by Tacitus in his Germania.Pliny the Elder further specified its meaning by claiming that the Istævones lived near the Rhine. Maurer used Pliny to refer to the dialects spoken by the Franks and Chatti around the northwestern banks of the Rhine, which were presumed to be descendants of the earlier Istvaeones. The Weser is a river in Germany, east of and parallel to the Rhine. The terms Rhine–Weser or Weser–Rhine, therefore, both describe the area between the two rivers as a meaningful cultural-linguistic region.
Theory
Maurer asserted that the cladistic tree model, ubiquitously used in 19th and early 20th century linguistics, was too inaccurate to describe the relation between the modern Germanic languages, especially those belonging to its Western branch. Rather than depicting Old English, Old Dutch, Old Saxon, Old Frisian and Old High German to have simply 'branched off' a single common 'Proto-West Germanic', he proposed that there had been much more distance between the languages and the dialects of the Germanic regions.
Weser–Rhine Germanic seems to have been transitional between Elbe Germanic and North Sea Germanic, with a few innovations of their own.
References
- Wells 1987, p. 39, Fig. 3.
- Sonderegger 1979, p. 71.
- Henriksen & van der Auwera 2013, p. 9.
- Tacitus 2025, chapter 2.
- Pliny the Elder 2025, chapter 28.
- Maurer 1952.
- Hoops, Beck & Geuenich 1989, pp. 113–114.
- Robinson 2003, pp. 225–226.
Sources
- Beck, Heinrich (2003). "Rhein-Weser-Germanen". In Beck, Heinrich; Geuenich, Dieter; Steuer, Heiko (eds.). Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde. Vol. 24. Berlin: De Gruyter. pp. 532–533. doi:10.1515/9783110906141. ISBN 3-11-017163-5. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- Henriksen, Carol; van der Auwera, Johan (2013) [First published 1994]. "1. The Germanic Languages". In van der Auwera, Johan; König, Ekkehard (eds.). The Germanic Languages. London, New York: Routledge. pp. 1–18. ISBN 978-0-415-05768-4.
- Hoops, Johannes; Beck, Heinrich; Geuenich, Dieter (1989). Steuer, Heiko (ed.). Reallexikon der germanischen Altertumskunde. Vol. 7. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN 9783110114454.
- James, Edward (1988). The Franks. The Peoples of Europe. Oxford, UK; Cambridge, Massachusetts: Basil Blackwell. ISBN 0-631-17936-4.
- Maurer, Friedrich (1952) [First edition 1942]. Nordgermanen und Alemannen: Studien zur germanische und frühdeutschen Sprachgeschichte, Stammes- und Volkskunde. Bibliotheca Germanica, 3 (3rd, revised, extended ed.). Bern, Munich: Francke.
- Pliny the Elder (2025) [77–79 CE]. "Chapter 28". In Cerrato, Lisa (ed.). The Natural History. Translated by Riley, Henry Thomas; Bostock, John. Medford: Perseus Digital Library. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
- Robinson, Orrin W. (2003). Old English and its Closest Relatives: A Survey of the Earliest Germanic Languages. Routledge. ISBN 1134849001.
- Sonderegger, Stefan (1979). Grundzüge deutscher Sprachgeschichte. Vol. I. Berlin, New York: Walter de Gruyter. ISBN 3-11-003570-7.
- Tacitus, Cornelius (2025) [c. 98 CE]. "Chapter 2". In Cerrato, Lisa (ed.). Complete Works of Tacitus. Translated by Church, Alfred John; Brodribb, William Jackson. Medford: Perseus Digital Library. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
- Wells, C. J. (1987). German: A Linguistic History to 1945. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-815809-2. LCCN 84016611. OCLC 11091161. OL 10138252M.
Further reading
- Tacitus, Cornelius (2020) [c. 98 CE]. (in Latin) – via Wikisource.
See also
- North Sea Germanic
- Elbe Germanic
Weser Rhine Germanic is a proposed group of prehistoric West Germanic dialects which includes both Central German dialects and Low Franconian the ancestor of Dutch The term was introduced by the German linguist Friedrich Maurer as a replacement for the older term Istvaeonic with which it is essentially synonymous The term Rhine Weser Germanic is sometimes preferred Weser Rhine GermanicRhine Weser Germanic IstvaeonicGeographic distributionAround the Weser and Rhine riversLinguistic classificationIndo EuropeanGermanicWest GermanicWeser Rhine GermanicSubdivisionsCentral German Low FranconianLanguage codesISO 639 3 The distribution of the primary Germanic languages in Europe c AD 1 North Germanic North Sea Germanic or Ingvaeonic Weser Rhine Germanic or Istvaeonic Elbe Germanic or Irminonic East Germanic NomenclatureThe term Istvaeonic is derived from the Istvaeones or Istvaeones a culturo linguistic grouping of Germanic tribes mentioned by Tacitus in his Germania Pliny the Elder further specified its meaning by claiming that the Istaevones lived near the Rhine Maurer used Pliny to refer to the dialects spoken by the Franks and Chatti around the northwestern banks of the Rhine which were presumed to be descendants of the earlier Istvaeones The Weser is a river in Germany east of and parallel to the Rhine The terms Rhine Weser or Weser Rhine therefore both describe the area between the two rivers as a meaningful cultural linguistic region TheoryMaurer s classification of Germanic dialects Maurer asserted that the cladistic tree model ubiquitously used in 19th and early 20th century linguistics was too inaccurate to describe the relation between the modern Germanic languages especially those belonging to its Western branch Rather than depicting Old English Old Dutch Old Saxon Old Frisian and Old High German to have simply branched off a single common Proto West Germanic he proposed that there had been much more distance between the languages and the dialects of the Germanic regions Weser Rhine Germanic seems to have been transitional between Elbe Germanic and North Sea Germanic with a few innovations of their own ReferencesWells 1987 p 39 Fig 3 Sonderegger 1979 p 71 Henriksen amp van der Auwera 2013 p 9 Tacitus 2025 chapter 2 Pliny the Elder 2025 chapter 28 Maurer 1952 Hoops Beck amp Geuenich 1989 pp 113 114 Robinson 2003 pp 225 226 SourcesBeck Heinrich 2003 Rhein Weser Germanen In Beck Heinrich Geuenich Dieter Steuer Heiko eds Reallexikon der Germanischen Altertumskunde Vol 24 Berlin De Gruyter pp 532 533 doi 10 1515 9783110906141 ISBN 3 11 017163 5 Retrieved 26 March 2024 Henriksen Carol van der Auwera Johan 2013 First published 1994 1 The Germanic Languages In van der Auwera Johan Konig Ekkehard eds The Germanic Languages London New York Routledge pp 1 18 ISBN 978 0 415 05768 4 Hoops Johannes Beck Heinrich Geuenich Dieter 1989 Steuer Heiko ed Reallexikon der germanischen Altertumskunde Vol 7 Walter de Gruyter ISBN 9783110114454 James Edward 1988 The Franks The Peoples of Europe Oxford UK Cambridge Massachusetts Basil Blackwell ISBN 0 631 17936 4 Maurer Friedrich 1952 First edition 1942 Nordgermanen und Alemannen Studien zur germanische und fruhdeutschen Sprachgeschichte Stammes und Volkskunde Bibliotheca Germanica 3 3rd revised extended ed Bern Munich Francke Pliny the Elder 2025 77 79 CE Chapter 28 In Cerrato Lisa ed The Natural History Translated by Riley Henry Thomas Bostock John Medford Perseus Digital Library Retrieved 3 January 2025 Robinson Orrin W 2003 Old English and its Closest Relatives A Survey of the Earliest Germanic Languages Routledge ISBN 1134849001 Sonderegger Stefan 1979 Grundzuge deutscher Sprachgeschichte Vol I Berlin New York Walter de Gruyter ISBN 3 11 003570 7 Tacitus Cornelius 2025 c 98 CE Chapter 2 In Cerrato Lisa ed Complete Works of Tacitus Translated by Church Alfred John Brodribb William Jackson Medford Perseus Digital Library Retrieved 3 January 2025 Wells C J 1987 German A Linguistic History to 1945 Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 815809 2 LCCN 84016611 OCLC 11091161 OL 10138252M Further readingTacitus Cornelius 2020 c 98 CE De origine et situ Germanorum in Latin via Wikisource See alsoNorth Sea Germanic Elbe Germanic
