The older runic inscriptions (ca. AD 150 - 450) represent the earliest attestation of any Germanic language. The close relationship of these inscriptions to the archaic Mediterranean writing traditions is demonstrated through the linguistic and orthographic analysis presented here. The extraordinary importance of these inscriptions for a proper understanding of the prehistory and early history of the present-day Germanic languages, including English, becomes abundantly clear once the accu-mulation of unfounded claims of older mythological and cultic studies is cleared away.

This work is a practical guidebook for students of German. This text provides a means for students to improve their knowledge and command of grammatically correct German as it is spoken and written, as well as introducing them to methods and tools of linguistic analysis in the areas of phonology and morphology. ""Elements of German"" fills a gap in advanced undergraduate and graduate levels of German language study by presenting more advanced concepts of the language in a light intended for practical use rather than theoretical discourse. Unlike books that treat phonology in a cursory way, this text delves into the problems of word formation and the intricacies of inflection and derivation. It also emphasizes German's structural regularities and highlights how the seemingly endless forms of German grammar combine in a logical fashion to form a coherent whole. Exercises are included throughout to help the student better absorb the rules for real-world language use. From basic sounds through phrase formation and stress patterns, to the more esoteric rules behind word inflection and declination, ""Elements of German"" gives students an in-depth look at the German language from the ground up. Its detailed approach makes this book an excellent complement to the work of less specific grammar textbooks and reviews.