CONCLUSION.

The preceding pages show that the conditions in the chapter of the Gender of Substantives are not so irregular in the bible edition of 1545, as one might infer from the treatises on the subject. On a whole a striking uniformity with the New High German written language exists. And when one compares the language of the edition of 1545 with the language of the Middle High German Literature, a stage of language growth, even in the chapter of the gender of substantives, is found sufficiently uniform to be the important factor in determining the gender of the New High German written language. And this uniformity exists notwithstanding the various types of literature found in the bible, and notwithstanding the fact that certain chapters and even entire books of the bible did not appeal to Luther as equally important with the other books, and consequently did not receive such careful linguistic revision.

It is further evident that the general uniformity which exists in the gender of substantives was brought about by established linguistic principles: the predominate plural usage, especially in the weak masculine stems; similarity in form, in meaning, and in function; the influence of the abstract stems, as in the case of the ti- abstract stems, and in the neuter abstract stems which become masculine; the influence of Low German, particularly in the case of the masculine stems which become feminine; the influence of prefixes, as in the case of the feminines which become neuter, due to the influence of the numerous neuter jo- stems with the prefix ge-; the influence at times of the articles and pronouns ; the usage of stems in the meaning of other stems, and especially the influence of particular associations which occur in the same sentence.

1

Furthermore, the existing uniformity of gender within such a work as the bible translation tends to prove a careful correction either by Luther himself or by others working under his immediate direction.

'Many of the irregularities are caused by associations.

INDEX.1

Acker, p. 470.

Begängnis, p. 482.

Ähre, p. 478; Boj. p. 150; Mich. pp. Begehr, p. 480; Fro.

52, 54.

Anfurt, p. 453; Fr.; Fro.

Angel, p. 458; Fr.; Fro.; Boj. p. 123;

Mich. p. 56.

Angesicht, p. 480.

Angst, p. 454; Fr.; Mich. p. 27.

Antwort, p. 476; Fr.; Fro.

Anzahl, p. 465; Fro.

Ärgernis, p. 482; Fr.; Fro.

Armut, p. 476; Fr.; Fro.

Begierde, p. 481; Fr.; Fro.
Begräbnis, p. 482; Fr.; Fro.; Boj.
p. 164.

Behältnis, p. 482; Fro.; Boj. p. 164.
Bekenntnis, p. 482; Fr.; Fro.
Bekümmernis, p. 483.

Bericht, p. 465; Fr.

Betrübnis, p. 483; Fr.; Fro.

Beutel, p. 471.

Bildnis, p. 483; Boj. p. 164.

Art, p. 452; Boj. p. 103; Mich. p. 25. Blindsleice, p. 446; Fro.

Bau, p. 467; Boj. p. 149; Mich. p. 42. | Diebstahl, p. 461.

Beere, p. 478; Boj. p. 162; Mich. | Dienst, p. 467; Mich. p. 27. p. 54.

Distel, p. 458; Boj. p. 124; Mich. p. 36.

1 The following abbreviations are used: Fr. Franke; Fro. Frommann; Boj. Bojunga; Mich. Michels, and refer to the books mentioned in the introduction. A word of explanation as to the system of references used may be in place. I have employed the usual German abbreviations of the biblical books. Further, I deem it necessary to cite only one example, unless particular associations occur. As in the expression, “aufruhr is in Kf. 10 x Luk. 23, 19," the x refers to the number of times the stem is f. in K, and Luk. 23, 19 is only a single reference. When the stem is regular I simply state the fact and do not cite the x. Again, it will be noticed that at times a stem is cited out of place, when the NHG. usage is strictly followed, but this is merely to avoid unnecessary repetition. In citing MHG. I give generally only one form of the stem.

Egel, p. 464; Fro.; Boj. p. 176; Mich. Gewissen, p. 480; Boj. pp. 78, 178.

Erkenntnis, p. 483; Fr.; Fro.; Boj. Gleichnis, p. 484; Fr.; Fro.

Fessel, p. 459; Fro.; Boj. p. 124; Hausrat, p. 472; Fr.; Fro.

Gefängnis, p. 484; Fr.; Fro.; Boj. Jagd, p. 478; Boj. p. 151.

|

List, p. 453; Fro.; Boj. p. 103.; Rebe, p. 449; Fr.; Fro.; Boj. pp. 80,

Made, p. 446; Boj. p. 85; Mich. p. 51. Schauer,'p. 456; Fro.

Mass, p. 478; Fr.; Fro.; Boj. p. 178. Schilf, p. 473; Fr.; Fro.

Narde, p.445; Fro.; Boj. p. 83; Mich. Schoss, p. 468; Fr.; Fro.

Niere, p. 446; Boj. p. 85; Mich. p. 51. Schrecknis, p. 484; Fro.

Speichel, p. 464; Boj. p. 176; Mich. | Volk, p. 474.

Tau, p. 468; Boj. p. 161; Mich. p. 34. Wert, p. 469; Boj. p. 150; Mich.

Trank, p. 469; Boj. p. 149; Mich. Witze, p. 460; Fr.

Traube, p. 445; Fr.; Fro.; Boj. pp. 80, Wolke, p. 478; Fr.; Fro.; Boj. p.

Thräne, p. 451; Boj. p. 134; Mich. Wohlgefallen, p. 469; Fr.; Fro. p. 55.

Tücke, p. 451; Fr.; Fro.; Boj. p. 134. Zettel, p. 464; Boj. p. 176; Mich.