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Glite Dictionary
Gothic language

Gothic language

9.9
An old East Germanic language once spoken by the Goths and known from a fourth-century Bible translation
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : lengua gótica
  • The translation of the Bible by Bishop Ulfilas is one of the few surviving texts in the Gothic language.

Examples

  • The term 'Gothic language' refers to the extinct East Germanic tongue spoken by the ancient Goths.

  • Linguists study the Gothic language to gain insights into the early Germanic languages.

  • See, the word "America, " Barry, means "heavenly kingdom" in the Gothic language.

    Talk Radio (1988)

Synonyms

Gothic
vsGothic language
  • Specialized
1 9.9

An old language once spoken by the Goths

is the longer descriptive phrase used in formal or detailed contexts

Surface Forms

Gothic language singular
Gothic languages plural

Morphology

Gothic + language

The meaning 'an extinct East Germanic tongue spoken by the Goths' is directly derivable from combining 'Gothic' (relating to the Goths or their language/culture) with 'language' (a named spoken or written system). This adjective+noun composition is a standard, cross-linguistic way to name a language (e.g., French language, Arabic language), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily understand it.

Etymology

Gothic language takes its name from the Goths, the old people who once spoke this tongue. A man called Ulfilas made a Bible translation into Gothic in the 300s, and because that book still exists the language is known today mainly from his work and is no longer spoken.