PGmc. (Figure presented): A response to Barrack

Abstract

Barrack (1991) argues against the reconstruction of PGmc. syllable structure proposed in Murray and Vennemann (1983), namely, (Figure presented). According to Murray and Venne-mann, this reconstruction is compatible with characteristics of early Germanic verse as well as Gothic word divisions and provides a basis for a coherent interpretation of major phonological changes in early Germanic; namely Sievers's Law, West Germanic gemination, North Germanic resyllabica-tion, and glide strengthening in Gothic. Focusing on these same points, Barrack attempts to reinterpret them as providing evidence for (Figure presented). In this response, I demonstrate that Barrack fails on all counts. Most importantly, he fails to provide a coherent, well-motivated interpretation of the pertinent phonological changes on the basis of his assumed (Figure presented). © 1993, Society for Germanic Linguistics. All rights reserved.