Ablaut variation in the proto-Germanic noun : the long arm of the strong verbs

One of the hallmarks of the Germanic languages is the functional and systemic dominance of ablaut in the system of the strong verbs. However, it is apparent that ablaut does not occupy such a position of supremacy in other parts of Proto-Germanic morphology, which is remarkable, given the degree of morphological restructuring that is visible in the Germanic strong verbs. This contribution examines the formal properties and the functional role of ablaut in the morphology of the Proto-Germanic noun. In inflectional morphology the role ablaut plays reflects the situation of the parent language. However, it has gone virtually unnoticed that the amount of ablaut grades that cannot be explained from the viewpoint of Indo-European word formation is considerable. This paper draws attention to the fact that the vast majority of these secondary ablaut grades are found in derivatives from strong verbs, whereas primary nouns or nouns derived from weak verbs and other nominals usually show regular ablaut grades. It is shown that there is a clear correlation between the occurrence of irregular ablaut grades and the ablaut grades available in the paradigms of the strong verbs used as derivational bases. The conclusion that will be drawn is that one of the factors contributing to the proliferation of different ablaut grades are the various ways in which the paradigmatic ablaut grades of strong verbs can be reanalysed categorially as bases for derivations, for which the term systemic analogy is proposed. In this way, the dominance of ablaut in the system of the strong verbs extends into the nominal morphology of Proto-Germanic.