Old Curonian | |
---|---|
Native to | Latvia, Lithuania, Germany (historically) |
Extinct | 16th century [1] |
Indo-European
| |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 |
xcu |
xcu | |
Glottolog | None |
The Curonian language ( German: Kurisch; Latvian: kuršu valoda; Lithuanian: kuršių kalba), or Old Curonian, was a Baltic language spoken by the Curonians, a Baltic tribe who inhabited Courland (now western Latvia [2]: 291–293 [1] and northwestern Lithuania [3]).
Curonian was an Indo-European language of the Baltic branch, as proven by Jānis Endzelīns. [4]
Curonian's relation to other Baltic languages is unclear: [1]
Old Curonian disappeared in the course of the 16th century. [1]
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Baltic states saw a revival of scientific and cultural interest in extinct Baltic languages and tribes, including Yotvingian, Curonian, and Old Prussian.[ citation needed]
Samogitian words such as kuisis (mosquito), pylė (duck), blezdinga (swallow), cyrulis (skylark), zuikis (rabbit), kūlis (stone), purvs (marsh), and pūrai (winter wheat) are considered to be of Curonian origin. [9]
Further words show similarities with Old Prussian: *kela and Old Prussian: kelan compared to Lithuanian: rãtas, Latvian: rats, all meaning wheel. [2]: 296–297
Curonian left substrata in western dialects of the Latvian and Lithuanian, namely the Samogitian dialect. No written documents in this language are known, but some ancient Lithuanian texts from western regions show some Curonian influence. According to Lithuanian linguist Zigmas Zinkevičius, long and intense Curonian–Lithuanian bilingualism existed.
There are only few onomastics in the region considered to have been inhabited by the Curonians. [2]: 297
There are attested names of Curonian noblemen such as: Lammekinus , Veltūnas, Reiginas, Tvertikis, Saveidis.
Additionally, the Pater Noster reported by Simon Grunau is speculated to be in Curonian. [2]: 297 [10]
Lord's Prayer after Simon Grunau
Nossen thewes, cur tu es delbes
sweytz gischer tho wes wardes
penag munis tholbe mystlastilbi
tolpes prahes girkade delbeszisne tade symmes semmes worsunii
dodi mommys an nosse igdemas mayse
unde gaytkas pames mumys nusze noszeginu cademes pametam musen prettane kans
newede munis lawnā padomā swalbadi munis nowusse loyne Jhesus amen.
Old Curonian | |
---|---|
Native to | Latvia, Lithuania, Germany (historically) |
Extinct | 16th century [1] |
Indo-European
| |
Language codes | |
ISO 639-3 |
xcu |
xcu | |
Glottolog | None |
The Curonian language ( German: Kurisch; Latvian: kuršu valoda; Lithuanian: kuršių kalba), or Old Curonian, was a Baltic language spoken by the Curonians, a Baltic tribe who inhabited Courland (now western Latvia [2]: 291–293 [1] and northwestern Lithuania [3]).
Curonian was an Indo-European language of the Baltic branch, as proven by Jānis Endzelīns. [4]
Curonian's relation to other Baltic languages is unclear: [1]
Old Curonian disappeared in the course of the 16th century. [1]
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Baltic states saw a revival of scientific and cultural interest in extinct Baltic languages and tribes, including Yotvingian, Curonian, and Old Prussian.[ citation needed]
Samogitian words such as kuisis (mosquito), pylė (duck), blezdinga (swallow), cyrulis (skylark), zuikis (rabbit), kūlis (stone), purvs (marsh), and pūrai (winter wheat) are considered to be of Curonian origin. [9]
Further words show similarities with Old Prussian: *kela and Old Prussian: kelan compared to Lithuanian: rãtas, Latvian: rats, all meaning wheel. [2]: 296–297
Curonian left substrata in western dialects of the Latvian and Lithuanian, namely the Samogitian dialect. No written documents in this language are known, but some ancient Lithuanian texts from western regions show some Curonian influence. According to Lithuanian linguist Zigmas Zinkevičius, long and intense Curonian–Lithuanian bilingualism existed.
There are only few onomastics in the region considered to have been inhabited by the Curonians. [2]: 297
There are attested names of Curonian noblemen such as: Lammekinus , Veltūnas, Reiginas, Tvertikis, Saveidis.
Additionally, the Pater Noster reported by Simon Grunau is speculated to be in Curonian. [2]: 297 [10]
Lord's Prayer after Simon Grunau
Nossen thewes, cur tu es delbes
sweytz gischer tho wes wardes
penag munis tholbe mystlastilbi
tolpes prahes girkade delbeszisne tade symmes semmes worsunii
dodi mommys an nosse igdemas mayse
unde gaytkas pames mumys nusze noszeginu cademes pametam musen prettane kans
newede munis lawnā padomā swalbadi munis nowusse loyne Jhesus amen.