nasal abbreviations + þatei / ei before indirect speech

[llama_nom]

> Existe-t-il une différence
suffisante entre les signes d'abréviation pour distinguer un *m* 
d'un *n* ?

Apparently not:

"The CODEX ARGENTEUS is written in an alphabet devised by Wulfila, 
though it seems quite likely that some changes have been made in the 
intervening century and a half. The Gothic alphabet has two styles, 
one (I will call it style I) using a sigma-like -sign and a nasal 
suspension for n only, and the other (I will call it style II) uses 
the Latin and suspension marks for both n and m (Fairbanks and 
Magoun). The CA is written in Style II, and it seems quite likely 
that this is a later development, probably in Ostrogothic Italy."
[ http://www.florin.ms/aleph2.html ].

Facsimile:

http://www.ub.uu.se/arv/codex/faksimiledition/jpg_files/284mc2f.html
http://www.ub.uu.se/arv/codex/faksimiledition/jpg_files/284mc2u.html

The Wulfila Project [ http://www.wulfila.be/Corpus/Search.html ], 
based on Streitberg's edition has, as we'd expect:

qiþandans þatei aiw swa ni gasehvun.
LEGONTAS hOTI hOUTWS OUDEPOTE EIDOMEN

Though other Greek versions reflect the Gothic word order more 
precisely [ http://www.greeknewtestament.com/B41C002.htm#V12 ].

LEGONTAS hOTI OUDEPOTE hOUTWS EIDOMEN


On the use of 'ei' and 'þatei' before direct speech, "in 
äusserlischer Nachahmung des greichischen Vorbilds" (in superficial 
imitation of the Greek original), see Streitberg 'Gotische Syntax' 
355, note 2.  He dismisses the idea that the construction can be 
shown to be native to Gothic by recourse to the use of 'at' before 
direct speech in Old Norse legal texts.

Incidentally, on the choice of tense in indirect speech, see also 
Streitberg 356.  He just comments that the Gothic translation mostly 
imitates the Greek in this respect too.  There are supposedly a few 
instances of apparent differences, but he points out that these are 
probably based on some variant Greek text.

"Im allgemeinenen ist die Personalverschiebung in der indirekten 
Rede schon der Vorlage eigen. [...]  In einem Fallen jedoch, glaubt 
man, habe sie der Übersetzer im Gegensatz zur Vorlage eingeführt: 
jus qiþiþ þatei wajamerjau . hUMEIS LEGETE hOTI BLASFHMEIS (J 
10,36).  Aber auch Chrysostomos und die altlat. Hss. haben BLASFHMW."

LN





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