09-14-2012, 08:25 PM
In reference to my last post:
Generally, I think it's misleading to describe Goths as 'Germans.' Gothic is a Germanic language, but so are English, Danish, etc. I suppose it makes sense to describe the Suebi, Franks, and Marcomanni as 'Germans' but that poses problems with the Saxons.
One could make an argument that Lagarimanus was 'German' because because his name probably reflects the west Germanic senses [in lair, laager, etc.] instead of the east Germanic senses [in ligrs] of the same root. But that's visible precisely because of the contrast between the western and eastern meanings.
I think it's especially misleading because of past attempts to appropriate all of Germanic antiquity, including Gothic antiquity, for German nationalism. It is just as reasonable to incorporate Gothic antiquity into Polish, Ukrainian, Moldavan, Romanian, and Bulgarian history, inter alia.
Generally, I think it's misleading to describe Goths as 'Germans.' Gothic is a Germanic language, but so are English, Danish, etc. I suppose it makes sense to describe the Suebi, Franks, and Marcomanni as 'Germans' but that poses problems with the Saxons.
One could make an argument that Lagarimanus was 'German' because because his name probably reflects the west Germanic senses [in lair, laager, etc.] instead of the east Germanic senses [in ligrs] of the same root. But that's visible precisely because of the contrast between the western and eastern meanings.
I think it's especially misleading because of past attempts to appropriate all of Germanic antiquity, including Gothic antiquity, for German nationalism. It is just as reasonable to incorporate Gothic antiquity into Polish, Ukrainian, Moldavan, Romanian, and Bulgarian history, inter alia.
