Vasko R. The Ultimate Phonological Units in the Consonantal System of the Old Germanic Languages

Thе research deals with the problems of the ultimate phonological units’ paradigmatics and syntagmatics in the Old Germanic consonantal system. The reconstruction of the sound changes is based on understanding the phonological evolution of language as a dynamic process. Particular sound changes in the Old Germanic phonological history are viewed as links in restructuring the system of phonemes and the system of phonological oppositions in Gothic, Old Icelandic, Old Danish, Old English, Old Saxon and Old High German. The complex interplay of the language subsystems (phonemic, grammatical, lexical) as well as functional, structural and anthropophonic factors of the phonological evolution are proved to determine the ways and results of diachronic processes. The analysis of the ultimate phonological units’ syntagmatics in the initial and final consonantal clusters in Old English, Old Saxon and Old Icelandic has been made. The complexes of modal and locational kinakems of biphonemic initial and final consonantal clusters have been established, their frequency and productivity in the sound shape formation of morphemes and words have been determined. The modal obstructional, modal tonal and locational contrasts of kinakemes and homogeneities of modal / locational positive / negative kinakemes serve as the constructive basis for the consonantal clusters.