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Germanic philology is thephilological study of theGermanic languages, particularly from acomparative or historical perspective.[1]
The beginnings of research into the Germanic languages began in the 16th century, with the discovery of literary texts in the earlier phases of the languages. Early modern publications dealing withOld Norse culture appeared in the 16th century, e.g.Historia de gentibus septentrionalibus (Olaus Magnus, 1555) and theeditio princeps of the 13th centuryGesta Danorum bySaxo Grammaticus,in 1514.
In 1603,Melchior Goldast made the first edition ofMiddle High German poetry, Tyrol and Winsbeck, including acommentary which focused on linguistic problems and set the tone for the approach to such works in the subsequent centuries.[2]
He later gave similar attention to theOld High German translation of the Benedictine Rule. InElizabethan era and Jacobean England,Robert Cotton's collection and studies of the manuscripts now in theCotton Library marks the beginnings of scholarship of theOld English language andAnglo-Saxon literature.
The pace of publications started by theGutenberg Revolution increased during the 17th century with Latin translations of theEdda (notably Peder Resen'sEdda Islandorum of 1665).
Germanic philology, together withlinguistics as a whole, emerged as a formal academic discipline in the early 19th century, pioneered particularly inGermany by linguists such asJacob Grimm, the German author, philologist, andfolklorist who discovered theGrimm's law, documenting thesound shift across allGermanic languages. Important 19th-century scholars includeHenry Sweet,Matthias Lexer, andJoseph Wright. One of the most famous and respected 20th-century scholars, whose work as a Germanic philologist heavily influenced his poetry, fiction, andhigh fantasy writing, wasOxford University professorJ.R.R. Tolkien.
