Vandalic language

Vandalic was a Germanic language probably closely related to Gothic. The Vandals, Hasdingi and Silingi established themselves in Gallaecia (Northern Portugal and Galicia) and in Southern Spain, following other Germanic and non-Germanic peoples (Visigoths, Alans and Suevi), before moving to North Africa in AD 429.

Very little is known about the Vandalic language other than a small number of personal names of Vandalic origin in Spanish. The regional name Andalusia is derived from the Vandals, according to the traditional view. When the Moors invaded and occupied Spain from the 8th century to the end of the 15th, the region was called "Al-Andalus".

The epigram De conviviis barbaris in the Latin Anthology, of North African origin and disputed date, contains a fragment in a Germanic language that some authors believe to be Vandalic,^[1][2] although the fragment itself refers to the language as "Gothic". This may be because both languages were East Germanic and closely related; scholars have pointed out in this context^[3] that Procopius refers to the Goths, Vandals, Visigoths, and Gepaedes as "Gothic nations" and opines that they "are all of the Arian faith, and have one language called Gothic".^[4] The fragment reads:

Inter “eils” Goticum “scapia matzia ia drincan!” non audet quisquam dignos educere versus.

Translation:

Between the Gothic [cries] "Hail" and "Let's get [something to] eat and drink" nobody dares to put forth decent verses.

Another Vandalic phrase is found in Collatio Beati Augustini cum Pascentio ariano 15 by Pseudo-Augustine: Froja armes, "Lord, have mercy!"^[5]

In the 16th, 18th and 19th century, it was believed, according to the Slovenes of Prekmurje, Somogy, and Vas, that they were descendants of the Vandals. In Hungarian, Latin and other documents, the Prekmurian language (dialect of the Hungarian Slovenes and the Prekmurje) is termed Vandalic language.^[6]

See also

• Prekmurian dialect
• Hungarian Slovenes
• Prekmurje

References

1. ^ [1]
2. ^ Greule, Albrecht and Matthias Springer. Namen des Frühmittelalters als sprachliche Zeugnisse und als Geschichtsquellen. P. 49-50.
3. ^ Greule, Albrecht and Matthias Springer. Namen des Frühmittelalters als sprachliche Zeugnisse und als Geschichtsquellen. P. 48
4. ^ Procopius of Caesarea, THE VANDALIC WAR I,2-8
5. ^ GUIDO M. BERNDT/ROLAND STEINACHER (HG.). DAS REICH DER VANDALEN UND SEINE (VOR-)GESCHICHTEN. P.254
6. ^ Francek Mukič - Marija Kozar: Slovensko Porabje, Mohorjeva družba, Celje 1982.