sondern German · revision 34880

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=8th century|origins=ine-pro *sn̥-tér}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * [ˈzɔndɐn]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''sondern''' (coordinating conjunction); verb ''sondern'' (weak, ''sondert'', ''sonderte'', ''gesondert''; auxiliary ''haben'')^(Wiktionary)

+ The 16th- and 17th-century dictionaries also have umlauted forms of the verb, ''sündern'' and ''söndern''.^(DWB|16, 1583) Pestalozzi still wrote ''gesöndert'' (1822).^(DWB|16, 1583)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ The conjunction is [[inh|gmh|sundern|t=without; except; but]], recorded in Central German in the 14th century.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden Universal 2007) It is originally the dative plural of the adjective [[m|gmh|sunder|t=separate]], and took the place of the older conjunction [[m|gmh|sunder]], [[inh|goh|suntar|t=but, rather]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(DWB|16, 1585) Kluge describes it as an early specialisation of the adverb [[m|goh|suntar|t=apart, separately]], which survives as the archaic preposition [[sonder]].^(Kluge 2011|858) The verb, [[m|gmh|sundern]], [[m|goh|suntarōn]], is derived from the same adverb, like [[ang|sundrian]] and [[non|sundra]].^(Kluge 2011|858)^(DWB|16, 1583)

+

+ The adverb continues [[gem-pro|*sundraz|t=separate, alone]];^(Wiktionary)^(Köbler AHD) the same word is [[osx|sundar]], [[ofs|sunder]], [[ang|sundor]] and [[non|sundr]], and with another ending [[got|𐍃𐌿𐌽𐌳𐍂𐍉|tr=sundrō]].^(Kluge 2011|858)^(Pfeifer 1993) It is in English [[m|en|asunder]].^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden 7 2007) Outside Germanic it corresponds to [[sa|सनुतर्|tr=sanutár|t=away, aside]] and [[grc|ἄτερ|tr=áter|t=without]], and without the t-suffix to [[la|sine|t=without]], [[sga|sain|t=different, special]], [[xto|sne]] and [[txb|snai|t=without]].^(Kluge 2011|858)^(Pfeifer 1993) The Duden dictionary sets up [[ine-pro|*sn̥-tér|t=apart, separate]], a formation from [[ine-pro|*seni-]];^(Duden 7 2007) Pfeifer thinks these forms may be built on the reflexive stem [[ine-pro|*se-]] of [[sich]].^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ The vowel /o/ is the Central German lowering of /u/ before a nasal, as in [[Sonne]] and [[Sommer]]; the present form is East Central German and was established by Luther.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Kluge 2011|858)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The Old High German adverb ''suntar'' is first recorded in the Weißenburg Catechism (about 790?), and then in Tatian, Otfrid and Notker, meaning “especially, separately, apart” and, as a conjunction, “but, rather, nevertheless”.^(Köbler AHD)^(Schützeichel 2012|321) The verb is first attested in the past participle ''gisuntarōt'' about 800, and ''suntarōn'' “to separate, divide” from the 9th century.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Schützeichel 2012|322)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The conjunction ''sonder'' “rather” remained in use until the 17th century.^(Pfeifer 1993) The newer ''sondern'' spread from East Central German in the 16th century through Luther, whose Bible has ''Ich werde nicht sterben, sondern leben'' (Psalm 118:17).^(Pfeifer 1993)^(DWB|16, 1585) Adelung, around 1800, notes that the older senses “except” and “but” had died out, and that the word was then used only after a negative, including in ''nicht nur … sondern auch''.^(Adelung 1793) In older texts it also follows clauses that are not negative.^(DWB|16, 1585)

+

+ The verb meant in Old Norse cutting or breaking apart a mass, but in German the separating of distinct parts, often with the idea of sorting.^(DWB|16, 1583) Adelung found it little used in High German, replaced by [[absondern]], except by poets;^(Adelung 1793) today it is an elevated word.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Kluge 2011|858)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 790 – Old High German ''suntar'' appears in the Weißenburg Catechism.^(Köbler AHD)

+ * c. 800 – The past participle ''gisuntarōt'' is recorded.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+ * 9th century – The verb ''suntarōn'' “to separate” is recorded.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Kluge 2011|858)

+ * 14th century – Central German ''sundern'' is used as a conjunction.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Duden Universal 2007)

+ * 16th century – Luther's usage spreads ''sondern'' from East Central German.^(Pfeifer 1993)^(Kluge 2011|858)

+ * 17th century – The older conjunction ''sonder'' “rather” goes out of use.^(Pfeifer 1993)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Conjunction===

+ # After a negative statement, introduces the correct or contrasting one: [[m|en|but]], [[m|en|rather]]: ''Er kam nicht mit dem Zug, sondern mit dem Rad.''^(Duden Universal 2007)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''nicht nur … sondern auch'': not only … but also: ''Sie spricht nicht nur Spanisch, sondern auch Portugiesisch.''^(Duden Universal 2007)^(DWB|16, 1585)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(elevated, transitive)'' To [[m|en|separate]] someone or something from others: ''die angeschlagenen Teller von den heilen sondern''.^(Duden GWDS 1999)^(Wiktionary)

+ # ''(elevated, transitive)'' To tell apart, [[m|en|distinguish]]; to sort by their features.^(Duden GWDS 1999)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[absondern]]

+ * [[aussondern]]

+ * [[Absonderung]]

+ * [[sonder]]

+ * [[besonders]]

+ * [[sonderbar]]

+ * [[sonderlich]]

+ * [[Sonderling]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[sich]]

+ * [[en|sunder]]

+ * [[en|asunder]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}