Bavarian linguistic elements in Lex Baiuvariorum

Abstract

This paper intends to analyse the Bavarian linguistic elements of Lex Baiuvariorum,2 the written Bavarian Volksrecht3 created between 737 and 743 from philological aspects and draw further conclusions from findings for legal history considerations. First we will examine expressions where the active predicate in first person plural reveals that the Bavarians assisting in making the law inserted them in relevant passages as words of their own folk language. (I) After that, we will analyse phrases accompanied by active predicate in third person plural and passive predicate in third person singular or plural either naming Bavarians as the subject or not where the text makes it clear that these words were used by Bavarians to express the given meaning. (II) Atfer analysing Bavarian personal names, primarily names of genealogiae (III), we will discuss Bavarian/South German expressions in the text of the Bavarian law that apparently correspond to or overlap the relevant loci of Lex Alamannorum (IV). In the light...