Old Prussian, a West Baltic Language?

In this video you will see who the Prussians were, and how their language related to other languages, what happened to it, and what is being done about it today. This Baltic Language has a remarkable history, and it was the closest language to the original Indo-European Language left in Europe, which in itself is quite remarkable.
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[@theMantas4444]

I speak Russian, German, Lithuanian and English. My understanding of Germanic, Slavic and Baltic languages gives to your video 👍. Thank you it’s very good. Just little note to my feel Baltic and Slavic are close but yet very different. Case systems are very similar few more exceptions and then some words and when you speak language it feels very different from Slavic Russian.

[@BenLlywelyn]

What a fine thing it must be to speak a Germanic, a Slavic and a Baltic Language and be able to see how they fuse together.

[@theMantas4444]

@@BenLlywelyn This fusion it’s fascinating. Also Slavic languages are very close and similar almost feels like dialects rather then separate languages. When you for example speak Russian you can more or less easy break it all Slavic languages. When you speak German and English you can see how Dutch or Scandinavian are related to each other although in Germanic language group you can’t easily break in to like in to the Slavic group.

[@BenLlywelyn]

As a Welsh speaker, Cornish and Breton are like this. I can understand them with very little effort. We need more people to share their languages like you.

[@fringeflix]

Holy smokes, it's my comment from last time! Thanks so much. Great work Ben :-)

[@BenLlywelyn]

It was a great idea. Thank you for it.

[@jjgdenisrobert]

Ben, you need better audio. With your set up, your best bet is likely a lavalier mic to avoid all the reflections from the hard walls. You can use acoustic treatment, but that's going to be more involved and costly. A lavalier will act as a proximity mic, and will greatly attenuate ambient sound and reflections.

[@BenLlywelyn]

Thank you

[@magnumass]

they are not even close to Slavic, have different structure and words... Lithuanians used to borrow slavic words, that's why russians are trying to mitigate importance of the old baltic languages. It's not a Herkas, but Herkus

[@ak5659]

Polish and Lithuanian would have a lot of loan words from each other due to the joint commonwealth. But the languages are quite different. My grandfather's family is from the Suwalki area. That's supposedly where the Jadzwingi, the last-to-assimilate subgroup of the Prusi lived. The last name appears to be a Polish-ized Balt name, not actually Polish.

[@BenLlywelyn]

Sounds like a good video idea.

[@gregcampwriter]

I'd be interested in a video about the apparent tendency of languages to start out with a comnplex synthetic system and then to shift toward an increasingly analytic method of conveying the role that the words play in a sentence. The more speakers a language has, the stronger that trend appears to be, especially if they have a lot of interaction with speakers of a related language, such as what happened with Old Norse and Old English in Britain. It surprises me that a language would start out with a complex case system, something that I would expect from deliberate construction--Tolkien used that in building his Elven languages, with the newer varieties having lost much of their original case endings, but he was modeling his inventions on what happens in observed languages.

[@BenLlywelyn]

I would have to see that this happened in non-Indo European languages as well to make any case for that. As for it happening with more speakers, to have more speakers requires assimilating other groups, often from other language groups - for whom the case system is foreign or different. So large groups entering new languages tend to simplify grammar due to communication barriers.

[@jwadaow]

Yes I would have thought Prussians of all people would be ruthless at instruction of a complicated system.

[@BenLlywelyn]

Their legacy lives on.

[@gregcampwriter]

@@BenLlywelyn It just seems strange that a language would start out with this particular kind of complexity. Of course, we don't have any certain knowledge of the earliest languages.

[@thomasruhm1677]

Coptic is more complicated than Demotic. It is said to be a circle.

[@brettanthonypalmer2956]

Thanks for this content mate, best to you and yours from me and mine from Australia

[@BenLlywelyn]

You are welcome. Cheers.

[@crazywelshman5909]

You should do a video on the free Wales army. They are very important to Welsh history, proud people fighting for Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@BenLlywelyn]

Prince Llywelyn can be a special guest interview.

[@jaapvandenbergh7430]

Thanks, so interesting 😊

[@tedi1932]

Very interesting, thank you

[@BenLlywelyn]

You're very welcome.

[@Dimera09]

Love the banana! This is such an interesting video, thanks! I never even thought about this before, just assumed it was always Germanic around there!

[@BenLlywelyn]

Oh yes, a long and multicultural history there in Prussia.

[@agnieszkaevenson5539]

You think all was Germanic over there? Then maybe dive into this rabbit hole... this is from the Wiki article about a part of Berlin: "While its origins are shrouded in mystery, Köpenick has had a long history as an independent town. In the 12th century, it was the residence of a Slavic prince, Jaxa of Köpenick. By this time, it had probably been settled by Lechitic tribes for about 400 years. After Jaxa's death, the principality was reigned by the dukes of Pomerania." Not so Germanic even all the way to Berlin...

[@Dimera09]

@@agnieszkaevenson5539 great point Agnieszka, thanks! I'm glad to say I have become a little wiser since the 2 years of posting this comment, and your response helps me further 🤘🏿

[@arturasandriusaitis8832]

Proto-Slavic emerged very late: 500 BC-500 AD in very small territory between the Upper Dniester and Pripet from the mixture of Western Baltic (Pre-Prussian) and Scythian. This is my view. Thank you.

[@fidenemini111]

Your channel is very interesting. Thank you for your interest in Baltic languages. Beer both in Lithuanian and Latvian is the same - Alus. The only difference is that in Latvian stress falls on the first syllable, and in my native Lithuanian - on the last one. With the exception for Samigitian dialect and it's subdialects - they follow accentuation pattern similar to Latvian language has as both were under the strong Finnic Livonian influence. Samogitian though got it indirectly - through neighboring Baltic Curonian tribe. Alaus is an Accusative singular case. Nom. Alus Gen. Alaus Dat. Alui Acc.Alų Instr. Alumi Loc. Aluje Voc. Alau!

[@fidenemini111]

Herkus for Herkus Mantas (or Monte) stands for Prussian version of his German Christian name Heinrich.

[@BenLlywelyn]

Yes

[@BenLlywelyn]

Kind thank you for your interest.

[@artursbondars7789]

Ok, as Latgalian historian I can say that Latvian and Latgalian is close to Prussian as Your mentioned linden tree analogy is 'liepa' and 'līpa', but of course there are differences to. Latvian language is more close to Sanskrit than other Baltic languages. Old Prussian language is used by Prussian and Baltic communities today, so it is not a dead language.

[@BenLlywelyn]

I am glad to know Old Prussian is being used.

[@sauliusbagdonas1695]

Not correct. Lithuanian is more close to indoeuropean prolanguage , Latvian has more foreign words from Slavic, etc.

[@artursbondars7789]

@@sauliusbagdonas1695 Well if we use such old analogies then Lithuanian has more words from polish, belorussian and so on. So what? I'm not talking about borrowings and things like words from common origins etc

[@BenLlywelyn]

@@artursbondars7789 All languages are filled with other languages. Welsh has loads of Latin. English 1/3rd French. Romanian is part Slavic and Turkish. Spanish is part Arabic.

[@artursbondars7789]

@@BenLlywelyn My point! :D

[@gediminasmorkys3589]

Nice! Wales is fascinating in a way because the old language still gets used. In fact, it was the first thing I tried for fun on Duolingo 🙂 Some of the words from Lithuanian demoed here were not correct, but I got some new info on the remaining Prussian language sources. Time well spent.

[@BenLlywelyn]

Excellent. Thank you very much.

[@lilyvilla8646]

I am trying to reconstruct my ancestral knowledge for historical trauma healing. This video has been immensely helpful in my research. Thank you so very much for making this!

[@BenLlywelyn]

Thank you Lily, and I am happy to of been a help to you. Excellent result!

[@jwadaow]

Wouldn't mind a video on the case system and why it was lost.

[@BenLlywelyn]

It might be a time.

[@erichamilton3373]

It may have been lost as an areal feature: a large group of West Euro languages has become analytic in nature...based more on syntax instead of morphology/cases. It's interesting as it's far from the Indo European homeland...perhaps the inflhence of previous languages?

[@remigijuslukauskas4517]

Not only the Baltics borrowed Slavic words, but also the Baltic Slavs. Russian linguists identified about 300 words of Lithuanian origin, for example: kaušas (Lithuanian) - kovš (Russian)

[@BenLlywelyn]

Thank you.

[@malaxes]

Aestians are nowadays Estonians and Prussian according to Polish chronicles were know as Borusy, people living in Bory (kind of forest) the name was probably change when Teutonic Knights have take area and pronounced it as Prusy (Prussia).

[@BenLlywelyn]

Initial B and P changes a lot when languages change.

[@erichamilton3373]

Actually piwo, alus, and ale are believed to be etymologically related. Piwo came from a pi-wol form...pi from the root "to drink" as in pić...the wol itself being related to the al- root in the Germanic and Baltic. So a commonality, not a Germanic borrowing.

[@robertprice5039]

My paternal ancestors would have spoken Prussian. They were from the old East Prussian / Russian Border region, and my Price surname was Preis/Prus, and not the Welsh Ap Rees, though I do have Welsh ancestors on my mother's mother's side.

[@BenLlywelyn]

Glad I could show you some of your heritage.

[@Lee-jh6cr]

My ancestors were Mazuren. My 3 Xs great grandmother's surname was Preuss, but whether it stems from being Old Prussian or the German name for the area, I can't know. Some of the surnames of our family are Slavicized (& Americanized) Old Prussian tribal names, as in Bartosheski and Poganski. My grandparents spoke Mazuren, which is a fusion of Mazovian, Old Prussian, and low German. It is still spoken in small scattered pockets.

[@lumiere-fontaine]

I have Prussian ancestors, so really would want to help in the revival of the language. In fact my nearest ancestors that were not born in America where Franz Adolf Strunge born in Klackendorf, East Prussia(Now Troszkowo, Poland) and Augusta Minnie Kraschnewski born in Rosenburg, West Prussia(Now Rosenburg, Austria) They are my Great Great Great Grandparents and I do not think that they spoke the language, but that my ancestors from before them spoke it. Possibly, my 10th great grandparents spoke old Prussian(that would be the in the 1700s and before) I say this because old Prussian died in the beginning of the 18th century

[@BenLlywelyn]

It is astounding the language lasted even so long.

[@aniinnrchoque1861]

If you are indeed interested in the revival I'd be happy to be in contact, I'm looking for someone equally interested in learning the language.

[@claudiochanganaqui2048]

One about Dnieper Baltic like Eastern Galindian?:-)

[@BenLlywelyn]

A good video suggestion. Would need to read up on this to see. I have booked marked a page on this.

[@arnoldaszeimys7484]

What is that Prusna, Dot in lithuanian ? :D Beer in lithuanian is just alus.

[@robertberger4203]

How about a video on the fascinating Ossetian language of the Caucasus , which is the only surviving member of the ancient Iranian. Scythian/ Sarmatian languages . Ossetian is related to the Pashto language of. Afghanistan and Pakistan. but is. influenced by. the Non-Indo- European languages of the Caucasus such as Georgian and Circassian .

[@BenLlywelyn]

It would be an interesting one - which will require reading 1st.

[@tracywright6908]

WOW! Paldies!

[@BenLlywelyn]

Welkommen.

[@tracywright6908]

I would like to use this cornucopia of wonderfully rich detail for my research. Gratitude. @@BenLlywelyn

[@melpannack8245]

Sorbs from Lasatia is close to Prussian

[@BenLlywelyn]

The Sorbs deserve several of their own videos.

[@digna1256]

Hmm.... strange... Old prussian 07:21 ?? This same text would sound like this in Latvian... Sveiks, kungs! Tu ne jau labs esi tēvelis (tēvainis?). Ja kaitēja (kaitēji?) dzert(i), nekaitēja pengu dot(i)...

[@BenLlywelyn]

I don't know. Same language family.

[@melpannack8245]

I’m so frustrated, look at the Sorbs!

[@stiklas6712]

If you want to know what does it mean - Prussian? , just ask Lithuanian or Latvian (2 survived languages) or even translate it from prussian ;) it mean - white Face or clear face. Prūsas - švarus veidas.

[@BenLlywelyn]

Beautiful languages I am sure.

[@LuDux]

And if you ask them about Yotvingians they'll say it means "drunk riders":D

[@tetris136]

Arus - Surstet - Ursa Rusa =Good Morning! Mountain Jānis between your eyes when you are standing in Prussia and looking to south maybe you will find it? Good Evening Prussia! Nāve - Evan - Evening - Navj.

[@sositehui6483]

Prussian history is almost unknown and its influence on Russia. Goths, Scots etc. etc. also lived there.

[@BenLlywelyn]

Scots?

[@sositehui6483]

@@BenLlywelyn tens of thousands of descendants. Read the works of Bryan Sykes, "Diary of General Patrick Gordon" idk.

[@sositehui6483]

@@BenLlywelynyoutube.com/@PushnoyRU?si=X7R2aKyS5gG12dwh ordinary Russian Scot🙃

[@Lee-jh6cr]

Scots immigrated to East Prussian Mazury quite late, after the region was decimated by war and plague in the 16/1700s, knocking the population back by half in certain areas. People immigrated from other parts of Europe as well, but after the initial colonization of East Prussia by Mazovian and primarily Germanic people fusing with Old Prussian tribes, it's not like the area was overrun by another ethnicity. People got around. Everywhere. The 700 year regional ethnic fusions remained in place until the end of WWII when it was split between Poland and Russia, resulting in a diaspora, especially of those with Germanic backgrounds. My family having Mazovian background, remained.

[@magnumass]

proud to be the direct ancestor of the old Prussian nation

[@Lee-jh6cr]

Just how old are you, anyway, if you are an ancestor of my ancestors? 😊

[@arnoldaszeimys7484]

Learn in lithuanian in a week? Are you kidding with patreons? :D

[@BenLlywelyn]

Here is my Patreon page! www.patreon.com/BenLlywelyn

[@artursbondars7789]

You did not give explanation why thouse first Cristian missionaries were killed. It's because they broke the laws and promises and desecrated holy sites.

[@BenLlywelyn]

Thank you for shedding light on that.

[@lauramt4454]

Soooo many inaccuracies.. baltic language is absolutely no where near to slavic. Just because Polish language has some Lithuanian words doesn’t mean baltic and slavic is similar. Check how many centuries Poland was ran by Lithuanian dynasty. Romuva is the pagan religion (legal today in Lithuania as a national religion) not Prussia. I have no understanding how you could have come up to name religion into Prussia. My great grandparents were Prussians and fluently spoke the language. Many Russian words stayed in Lithuania during such a long occupation.

[@BenLlywelyn]

Thank you for watching.

[@ak5659]

Wherewd you great-grandparents live? I mean, what's it called today? Iwve a pair of great-grands from Suwalki: Bilwinowo & Jeleniewo, specifically and their last name appears to be a Polish-ized Balt name. That area is where the Jadzwingi lived and IIRC, they were the last subgroup of the Prusi to be assimilated into the Commonwealth.

[@lauramt4454]

@@ak5659 in the “Little Lithuania” the region that was Prussia. Otherwise called Köninberg to Heydekrug. In those regions are still plenty writings to find in the old language on very old buildings.

[@rolandsv8]

Structure of baltic and slavic languages is very similar that shows their common origin. Same declinations, conjugations etc.

[@antanassmetona4054]

@@rolandsv8 you're delusional if you unironically think Baltic and Slavic languages had a common origin besides being Indo-european languages. Portuguese should also be included in your deluded made up world of Balto-porto-slavic languages.

[@edisaeiddis3984]

______________

[@BenLlywelyn]

`•°°•`

[@Vil9876]

There is only one Prussian language, without the epithet Old. Prusoks (brown cockroaches) spoke German.

[@BenLlywelyn]

Gentlemen do not call whole nationalities cockroaches, on the occasional and singular sycophant.

[@Vil9876]

@@BenLlywelyn , It is not a nationality, but cannibals who killed a nation and appropriated its name. Brown cockroaches are really called cockroaches (prūsokai) in Lithuania. It is a fact of language. Maybe the prūsokai came to Lithuania from that side?

[@Lee-jh6cr]

​@@BenLlywelynThank you for standing in defense of my ethnic Baltic Old Prussian heritage!