II. Language description

1. Setting of the language

1.1. Language name

The following ancient terms are attested:

• Gothic: Gutþiuda “Goths' people” (in the Gothic Calendar),
• Greek: Gū́tōnes “Goths” (Strabo, -1st cent.),
  Góthoi (later)
• Latin: Gūtōnes (Pliny, 79 AD) and Gothoi.

From these, Gothic *gutans “Goths” may be reconstructed. The original meaning or etymology is unknown. The autonym of the language should have been *gutiska razda “Gothic speech”.

The terms Goths/Goten/godos etc. of the modern European languages are based on the Latin words.