Gothic was the first Germanic language recorded in substantial surviving written material.
The language is known especially from the Gothic Bible translation traditionally associated with the 4th-century bishop Ulfilas, also called Wulfila. To write Gothic, he adapted a Greek-based alphabet with additional letters influenced by Latin and runic forms. This alphabet is distinct from the later Latin alphabets used by most Germanic languages.
The Codex Argenteus, a famous surviving manuscript, preserves much of the Gospel text in Gothic. Because Gothic is an early Germanic language, its vocabulary and grammar provide valuable evidence for reconstructing the history of the Germanic branch.
Gothic is extinct today. The Goths disappeared as a distinct linguistic community after late-antique migrations and political changes. Gothic should not be confused with Old English or Old Norse, which are also early Germanic languages but are attested in different periods and regions.