LL-L: "Etymology" LOWLANDS-L, 08.SEP.2000 (03) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 08.SEP.2000 (03) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
 Posting Address: <lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org>
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 A=Afrikaans, Ap=Appalachean, D=Dutch, E=English, F=Frisian, L=Limburgish
 LS=Low Saxon (Low German), S=Scots, Sh=Shetlandic
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From: R. F. Hahn [sassisch at yahoo.com]
Subject: Etymology

Dear Lowlanders,

I was very interested to find the Scots verb _wale_ 'to choose', 'to elect'.
(I assume it is pronounced [we:l].)  It appears to be a cognate of German and
Low Saxon _wählen_  'to choose', 'to elect' (the noun 'election' or 'choice'
being _Wahl_).

I am not sure if Low Saxon _wä(h)len_ [ve:ln] and _Waal_ ~ _Wahl_ [vQ:l] are
inherent or German loans.  Does anyone know?  They coexist with _kören_
[kø:An] and _Köör_ [kø:A] with the same respective meanings.

Is _wale_ inherently Scots, i.e., is there an Old English ancestral word?
Modern English does not seem to have a cognate.  Or does it?  A loan from
Dutch?  I don't find cognates in Modern Dutch and Afrikaans.  Or are there
any?  A Saxonism?  A Low Saxon loanword (Hanseatic connection)?

Thanks for thinking about it.

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

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