LL-L: "Morphology" LOWLANDS-L, 31.AUG.2001 (01) [E]

Fri Aug 31 15:23:55 UTC 2001

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 31.AUG.2001 (01) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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 A=Afrikaans, Ap=Appalachian, D=Dutch, E=English, F=Frisian, L=Limburgish
 LS=Low Saxon (Low German), S=Scots, Sh=Shetlandic, Z=Zeelandic (Zeeuws)
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From: Ian James Parsley <parsleyij at yahoo.com>
Subject: LL-L: "Morphology" LOWLANDS-L, 30.AUG.2001 (01) [E]

Randy,

Well, it's a question. 'Postie' and such like are
other alternatives for the agent -ie in Scots (that
one has even spread into general colloquial British
English now), but I often wondered if there was a
slight hint of endearment in such terms (in the same
way that the so-called 'diminutive' is also very often
used for 'endearment' rather than 'small size').

Sonse,

=====
------------------
Ian James Parsley
www.geocities.com/parsleyij
+44 (0)77 2095 1736
JOY - "Jesus, Others, You"

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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Morphology

Dear Lowlanders,

I wrote yesterday:

> I wonder if other languages have any cognates of the Low Saxon (Low German)
> feminine suffix (or enclitic) _-sch_ [S] or its older and in some dialects
> still used form _-sche_ [Se]~[S@].
<...>
> I assume that this Low Saxon morpheme is derived from a suffix compound, the
> _-sch_ being the suffix of manner or similarity (related to German _-isch_,
> English _-ish_ and Dutch _-s(ch)_), and the second being feminine _-e_ (<
> _-a_).

I can think of one noun that has this feminine derivative _-sch(e)_:
_Oldsch(e)_ ~ _Oolsch(e)_ (_Oldske_ in farwestern dialects) 'old woman'
(as opposed to masculine _Old_ ~ _Ool_ ~ _Ooldvadder_)
based on the adjective _old_ ~ _ool_ 'old', 'ancient'.

In at least two cases, in certain dialects, an inherently feminine profession
name may take on the extra feminine marker _-sch(e)_, and in another case if
must do so:

(1) Hevamm(sch) ['he:v?a%m(S)] ("lifting nanny") 'midwife'
(As far as I know, _Amm(e)_ 'nanny', '(children's) nurse' alone never occurs
with _-sch(e)_.)

(2) Moder Griep(sch) [moUd3'gri:p(S)] ("Mother Grip") 'widwife'

(3) Griepersch ['gri:p3S] ("gripper," "seizer") 'midwife'
(_Grieper_ could not, as far as I know, refer to a male birthing assistant.
First of all, such assistants used to be always female, hence "midwives."
Also, _Grieper_, besides meaning just "gripper" or "seizer" = 'catcher', can
also refer to a hand, especially in the context of 'seizing'.  I assume that
the _-sch_ in _Griepersch_ became mandatory because a feminine marker was
needed, the agent suffix _-er_ being understood as masculine.)

There is also _Neihersch_ ("sewer") 'seamstress'.  I am not sure if masculine
_Neiher_ is possible nowadays.

> Originally, this suffix denoted "wife of ...", and it therefore occurs mostly
> with the definite article _de(i)_ [dE(%)I], unless it is used as a form of
> address, which nowadays is rare.  Thus, for example, _de Möllersche_ or _de
> Möllersch_ means 'the wife of the miller (of the village)'.

There are cases such as masculine _Spökenkieker_ ['sp9Ik=Nki:k3] and feminine
_Spökenkiekersch(e)_ ['sp9Ik=Nki:k3S(e)] ("spook looker") 'psychic medium',
where the feminine version would assumedly always refer to a female medium,
not to the wife of a medium, probably because this used to be not perceived as
a legitimate profession but as a personal gift or private pursuit.

Again, any input would be appreciated.

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

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