LL-L "Semantics" 2001.11.02 (08) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

======================================================================
 L O W L A N D S - L * 02.NOV.2001 (08) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
 Web Site: <http://www.geocities.com/sassisch/rhahn/lowlands/>
 Rules: <http://www.geocities.com/sassisch/rhahn/lowlands/rules.html>
 Posting Address: <lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org>
 Server Manual: <http://www.lsoft.com/manuals/1.8c/userindex.html>
 Archive: <http://listserv.linguistlist.org/archives/lowlands-l.html>
=======================================================================
 A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian L=Limburgish
 LS=Low Saxon (Low German) S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic Z=Zeelandic (Zeeuws)
=======================================================================

From: Brad Thiele <bradley at onetel.net.uk>
Subject:

Dear Lowlanders,

I'd like to ask for observations about the use of the
word "well" to mean the opposite of "not".

As a native (Australian) english speaker, the only time I
would use it would be in e.g. "That could well be", however I
was surprised to encounter its equivalent "wel" in Dutch when
studying the language during the two years I lived in
Amsterdam recently.  (Probably most famously in "dank je
wel") I've also noticed having lived in London for the last
18 months that the word is in frequent use in the same
context as it is in dutch: "That is well nice", however even
those who use this construct would probably admit that it's
not "proper english".

>From my reasonable knowledge of Swedish, I've also observed
its word "väl" to be used in a similar way.

Is this word used in other lowlands languages?  And does
anyone have any information on its history within english?

Regards

Brad

==================================END===================================
 You have received this because your account has been subscribed upon
 request. To unsubscribe, please send the command "signoff lowlands-l"
 as message text from the same account to
 <listserv at listserv.linguistlist.org> or sign off at
 <http://linguistlist.org/subscribing/sub-lowlands-l.html>.
=======================================================================
 * Please submit postings to <lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org>.
 * Postings will be displayed unedited in digest form.
 * Please display only the relevant parts of quotes in your replies.
 * Commands for automated functions (including "signoff lowlands-l") are
   to be sent to <listserv at listserv.linguistlist.org> or at
   <http://linguistlist.org/subscribing/sub-lowlands-l.html>.
 * Please use only Plain Text format, not Rich Text (HTML) or any other
   type of format, in your submissions
=======================================================================