LL-L "Idiomatica" 2003.11.04 (12) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

======================================================================
L O W L A N D S - L * 04.NOV.2003 (12) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
http://www.lowlands-l.net * lowlands-l at lowlands-l.net
Rules & Guidelines: http://www.lowlands-l.net/index.php?page=rules
Posting Address: lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org
Server Manual: http://www.lsoft.com/manuals/1.8c/userindex.html
Archives: http://listserv.linguistlist.org/archives/lowlands-l.html
Encoding: Unicode (UTF-8) [Please switch your view mode to it.]
=======================================================================
You have received this because you have 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.
=======================================================================
A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian B=Brabantish D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian
L=Limburgish LS=Lowlands Saxon (Low German) N=Northumbrian
S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic V=(West)Flemish Z=Zeelandic (Zeêuws)
=======================================================================

From: Sandy Fleming [sandy at scotstext.org]
Subject: "Semantics"

> From: R. F. Hahn <lowlands-l at lowlands-l.net>Subject: Semantics
>
> Lowlanders,
>
> In the light of our somewhat somber thoughts of late and my difficulties
> with the word "follow" in my Lowlands Saxon (Low German) translation of
> Campion's "Followe Thy Faire Sunne" (LL-L "Holidays" 2003.11.04
> (07) [E]), I
> would like to draw your attention to an interesting case of semantic
> specialization.  I wonder if you can think of similar cases.
>
> In LS, the verb _volgen_ (<folgen> < Old Saxon _folgôn_) -- once denoting
> 'to follow' generally (as its cognates in other Germanic languages still
> do) – has in most dialects come to denote specifically 'to be in a funeral
> procession', 'to participate in a funeral'.  Clearly, this must
> have started
> with 'to follow the body/casket'.  My hypothesis is that the word was

I wonder if it's a coincidence that this specialisation is associated with
death (my, we are gloomy tonight!)?

In Scots we do have several special euphemisms for death.

For example, when I was in Scotland earlier this year I asked my father
where a certain neighbour was as I hadn't seen her around. He answered
simply, "She's awa." The fact that this is unqualified (eg "She's awa tae
Spain" or "She's awa the nou") makes the meaning quite clear.

We might also say things like "he's passed ower" or "she coudna bide".

This doesn't give these words specialist meanings in Scots - the everyday
meanings are retained. But I think it could be that such specialism starts
off as euphemism.

I get the feeling that I've noted examples of full specialisation in English
and Scots, though - perhaps some will come back to me after I've slept on
it.

Sandy
http://scotstext.org/

----------

From: R. F. Hahn <lowlands-l at lowlands-l.net>
Subject: Idiomatica

Thanks for the response, Sandy!

> ... my, we are gloomy tonight!

Well, yes, it's seasonal, I suppose, and it's part of life after all.
Besides, it's still bright afternoon here ... well as bright as a November
afternoon in Seattle can be ...  ;-)

> For example, when I was in Scotland earlier this year I asked my father
where a certain
> neighbour was as I hadn't seen her around. He answered simply, "She's
awa." The
> fact that this is unqualified (eg "She's awa tae Spain" or "She's awa the
nou") makes
> the meaning quite clear.
>
> We might also say things like "he's passed ower" or "she coudna bide".

There are numerous euphemistic phrases like that in Lowlands Saxon (Low
German) also, for example 'She has died':

Sey is in-slapen. ~ Sey is tou-slapen.
("She has fallen asleep.)

Sey het dey ogen tou-maakt.
("She has closed her eyes.")

Sey het dey ogen tou-knepen.
("She has pinched her eyes shut" = "She has squinted for the last time.")

Sey is up dey annere syd gaan.
("She has gone to the other side" = "She has crossed over.")

Sey is (mit dood) af-gaan.
("She is departed (with death).")

Sey het dey grote rays' an-treden.
("She has set out on the long journey.")

Sey is na Rötterdam gaan.
("She has gone to Rotterdam.")

I have heard also:

Sey is na Holland gaan.
("She has gone to Holland.")
[Waltrud Bruhn uses this idiomatic phrase in a poem about her dead father.]*

There are some irreverent phrases as well, much along the lines of English
'to kick the bucket' or 'to bite the dust'; e.g., ...

Sey het up 't leste lok pypd.
("She has blown/piped through the last hole (of the flute/pipe)")

In present tense (_Sey pypt up 't leste lok_) this can mean "She is about to
die" or "She is almost finished," the latter of which, like German _Sie
pfeift auf dem letzten Loch_, can also mean "She is nearing a disaster" or
"She is almost bancrupt."

* "Rotterdam" and "Holland" are occasionally used to denote "a place far
away." Holland is also featured in the phrases ...

Nu is Holland in nood.
("Holland is in trouble now.")
'We're having a (severe) problem.'

Nu is Holland in sicht.
("Holland is within sight now.")
'The worst is over.', 'The light at the end of the tunnel is within sight
now.', 'We're nearly home free.'

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

================================END===================================
* 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.
=======================================================================