LL-L "Morphology" 2003.09.29 (01) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 29.SEP.2003 (01) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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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)
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From: John Duckworth <jcduckworth2003 at yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: Morphology

Dear Lowlanders,

While we are on the subject of Personal Pronouns, I wonder if any of the
Lowland languages have any forms like Bavarian < miâ  > for 'we'. This usage
has always confused me, and I have always put it down to Slavonic influence
(Russian Мы ; Czech / Slovak / U-L. Sorbian /Polish my ).I am confused by
the Slavonic influence in Bavaria (though it is not geographically so far
from Slavonic enclaves in Austria), whereas such influence in North Germany
would seem more expected. Are there any such forms for 'we' in the Lowland
languages?

Reagards,

John
Preston, UK.

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From: John Duckworth <jcduckworth2003 at yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: Morphology

Maybe I ought to have mentioned that this curious Bavarian pronoun also has
cognates in Swiss German _mir_ ( as in <mir händ>, 'we have'); Alsatian
_mir_  (as in <mir hãn>, ib.); they also seem to use a similar word in
Vienna. All these despite the fact that OLd High German used _wir_.

Regards,

John
Preston, UK.

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

Hi, John, Lowlanders!

_Mir_ and the like is very pervasive throughout the German-speaking area.
My maternal grandmother said _mir_ for 'we'; she came from the area of
Zhorjelec/Zgorzelc/Görlitz (once the Lusatian capital), was of Sorbian
descent and called her dialect _Niederschlesisch_ 'Lower Silesian'.

'We' is _mir_ (מיר) in Yiddish as well.

> I am confused by the Slavonic influence in Bavaria (though it is not
geographically so far
> from Slavonic enclaves in Austria), whereas such influence in North
Germany would
> seem more expected.

Absorption of Slavonic-speaking groups was widespread from Eastern Denmark
all the way down to Northeastern Italy, and parts of Eastern Bavaria, too,
used to be Slavonic-speaking.  Also note that Bavaria shares a border with
"Bohemia," i.e., today's Czech Republic.

As far as I am aware, forms like _mir_ for 'we' do not exist in Lowlands
Saxon (Low German).  It is pretty much _wy_ (<wi(e)> [vi(:)] < Old Saxon
_wî_ ~ _wê) all over.

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

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