LL-L "Etymology" 2004.01.28 (06) [E]

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Thu Jan 29 00:27:12 UTC 2004


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L O W L A N D S - L * 28.JAN.2004 (06) * 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: Holger Weigelt <platt at holger-weigelt.de>
Subject: "Etymology"

> From: Holger Weigelt <platt at holger-weigelt.de>
> Subject: "Etymology"
>
> > From: Lisa Mays <frau_mays at yahoo.com>
> > Subject: etymology
> >
> > Dear Lowland Language Enthusiasts,
> >
> > I am a University of Kansas PhD. candidate working on
> > a dissertation concerning Old Colonists in Kansas.  In
> > my attempts to learn Plautdietsch, I've come across
> > the word "Unkars," meaning a light evening meal...
> >
> > Since you have recently discussed some of the lexical
> > meanings and etymology of words like "Meddag," which
> > in several Germanic languages could be used to
> > describe the time of day as well as a meal, I was
> > wondering if I could get some input as to the possible
> > origin of the word "Unkars"?
> >
> > Vielmols Dankscheen
> > Lisa Mays
> >
> Hello Lisa !
> I really know very little about Plautdietsch but when I read Your posting
> mentioning "Unkars" as a term for a meal it reminded me of our Eastern
> Friesland Low Saxon word "umkârw" meaning a slice of bread with butter
> (derived from "kârw" = slice [of bread]). I cannot believe that there is
any
> connection but who knows ?
> Kind greetings
> Holger
>
> ----------
>
> From: R. F. Hahn <lowlands-l at lowlands-l.net>
> Subject: Etymology
>
> This is really interesting, Holger.
>
> I can't think of a direct cognate in other Lowlands Saxon (Low German)
> varieties.  Given this and given that (1) Eastern Friesland varieties (as
> well as Groningen and Achterhoek varieties) have strong Frisian substrates
> and that (2) many Mennonites' ancestors were from Frisian-speaking areas
and
> from areas that used to be Frisian-speaking, I wonder if this Plautdietsch
> word _Unkars_ is indeed related to your _umkarv_ (<umkârw>) and can be
> traced back to Westerlauwer and/or East Frisian.
>
> I further wonder if your _karv_ (<kârw>) 'slice/piece/chunk (of bread)' is
> related to English "to carve," Scots _tae cairve_ 'to carve', Dutch
_kerven_
> 'to (carve a) notch', _kerf_ 'notch', 'nick', other LS _karven_ 'to (carve
> a) notch', _karv'_ 'notch', 'nick',  German _kerben_ 'to (carve a) notch',
> _Kerbe_ 'notch', 'nick'.  This would be related to Old Frisian _kerva_ 'to
> carve'.
>
> But what could be the etymology of _un..._ and _um..._?  Probably not _üm_
> '(a)round', etc.  Might it be a contraction of an older Frisian version of
> what in Westerlauwer Frisian is _jûn_ 'evening' (< Old Frisian _âvond_ ~
> _êwnd_).
>
> I can very well imagine _Unkars_ to be the plural form of *_Unkar_ <
> *_Unkarw_ being traceable to Frisian *_êwndkerv_ via LS *_undkarv_, thus
> literally "evening piece (of bread)."  (_er_ > _ar_ is a LS shift.)
>
> (Remember that * marks hypothetical forms.)
>
> Note also the word for 'supper' in other Lowlands Saxon (Low German)
> dialects: _avendbrood_ (<Avendbroot> ['?Q:vm(t)bro:t]), literally "evening
> bread."
>
> (It is _avendköst_ in other dialects, _köst_ being "fare" or "meal".)
>
> Anyway, what do you folks think about my (wild?) theory?
>
> Regards,
> Reinhard/Ron
>
Hello, Ron !
The relationship between EFLS "kârw" and the words from other languages You
mentioned is obvious. There is a verb "kārven" (to slice, to cut, to carve),
too.
The etymology of "um-" however I can't clarify except that it doesn't come
from "um" (around) what in EFLS always is "umtau" (often as: um ... tau).
The assumption of a Frisian origin ("jûn") sounds convincingly.
But if this was correct the original meaning has changed as the term
"umkârw" is used for a slice of bread with butter in general but not
restricted to an evening meal.
Regards
Holger

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