LL-L "Help needed" 2004.01.29 (02) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 29.JAN.2004 (02) * 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: Pat Reynolds <pat at caerlas.demon.co.uk>
Subject: German Inscription on English Building

Dear All,

Some while ago, you helped me with an inscription in Low German: This is
what Ron made of it:

  ...   SE(GEN?) ...
OHN ALLE SORG (VA... = VALT?)
(G)LEICH IN DEINEM ...
TREVW VND FLEIS(S?) ...
(VN)D DVEST WAS DIR BEFOHL(EN)
    1601 (1691?)

Tentative transcription:

... Segen ...
ohn alle Sorg(valt?) ...
gleich in deinem ...
treuw und fleiss ...
(un)d duest was dir befohl(en)

Tentative translation:

... blessing ...
without all (~ any) worry/care* ...
like/as in thine ...
faith(fulness) and diligence ...
and dost what/as (hath been) commanded thee

* cf. Modern German _Sorge_ 'worry', 'care', vs. _Sorgfalt_
'(meticulous)
care (in work)'

I've now been in touch with a colleague who is working in the area
(County Durham), and he writes:

"At Shotley Bridge, 'in close proximity to where the first sword factory
stood', a terrace of two-storey cottages on Wood Street (now demolished)
were built for the sword cutlers from Solingen in Germany. Two houses
had
stone door lintels inscribed in German, referring to Deutschland and
Vaterland, with one dated 1691. (Pevsner & Williamson, County Durham, p.
409; Page, Victoria History of Durham, Vol. 2, p. 37; 'Des Herren segen
machet Reich ohn alle Sorg wan du zughleich in deinem stand Treuw und
Flesig Bist und duest was Du Befohlen ist' 1691; Another may have read
'Deutschland ist unsuer Vatterland Soligen ist die Stadt Gehasset Der Herr
behüte
deinen Ausgang und Eingang')."

I thought those who had helped before, and perhaps others, would like to
know of the fuller texts.  I am ashamed to say, I had to look Solingen
up in the atlas - does it fall into the 'duest' area?

The second one interests me particularly, because of my interest in the
'nationality' of building (it also reminds me of an English playground
chant, but my memory of school is growing very faint). What was the
status of Low German at this point (1691))?

With best wishes to all,

Pat

--
Pat Reynolds
pat at caerlas.demon.co.uk
   "It might look a bit messy now,
                    but just you come back in 500 years time"
   (T. Pratchett)

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

Hi, Pat!

As you probably know by now, Solingen (which is famous for its knives and
scissors) is situated just a bit southwest of the Lowlands Saxon (Low
German) area.  Culture and language is Rhenish.

> 'Des Herren segen
> machet Reich ohn alle Sorg wan du zughleich in deinem stand Treuw und
> Flesig Bist und duest was Du Befohlen ist'

"The Lord's blessing maketh rich without care, be it that for thine part
thou art loyal and diligent and dost what hath been commanded thee."

> 'Deutschland ist unsuer Vatterland Soligen ist die Stadt Gehasset
> Der Herr behüte deinen Ausgang und Eingang')."

"Germany is our native land. Solingen is what the city is named. May the
Lord watch over your exit and entry."

_Gehasset_ (which I assume to be what in Modern Standard German is
_geheißen_ 'named' and in older and non-standard varieties was _geheißet_)
sounds rather peculiar to today's speakers in that it might be understood as
meaning 'hated'.

> What was the
> status of Low German at this point (1691))?

LS does not figure here.  However, to answer your question, at that time the
international Middle-Saxon-speaking Hanseatic Trading League was beginning
to fall into disarray and decay, the status of LS was beginning to decline,
at least in the upper classes and in upper levels of administration, and the
use "German(y)" with reference to the Saxon-speaking areas, culture and
language was beginning to seriously assert itself, certainly outside the
Dutch power sphere.

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

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