LL-L "Idiomatica" 2004.05.25 (04) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

======================================================================
L O W L A N D S - L * 25.MAY.2004 (04) * 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: lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org or lowlands-l at lowlands-l.net
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: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Idiomatica

I wrote:

> Actually, _'n heyl deyl_ (<'n heel Deel>) (lit.: "a whole deal/part")
sounds
> rather familiar to me in Lowlands Saxon also, also _'n ganssen deyl_ in
> dialects that use _ganss_ instead of _heyl_ for 'whole'.

This reminds me of the Lowlands Saxon (Low German) idiomatic expression
_heyl un deyl_ (<heel un deel>), literally "whole and deal," meaning
'altogether', 'totally', 'completely', 'absolutely', 'extremely'; e.g.,

Dey pot is heyl un deyl leddig.
<De Pott is heel un deel leddig.>
'The pot is completely empty.'

Sey was heyl un deyl möyd'.
<Se was heel un deel mööd.>
'She was extremely tired/sleepy.'

Dey keyrl is heyl un deyl mal.
<De Keerl is heel un deel mall.>
'The guy is absolutely crazy.'

Dat hev ik heyl un deyl vergeten.
<Dat heff ik heel un deel vergeten.>
'I've totally forgotten about it.'

Dey gasten-aarn is heyl un dey in d'n mors.
<De Gastenaarn is heel un deyl in'n Moors.>
'The barley harvest is a total write-off.'
(literally: "... in the ass/arse")

_Heyl_ alone would be weaker, indicating 'very', 'quite', etc.  _Heyl and
deyl_ indicates 'every bit of it' and in extension 'completely'.

I suppose this is a part of a rhyming trend in ajectives and adverbs of the
X & X type.  Other examples:

_wyd un syd_ (<wiet un siet>), literally "wide/far and low/shallow," meaning
'far and wide' or 'high and low'

_hüyn un perdüyn_ (<hüün un perdüün> ~ <Hüün un Perdüün>) 'kith and kin',
'(the whole) kith and caboodle', i.e., "everyone and everything."  (Cf.
German _Sack und Pack_ "sack and pack" = 'everything', 'the whole lot')
[Though originally nominal, I have a feeling that, in the absence of
etymological awareness, this tends to be processed adverbally like _heyl un
deyl_ and _wyd un syd_ above.]

Apparently, _hüyn un perdüyn_ goes back to now defunct Dutch nautical loans:
_hüyn_ (< *_huin_?) 'crow's nest' (= lookout basket on top of a mast) and
_perdüyn_ (< *_perduin_?) 'fastening rope'.

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.
======================================================================