LL-L "Etymology" 2004.10.27 (02) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 27.OCT.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: Global Moose Translations <globalmoose at t-online.de>
Subject: LL-L "Etymology" 2004.10.26 (06) [E]

Ron wrote:
> Furthermore, as far as I know, Dutch _zoet_ by itself means 'sweet' but
not
> 'soft' or 'gentle', which is why I have a hunch that Lowlands Saxon (Low
> German) _suutje_ is a Dutch loan where the donor word itself is a calque
> (i.e., loan translation) from French:

But it does. When I had my first baby, my husband's grandmother, in her
eighties, asked me when she met her: "Is zij dan altijd zoet?", meaning
something like "is she always easy-going"? There's a similar meaning in
English: "sweet temper", "sweet disposition", "sweet nature", "she's such a
sweet person", etc.

Pyjama parties are fine with me, but I won't be banned to a closet in my own
home! Sheesh. I opt for the hayloft, and then those so inclined can sit on
the beams under the roof and throw peanut shells all they want (as long as
they clean up after themselves).

Sweetly,
Gabriele Kahn

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

Hi, Gabriele!

> But it does.

I hate to say it, but I guess you're right.  But then again, could *that* be
a French-inspired thing?

And then again again ...  In some context Lowlands Saxon _söyt_ (<sööt>
[zœ.ıt] ~ [zO.ıt]) 'sweet' can also mean 'nice' or 'likeable', besides
'cute', 'lovely', etc. and the like, much like English "sweet" can be used
within certain contexts.  However, there'd be certain social constraints in
both languages.  In mainstream society, males would not use that word to
describe each other (though gay males might), but it's all right for them to
describe females in such a way, while females tend to have more freedom in
using it.  In LS, words like _leyv_ (<leef> [lE.ıf] ~ [la.ıf]), _wakker_
(<wacker> ['vak3`]), _net_ (<nett> [nEt]), _schyr_ (<schier> [Si:r`] ~
[sxi:3`] ~ etc.), _glat_ (<glatt> [glat]) or _propper_ (['prOp3`] < French
_propre_) may be more appropriate, depending on context and dialect (though
_schyr_, _glat_ and _propper_ can also mean 'charming', 'lovely' or
'pretty').

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

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