LL-L "Language varieties" 2005.08.10 (06) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 10.AUG.2005 (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: Þjóðríkr Þjóðreksson <didimasure at hotmail.com>
Subject: LL-L "Resources" 2005.08.10 (02) [E]


You might be right about the dissimilation, Ron.
I did some more thinking-work today (yes, I had to travel by train today ;)) 
and my scenario is as follows:
The -n- in eg. mens becomes weaker giving something like [mI~s] with still a 
slight n-like puff between the e and the s. As the n is fading, the word 
becomes closer to mes (knife), or even just because it's fading (and not 
necessarily because of homophony) one wants to emphasize the -n- again. But 
ns would be too easily be pronounced with the weak n again so it 
dissimilates to -ng- instead which sounds alot stronger than the n.
The actual non-dialectical pronunciation is still with the weak n (and no 
nasal vowel, not sure whether the historical form in my theory has it, 
maybe/probably not) which is not heard very well. The -ng- from the 
dialectical forms are very clearly heard.

So, for all you more professional linguists, who know what changes/reasons 
for changes are probable, do you think this is likely?

Diederik Masure

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