LL-L "Riddle" 2005.02.04 (04) [D/E/LS/S/German/Chinese]

[Lowlands-L]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 04.FEB.2005 (04) * 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:  R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Riddle

Dear Lowlanders,

I'm sending you wishes!  For what?  Let me challenge your brains by asking
you to figure it out by means of some clues you will find below.

Here's your homework:

What is this about, and what should the subject line really be?

Have fun!
Reinhard/Ron

***


A RIDDLE

Low Saxon (Low German) original by Klaus Groth (1819-1899)
(http://www.geocities.com/grothwarken/index.htm):

   Dar keem en Mann ut Egypten,
   Harr en Rock vun dusend Stücken,
   Harr en knoekern Angesicht,
   Harr en Kamm un kämm sik nicht.

Algemeyne Schryvwys' transliteration:
   Daar keym eyn man uut Egypten,
   Har eyn rok vun dusend stükken,
   Har eyn knoekern angesich,
   Har eyn kam un kem sik nich.

My tentative Dutch translation:
   Er kwam uit Egypte een mannetje,
   Droeg van duizend stukjes een manteltje,
   Had een klein knokig aangezichtje,
   Kamde zich niet maar had een kammetje.

My tentative German translation:
   Aus Ägypten kam ein Männchen,
   Aus tausend Stückchen sein Mäntelchen,
   Dürr und knöchern war sein Gesicht,
   Hatte einen Kamm, doch kämmte sich nicht.

My tentative Scots translation:
   Thar wis a mannie fae Egypt
   Wi a coat o thoosand bitties,
   His face aw shilpit an knaggie,
   Haed a kaim but wadna kaim.

My tentative English translation:
   A man came out from Egypt
   With a coat of thousand pieces,
   With a face all skin and bones,
   Had a comb but would not comb.

My tentative Chinese translation (traditional):
   有男子來自埃å
   其外套有千片斷
   其面孔瘦骨嶙峋
   有梳子然而沒梳

My tentative Chinese translation (simplified):
   有男子来自埃å
   其外套有千片断
   其面孔瘦骨嶙峋
   有梳子然而沒梳

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