LL-L "Idiomatica" 2005.06.29 (05) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

======================================================================
L O W L A N D S - L * 29.JUN.2005 (05) * 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
Commands ("signoff lowlands-l" etc.): listserv at listserv.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: Elsie Zinsser <ezinsser at icon.co.za>
Subject: LL-L language forms -slang

Hi all,

Talking of the slang Afrikaans form:  Isit?? (from E. "Is it?")

A year ago I sat in a restaurant in New Glascow, Nova Scotia,
and while the waiter tried to explain why the curry chicken with
raisins and almonds was good, I did not realize that I was
repeatedly saying "Oh, is it?", with the typical higher pitched "it",
when he suddenly said " From where in South Africa are you?"

Turns out that he left Durban at age 10 but his mother still says
"Is-uht??"

Incidentally Ron, Piet-my-vrous is the English plural form for the bird.
This bird is typically solitary and when the need arises to use the
plural we'd say: Het jy die Piet-my-vrou al hier tee"gekom?

Groete,
Elsie Zinsser

>...en bohaai maak soos Piet-my-vrous of kw?vo?ls.
>Isit?

----------

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

I often hear "is it?" (or "isn't it?) used as a generalized question or tag 
among (South-)East Asian speakers of English, especially among people from 
Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong.  I strongly suspect this to be a 
substitute for generally applicable Cantonese 係唔係 _hăi m hăi_, Mandarin 是不是 
_shi bu shi_, etc., literally "is not is".

Thus, e.g.,
"He come today, is(n't) it?"
"Electronics are cheap here, is(n't) it?"
"These are all yours, la!" "Is it?"

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