LL-L "Morphology" 2005.10.20 (05) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian B=Brabantish D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian
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20 October 2005 * Volume 05
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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Morphology

Dear Lowlanders,

In some dialects of Low Saxon in Germany it is possible to mark objects 
(direct and indirect) with /-n/, but only if these are persons.  This is 
very similar in Yiddish.

Low Saxon:

Vraag' Hinricken!
<Fraag' Hinricken!>
("Ask Hinrick [first name or surname]!")

Gistern hev ik Köstern seyn.
<Gistern heff ik Köstern sehn.>
("Yesterday have I Köster ['(the) sexton' or surname] seen.")

Ik help Moudern in de koek.
<Ik help Modern in de Köök.>
("I help Mother [Mouder] in the kitchen.")

Yiddish:

פֿרעג אברהמען!
Freg Avreymen!
("Ask Avrom [< Avraham = Abraham]!")

The suffic _-(e)n_ may be* used to mark names as objects, which includes 
nouns that are titles and are used like names (e.g., "Mother," "Cook," 
"Gardner," "Nanny").  (*In Low Saxon it is a matter of choice, while in many 
Yiddish dialects it is mandatory.)  Note that this can not apply to ordinary 
nouns, e.g.,

Low Saxon:

Vraag' Vadder(n)!
<Fraag' Vadder(n)!>
("Ask Father/Dad!")

Vraag' dyn vadder!
<Fraag' dien Vadder!>
("Ask your father!")

However, in Yiddish it does apply to certain definite masculine nouns; e.g.,


פֿרעג דײַן טאטען!

Freg dayn taten!
("Ask your father [tate]!")


מען דארף ברענגען דען רבן.
Men darf brengen den rebn.
("One/people must/ought to bring/fetch the rabbi [reb].")

My question is if this feature is found in other Lowlands language varieties 
as well or if it is an inherently southern, German feature that spilled over 
into Low Saxon.

Thanks and regards,
Reinhard/Ron

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