LL-L "Idiomatica" 2006.03.30 (05) [E]

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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
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30 March 2006 * Volume 05
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From: Andrys Onsman <andrys.onsman at calt.monash.edu.au>
Subject: LL-L "Idiomatica" 2006.03.30 (04) [E]

To: Jacqueline and Ron
Subject: Idiomatica

>
> To Andrys: In answer to your rhetorical question, "Do the Dutch have a
> screw
> loose?": the answer is an unqualified Yes. But that is also part of our
> charm.

Absolutely: the loose screw gives us our eccentricity.

> The closest I have come to " om het af te leren " is "to get it out
> of my/your system. Jacqueline
>
> How about "(in order) to kick the habit"?
>
I think both are partially correct but neither capture the full range of
meaning encompassed by "unlearning" something. Moreover, it is also
something parents threaten to do to change children's behaviour ("Ik zal
je dat wel afleren!" ), which means it includes "unteaching." It's a
brilliant word and I hope it continues to defy us all.
Recently my daughter came up with NQR (Not Quite Right) as a translation
for the Frisian word "nuver" which I thought was better than the usual
"queer."  What do you think?

groet
Andrys

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

Thanks, Andrys!

I can relate to that.  Just hearing or reading it, I can translate it 
literally into Low Saxon (_üm 't  (~ dat) af tou leyren_ <üm 't (~ dat) 
aftolehrn>), more likely as _üm my 't  (~ dat) af tou leyren_ <üm mi 't (~ 
dat) aftolehrn> (Dutch-style spelling <um mie 't (~ dat) af tóu léirn>), and 
this makes sense and gives me an appreciation for the translation dilemma.

_Af-leyren_ also occurs in several of the wren story translations as well as 
the original, in the last paragraph.  The wren father claims to have 
"un-taught" the lion his bad behavior.

Cheers!
Reinhard/Ron 

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