LL-L "Phonology" 2007.05.15 (01) [E]

[Lowlands-L List]

L O W L A N D S - L  -  15 May 2007 - Volume 01

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From: Diederik Masure <didimasure at hotmail.com>
Subject:

Hey,
some days ago I read that affrication of g/k before i, e etc also spread in
low saxon, anyone know about which area of LS has ch/ts/sh/y-like sounds in
words like church, cheese and give?

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

Hi, Diederik!

Affriction of /g/ and /k/ is common in the Eastern Low Saxon dialects.  This
applies foremost in the fareastern dialects, namely those of Eastern
Pomerania (Western Prussia, German often Hinterpommern) and some of those of
Eastern Prussia (today's Northeastern Poland and Russian Kaliningrad).  This
includes also the Bublitz dialect (of Bobolice) and the Pomerelian dialect
of Gdańsk (Danzig) and surrounding areas at the mouth of the Vistula, a
short distance across from the Isle of Bornholm,
Denmark.<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gda%C5%84sk>

As you probably know, most of these dialects are now extinct due to what
amounts to then internationally tolerated ethnic cleansing around the end of
World War II.  However, dialects of that region that are still alive are the
Mennonite ones, known as "Plautdietsch."  They survived because their
speakers emigrated from the Vistula Delta in Northern Poland to Ukraine long
before the 20th century.

In Plautdietsch, front vowels cause preceding /g/ to gecome [j] and
preceding /k/ to become [kj].  In the so-called "Russian" dialects (i.e.
those whose speakers remained in the Soviet Union and emigrated much later),
/k/ before front vowels turns into [tj].

Please take a look and listen at the Plautdietsch translations of our wren
story:

lowlands-l.net/anniversary/khortitza.php
lowlands-l.net/anniversary/molochna.php
lowlands-l.net/anniversary/plautdietsch.php
lowlands-l.net/anniversary/plautdietsch-russia.php
lowlands-l.net/anniversary/plautdietsch-russia2.php

See?  The wren project can come in handy, can't it?

Enclaves of East Pomeranian Low Saxon survive in some southernmost parts of
Brazil, mostly in Santa Catarina (whose population is 35% "German"), also in
Espírito Santo (specifically in Santa Isabel) and in Rio Grande do Sul.

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron
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