LL-L "Idiomatica" 2008.03.05 (03) [E]

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From: M.-L. Lessing <marless at gmx.de>
Subject: LL-L "Idiomatica" 2008.03.05 (02) [E]

Dear Jonny,

I have also heard the version "gnatzgniedelig". Is it related? "Eine Sache
vergnatzgniedeln" means to spoil a thing. Where do all these gn-Words come
from? Is gn- originally Low Saxon?

Hartlich!

Marlou

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

To me, someone that does *vergnatzgniedeln* seems to be a "party pooper" in
American English, or a "spoilsport" in general English, a *Spaßverderber* in
German. Hence the apparent connection with *gnatzig* and
*vergnatzt*'cross', 'surly', 'in a huff', and
*Gnatz* ~ *Gnaatsch *'row', 'fight', 'argument'.  The following may be
related to these: *gnatterig* 'surly', 'angry', and *Gnatter* 'unpleasant
character', 'curmudgeon'.

Interestingly, many of these semantically related words start with *gn-*,
also *gnegelig* and *gnietschig*.

And, yes, *gn-* occurs a lot in the language, in some cases corresponding to
German *kn-*; e.g.m *gnurren* (G. *knurren*) 'to growl', 'to gnarl', *
gnarren* (G. *knarren*) 'to creak', 'to gnaw', *gnarschen* (G. *knirschen*)
'to crunch', *gnaastern* 'to crunch', *gnarschen* 'to crunch', *gnavveln ~
gnabbeln *'to gnaw', *Gnitt* 'gnat', *gnietsch(ig)* 'stingy', 'thrifty', *
gnietschen* 'to squeak', 'to be thrifty', *gniegeln* 'to fiddel (badly)', *
gniggern* ~ *gnickern ~ gnuggern** *'to giggle', 'to neigh (softly)', *
gniedeln* 'to polish', 'to rub (vigorously)',  'to grind', *gniddeln* 'to
flirt', *gnuffen* (G. *knuffen*) 'to nudge'.

Reminder: *-l-* and *-r-* are frequentive or iterative action markers.

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron
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