LL-L "Grammar" 2011.05.02 (06) [EN]

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L O W L A N D S - L - 02 May 2011 - Volume 06
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From: Hellinckx Luc <luc.hellinckx at gmail.com>

Subject: LL-L "Grammar"

 Beste Ron,

You wrote:

It seems to me that thisconstruction (VSO) is what you might call the
"narrative construction" that survives only (?) in German jokes. In frozen
form it can still be found in German folk-songs (e.g. *Kommt ein Vogel
geflogen* instead of *Ein Vogel kommt geflogen*, or *Zieht der Bursch die
Straß entlang* instead of *Der Bursch zieht die Straß entlang*).


Said construction is also used in Dutch jokes. Putting the verb in front
(intentionally) breaks order and adds panache, because attention is shifting
towards action. Sure way to make the audience get involved, feel tension and
start anticipating.

Kind greetings,

Luc Hellinckx, Halle, Belgium

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From: Henry Pijffers <henry.pijffers at gmail.com>

Subject: LL-L "Grammar" 2011.05.02 (05) [EN]


Reinhard wrote:

>
> It seems to me that thisconstruction (VSO) is what you might call the
> "narrative construction" that survives only (?) in German jokes.
>

We use it regularly in Dutch jokes. "Komt een man bij de dokter, zegt 'ie
..."

good gaon,
Henry Pijffers

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From: R. F. Hahn
<sassisch at yahoo.com<http://uk.mc286.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=sassisch@yahoo.com>>

 Subject: Grammar

Thanks, Luc and Henry!

In Low Saxon (of Germany) and also in many if not most non-standard German
dialects, this same construction (VS instead of usual SV) is used to convey
conditionality (if/when); e.g. Low Saxon:

Gah ik so up de Straat, gluupt de Lüd' mi an.
("Go I thusly on(to) the street, stare the people me at")
People stare at me when(ever) I go outside (looking) like this. ~
People will stare at me if I go outside (looking) like this.

Is dat Vörjahr natt, bringt de Harvst di wat.*
("Is the spring wet, brings the autumn thee something.")
Spring's rain is Autumn's gain.*

*[This may seem like real farmers' wisdom, but I actually made it up.]

At first thought I assumed that this and what I call "narrative
construction" are separate. At second thought, however, I wonder if they are
in fact related. "Setting the stage," so to speak, the VS construction makes
the listener expect a result or at least continuation. See what I'm driving
at? So, if in German you say *Ein Mann geht zum Arzt* (A man goes to a/his
doctor) it could be the end of the story. However, if you say *Geht ein Mann
zum Arzt* ("Goes a man to a/his doctor") you definitely expect more.

What do you think, Lowlanders?

Furthermore, I have a feeling that this VS construction used to be used in
earlier varieties of English, though I can't come up with concrete examples
at this very moment. Perhaps they are not directly linked, but you find VS
in certain types of clauses, such as "'Enough!' say I (~ says I)." I assume
that these are archaisms hailing back to greater syntactic flexibility in
English.

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron
Seattle, USA

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