LL-L "Semantics" 2011.11.17 (06) [EN-NDS]
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L O W L A N D S - L - 17 November 2011 - Volume 06
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From: Ed Alexander edsells at cogeco.ca
Subject: LL-L "Semantics" 2011.11.17 (03) [EN-FY]
At 03:31 PM 17/11/2011, Ron wrote:
1. American English uses "dear" only in the first-mentioned sense, with
idiomatic exceptions (i.e., supposedly archaisms) such as "to pay a dear
price" or "to pay dearly."
My wife and I do not agree. First of all, I suspect that the common root
meaning is "rare". Secondly, it is only to be expected in the creolization
of English, that items that were "costly" would have been more affordable
to the upper classes which of course use far more words of French
derivation (such as "expensive"). Of course, since "expensive" is far more
common, people who have learned English as a second language are far less
likely to know this meaning. Also, I do not understand why you would say
that "pay dearly" is idomatic, as opposed to a situation where "expensive"
would be inappropriate. I think that we have not yet replaced the word
"dear" with another in cases where the cost is not financial. Of course,
the Anglo-Saxon speaking lower classes were more likely to have to "pay
dearly with their lives" in the time of war.
1. Non-American English, at least many varieties of it, uses "dear" in
both senses. Thus, for instance, in Australian English you may sayÂ
something like "Computers are very expensive" and "Computers are very
dear." The latter sounds strange to most American.
I'm an American and I don't find it strange, just infrequent.
Ed Alexander, Ontario
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From: Hellinckx Luc luc.hellinckx at gmail.com
Subject: LL-L "Semantics"
Beste Ron,
You wrote:
I've long been intrigued by the semantic development of the word complex
"dear" within the Germanic languages, and I wonder if you have any
information to add.
"Dear" and its relatives can mean the following:
1. highly valued (dear to one's heart)
2. expensive (having a high price)
Clearly, the common denominator is "valuable" or "valued."
In the English-speaking world there appears to be a split:
1. American English uses "dear" only in the first-mentioned sense, with
idiomatic exceptions (i.e., supposedly archaisms) such as "to pay a dear
price" or "to pay dearly."
2. Non-American English, at least many varieties of it, uses "dear" in
both senses. Thus, for instance, in Australian English you may say
something like "Computers are very expensive" and "Computers are very
dear." The latter sounds strange to most American.
Brabantish knows "duur/dier" exclusively as a word meaning "expensive"
(geographical distribution roughly follows the pattern of vier/vuur ~
fire/Feuer). Not as a word meaning something like "caro" in Italian. By the
way, "dierbaar" is totally "school language", it's no part whatsoever of
the vernacular. More in general, any word having the suffix "baar" is not a
traditional Brabantish word, it's a germanism.
Could it be that the literal meaning of "dear" already got pushed away by
"expensive" in English during Anglo-Norman times? In uptown language that
is...in lower echelons the original meaning may have been preserved longer.
"Dear", as in "Dear Henry", has no cognate in Brabantish. "Lieve" is
predominantly used when an amorous relationship exists between the two
(contrasting with Saxon I believe). On a general level, as far as I know,
only "Beste ..." will do.
Kind greetings,
Luc Hellinckx, Halle, Belgium
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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Semantics
Thanks, everyone.
Here's something for you to sink your teeth into:
In Scots, *lief* [li(ː)f] ~ [li(ː)v...] means 'dear', 'beloved', thus
corresponding to what in Dutch is *lief* [li(ː)f] ~ [li(ː)v...] and in Low
Saxon is *leef* ... [lɛɪf] ~ [lɛɪv...] ~ [laɪf] ~ [laɪv...].
Dutch ("Flemish") influence in Scotland?
Regards,
Reinhard/Ron
Seattle, USA
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From: Hannelore Hinz <hannehinz at t-online.de> <hannehinz at t-online.de>
Subject: LL-L "Semantics" 2011.11.15 (03) [EN]
Hallo "dear" Lowlanners.
Vörweg hier ein Riemel von Gerda Uhthoff 2.8.1896-21.10.1988
(Wi kennten uns.)
*PLANT' HELLE BLAUMEN
*
Glück in de Leiw, dat singt von sülben, -
wenn't Hart tau vull is, juucht de Mund,
man trurig Leiw swiggt in sik rinner,
ward nachtens blot in Tranen kund.
Dor möten anner denn von singen,
de Dichterslüüd, dat olle Leed
von de verlaten Leiw up Ierden,
de düster Blaum in't bunte Beet.
Plant' helle Blaumen in den Goren
all von jug Leiw, wenn't jichtens geiht,
de düstern maken trurig Harten; -
wo schöön is't doch, wenn'n Glück utseiht*! * aussäen
*leif, *-ee-, flekt. -*w* Adj. und Adv, lieb
*1. *erfreulich, angenehm: 'Dat sy ju allen lef edder leyt' Re.
Osterspiele; 'it wer ock dem Rade leff edder leit' (Rostock; dem
Lebensmüden *is 't *(das Sterben) *eenen Dag so leef as den annern; dat
Leiwst un dat Best updragen *zur Mahlzeit; adverbial gern: *wo leif sei dat
nehm! *(1887)HARed; *moegen Sei dat nich so lif liden? (1889) *SCHÖ/Schlagsd.;
bes. wie hd. für fehlende Steigerung von gern im Kompar. und Superl.:
'Kumpt hir jemant here varen, Deme wil ik alzo möten; He mochte sik lever
laten des kynkhostes böten' Red. Ost.; 'He wolde lever syn, dar ein
Nachmeisters Knecht Ein Span vul dünne Supp (Jauche) up sinen LAUR (Johann
Lauremberg); *he süht eenen lever sinken as fleeten *(schwimmen); *hei süht
ein leiwer gahn as kamen; leiwer tweimal mit Gemack as einmal mit gebrack *vom
geladenen Wagen (1887); *leiwer ahn Abendbrot tau Bedd' gahn as mit
Schulden upstahn; leewer 'n Magen verrenken as 'n Wirt wat schenken.
**2. *im Sinne der Neigung bes. zum andern Geschlecht; so *leif hebben *lieben;
'nademe . . . de Welt . . . dat ere Leeff hefft'; *de Uhl heft eer Uelhken
so leev, aß de Duve er Düveken; wenn . . . Nahwers Kinner sick leiw hewwen *
F.Reut;
*leef hebben *küssen; so auch in der Wechselrede von Mutter und
Tochter: *Herrjemine,
wat deit he di? Hett he di ok leef? Wat wull he nich, wat schull he nich!
Wenn 't dor man noch bi blew! HA/Red; **ironisch*: *he is 'n Soehn, oewer
ok 'n leewen! - seem. sick leewen Mann maken (*sich beliebt ..Huh, Programm
abgestürzt.., gerettet) also (sich beliebt machen, sich einschmeicheln beim
Kapitän); *substantivisch *in der Anrede: *min Leiwen*; im Sprw.: *dei wat
Leiws hett, dei geiht 'e nah, un de wat Scheiws hett, de smitt ' e nah; *im
*Superlativ:
**Leiwste *Liebste; *formelhaft *häufig als Attribut bei Substantiven
mannigfacher Art wie: *dei leiw Gott, dat leiw Brot, dat leiw Veih, dei
leiw Sünn, dei leiw' Ierd', dei leiwe Lust, männigein leiwen Dag, dei leiwe
lange Nacht; *oft *verhüllend*: *dat leiwe *(kümmerliche bißchen) *Läben;
dat leiw Wäder *(Unwetter, Gewitter); *min leiwe *(große) *Not; vör luter
leiwe *(großer) *Angst; dat leiwe *(schlimme) *Kuurnköpen; dat leiw *(böse)
*Leiden; so väl leiwe *(harte) *Släg'; *Als* Ausruf des Bedauerns oder der
Verwunderung: **du leiwe Tit.
**3. *Dim.: 'min Lefken' (mein Liebchen; ebenso im Tanzlied *Gos up de Däl:
mit min Leewken. **Im Tiergespräch: **Herrjes', min Leefken! **auch hd.: *für
die Sonne *seggen weck Klärchen, weck Liebchen; **Koseform*: Leiwing.
Zss.: *hart-, unleif; förleif. *Mnd. *lêf.
*Lit.: Wossidlo/Teuchert
* **
*Noch 'n Riemel von Gerda Uhthoff:
* LÄWENSLANG*
Verlaten Leiw, de glööwt,
dat all's sik wedder wend',
verlaten Leiw, de tööwt un tööwt,
dat all's in'n Gauden end'. -
Un seggst du, dat s' nich glöwen sall,
denn kickt s' di an so bang,
un seggst du, dat s' nich töwen sall,
denn flustert s': "Läwenslang."
So, dat wier mal *dit *un *dat *von leiw/leew *Leiw/Leew*
Un mien Gräuten is ok *leiw *meint.
Hanne
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