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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">===========================================<br>
L O W L A N D S - L - 21 November 2008 - Volume 02<span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 153);"><br>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;"><br>
From: <span class="ep8xu"><span><span style="color: rgb(0, 104, 28);"><a href="mailto:heatherrendall@tiscali.co.uk">heatherrendall@tiscali.co.uk</a></span></span></span><span class="hccdpe"> </span><span class="ldacoc"><<a href="mailto:heatherrendall@tiscali.co.uk">heatherrendall@tiscali.co.uk</a>></span><br>
Subject: <span class="hccdpe">LL-L "Language use" 2008.11.20 (04)
[E/LS]</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">from Heather Rendall <a href="mailto:heatherrendall@tiscali.co.uk" target="_blank">heatherrendall@tiscali.co.uk</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">Reinhard/Ron wrote
" all those German-speaking <i>Quiddjes</i>, non-natives"</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">Please do explain meaning /
origins/ nuances of this gorgeous word "Quiddjes"</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">I want to use it! Such fun
to say!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">Heather</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">Quiddje of Wichenford</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial;">----------<br>
<br>
From: R. F. Hahn <<a href="mailto:sassisch@yahoo.com" target="_blank">sassisch@yahoo.com</a>><br>
Subject: Etymology<br>
<br>
A <i>Quiddje</i> (~ <i>Quittje </i>~ <i>Quietje</i>) is someone who is not
originally from Northern Germany, usually specifically from Hamburg or from the
coast, is not very familiar with local culture and does not know Low Saxon or
Missingsch. It is also used to refer to a newbie or greenhorn among ships'
crews, someone that doesn't yet know the routines and doesn't have all the
necessary skills.<br>
<br>
According to the German Wikipedia (<a href="http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quiddje">http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quiddje</a>), the
origin of the word is obscure. Some believe it comes from French <i>quitté</i> used
in connection with merchants' passes at (Hamburg's)
city gates.<br>
<br>
I can't help wondering if the word <i>Quiddje</i> (<i>kwidje ~ kwitje</i>) is
of Dutch origin like other Low Saxon words of Northern
Germany that end with diminuitve –<i>je</i> (such as <i>Buttje</i>, <i>Bontje</i>
and <i>Mattjes</i>). And here comes my own hypothesis that <i>Quiddje</i> (<i>kwidje
~ kwitje</i>) came from Dutch <i>kwijt</i> (dialectal and Western Low Saxon <i>kwiet</i>)
in the sense of 'unable to function' and 'helpless'. Doesn't this make sense? I
think I'll add it to the Wikipedia article with reference to this posting in our archive.<br>
<br>
Regards,<br>
Reinhard/Ron</span></p>