LL-L: "Language contacts" LOWLANDS-L, 23.NOV.1999 (02) [D]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 23.NOV.1999 (02) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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 A=Afrikaans, Ap=Appalachean, D=Dutch, E=English, F=Frisian, L=Limburgish
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From: $ Elsie Zinsser [ezinsser at simpross.co.za]
Subject:  LL-L: "Language contacts" LOWLANDS-L, 22.NOV.1999 (02) [E]

Môre julle!

Jorge Potter [jorgepot at caribe.net] wrote:

>>the technical word for such a place was the Dutch word "vly,"
>>pronounced  exactly like the English word "fly."
>>OED has"Vlei (vl at i). Also vley, vly, vlie, vlaei [Du. dial. vlei,
reduced form of
>>Du. vallei valley]

 >>"1. In South Africa: A shallow pool of water; a piece of low-lying
ground
>>covered with water in the rainy season.
>>It all piques my curiosity that the specialized meaning of vlei as a
low,
>>wet place occurs only in America and South Africa . Any comment?

Jorge, the OED also gives the pronunciation of the word _vlei_ , namely
[fla]. (The _a_ is pronounced as in _fate_.)
It is not correct to pronounce it, as you have it, as English _fly_

I think the occurrence of a _vlei_ in the low rainfall Southern Africa
is a seasonal thing. Today's _vlei_ is tomorrow's
muddy patch and next week's hard crust. It should not be confused with
the perpetually wet _vleie_ of the US, unless you mean with 'America'
the Southern continent?

Cheers,

Elsie Zinsser

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