LL-L "Grammar" 2002.06.12 (02) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 12.JUN.2002 (02) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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 A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian L=Limburgish
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From: y-waki at pf6.so-net.ne.jp
Subject: Etymology

Subject: Etymology
David Elsmworth wrote:
As can be seen, this group of verbs are clearly irregular in Dutch and
all
exhibit the same vowel changes in the corresponding past tense, as do
the equivalent german verbs.
However, in German, whilst schalgen and tragen are strong irregular
verbs, fragen is in fact a weak
verb, which is somewhat quite puzzling.

I feel also why the past form of "fragen" is "frgte", but not "frug".
But in old time, it should
habe been "frug".  I am not a native speaker of German, and not a
"Fachsprachwissenschaftler".  I
think that language is cahnging every day. In some time, the form of
"frug" was not used gradually
and changed to "fragte". Can any one give your opinion or comment?

Regards,

Yasuji Waki

Yasuji Waki
E-mail: y-waki at pf6.so-net.ne.jp
Addr: 1-2-6-104, Midoridai, Funabashi,
Chiba Pref. Japan

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

Actually, German /fraag-/ _fragen_ 'to ask' is still both a weak and a
strong verb, depending on one's dialect.  It is true that most people
now use the preterite form _fragte_ (i.e., treat the verb as weak), but
some speakers and writers, especially older ones, still can be observed
to use _frug_ (i.e., treat the verb as strong).  I therefore believe it
is fair to say that German /fraag-/ is in a late stage of transition to
becoming a strong verb.

Low Saxon (Low German) also has variation in /fraag-/ 'to ask' between
strong (preterite _froog'_ [fro:UG] ~ _froog_ [fro.Ux] ~ _fröög'_
[fr9:Ij] ~ _fröög_ [fr9.IC]) and weak (preterite _fraagte_ ~ _fraagde_
['frQ:xte] ~ ['fro:xte]), again depending on the dialect.  It would be
interesting to find out if there, too, there is a shift toward the weak
choice, and, if so, if this is because of the shift in ("High") German.

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

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