LL-L "Names" 2002.06.13 (04) [E/LS]

[Lowlands-L]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 13.JUN.2002 (04) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
 Web Site: <http://www.geocities.com/sassisch/rhahn/lowlands/>
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 A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian L=Limburgish
 LS=Low Saxon (Low German) S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic Z=Zeelandic (Zeeuws)
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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Names

[English below]

Leeglanners,

Nu wöörd' ik daar jüst an dinken, wo Fiete Neumann nulest schreev', ik
meen dat mit "Leegland" sachs so 'n lütt beten spaassig, un ik seeg',
tjer, eerder halv spaassig un halv eernst, dat "leeg" in 'n paar
neddersassische (nedderdüütsche) Dialekten ook vundagigendaags noch
"deep un platt" bedüden deit, nich bloots "slecht."  Ik harr ook seggt,
dat na mien Verscheel dat Woord "Siedland" nich so 'n groot, wied Rebeed
bedüden deit as dat, wat wi hier "Lowlands" nömen doot.

Un nu is mi dat wedder in d'n olen Bregenkassen trüggkamen: Ik wöörd'
"Siedland" up (Hoog-)Düütsch as _(Marsch-)Niederung_ översetten,
"Leegland" tomehrst as _Tiefebene_ (as in "Nordeuropäische Tiefebene").

Wat meent Ji?

Kumpelmenten,
Reinhard/Ron

***

Lowlanders,

I was just now reminded of Fiete Neumann recently saying he was assuming
I was using the name _Leegland_ in Low Saxon (Low German) in a jocular
manner (since _leeg_ means 'bad', 'inferior'), and I responded that I
was only half joking, that _leeg_ still means 'low and flat' in several
modern dialects, not only 'inferior'.  I also said that in my opinion
the word _Siedland_ does not denote as vast an area as the one to which
we refer as "Lowlands" here.

And now it has just clicked in the old brain: while Low Saxon _Siedland_
is best translated as _(Marsch-)Niederung_ in (High) German ('(marshy)
stretch of low-lying land'), _Leegland_ is often best translated as
_Tiefebene_ ('lowlands', 'plain(s)', as in _Nordeuropäische Tiefebene_
'North European Lowland/Plains').

What do others think?

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

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