LL-L "Etymology" 2002.06.20 (01) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

======================================================================
 L O W L A N D S - L * 19.JUN.2002 (04) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
 Web Site: <http://www.geocities.com/sassisch/rhahn/lowlands/>
 Rules: <http://www.geocities.com/sassisch/rhahn/lowlands/rules.html>
 Posting Address: <lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org>
 Server Manual: <http://www.lsoft.com/manuals/1.8c/userindex.html>
 Archive: <http://listserv.linguistlist.org/archives/lowlands-l.html>
=======================================================================
 A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian L=Limburgish
 LS=Low Saxon (Low German) S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic Z=Zeelandic (Zeeuws)
=======================================================================

From: Edwin Alexander <edsells at cogeco.ca>
Subject: LL-L "Help needed" 2002.06.19 (02) [E]

At 09:21 AM 06/19/02 -0700, Ron wrote:

  "Thing" (the Old Germanic institution, a word still used in North
  Germanic) tends to be "translated" as "thing," "ting" or "þing" in
  specialist English literature.  (In that case it would require an
  explanatory footnote.)  How about "meeting of the Thing"?

Actually, in English we have the word "hustings", i.e. "hus - tings",
local meetings to which politicians flock during election
time, with the attendant expression "out in the hustings", that is, at
the local riding level.

Ed Alexander
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Wês in sinnestriel, in oar hat der forlet fan.
Fryske Sprekwurd

----------

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

But surely, Ed, "hustings" is not English by origin.  Or is it?  If it
were English I would expect (*_hûs+þing_ >) *"house thing".  The
_American Heritage Dictionary_ says that it comes from _hûsting_ < Old
Norse _hûsðing_ = _hûs_ 'house' + _ðing_ 'assembly'.  Why _ðing_ and not
_þing_?  Why English "ting" and not _thing_ from Old Norse _þing_ or
_ðing_ (though ON _þing_ > Scandinavian *_ting_, and ON *_ðing_ > Sc.
*_ding_)?  Did the Viking invasion not precede the English shift (/uu/ >
/au/) _û_ > _ou_, and would we therefore not have to expect *"house
things"?  I would be more convinced if it said that "hustings" was a
later Scandinavian loan, namely from *_husting_ (< ON _húsþing_).

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

----------

From: "Wim" <wkv at home.nl>
Subject: LL-L "Help needed" 2002.06.19 (02) [E]

In Dutch there are "geding"   "bedingen"  "rechtsgeding", so the word
for
thing, the Germanic meeting of the people, isn't gone,  it just got a
narrowed down meaning, all for legal things.

[Wim Verdoold]

==================================END===================================
 You have received this because your account has been subscribed upon
 request. To unsubscribe, please send the command "signoff lowlands-l"
 as message text from the same account to
 <listserv at listserv.linguistlist.org> or sign off at
 <http://linguistlist.org/subscribing/sub-lowlands-l.html>.
=======================================================================
 * Please submit postings to <lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org>.
 * Postings will be displayed unedited in digest form.
 * Please display only the relevant parts of quotes in your replies.
 * Commands for automated functions (including "signoff lowlands-l") are
   to be sent to <listserv at listserv.linguistlist.org> or at
   <http://linguistlist.org/subscribing/sub-lowlands-l.html>.
 * Please use only Plain Text format, not Rich Text (HTML) or any other
   type of format, in your submissions
=======================================================================