LL-L "Orthography" 2002.03.03 (07) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 03.MAR.2002 (07) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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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: Etymology

Lowlanders,

Sandy's postings of a portion of Robert Burns' Scots epic poem "Tom
O'Shanter" (under "Orthography") reminded me of a minor Lowlandic gem,
and some of you may appreciate me pointing it out: a Dutch (Flemish?)
loan in Scots: _skellum_ (<skelum> in Sandy's latest orthographic
version) 'scoundrel', 'trickster', 'scamp', from Dutch _schelm_.  Why
Dutch _schelm_ and not Low Saxon _Schelm_ ([SE.lm] ~ [SkE.lm]) or German
_Schelm_ ([SElm])?  Because breaking up consonant clusters such as /lm/
with an epenthetic vowel (usually a schwa [@], but before /m/ possibly
/U/) is typically Low Franconian (thus ['sxEl at m], ['skEl at m], ['sxElUm],
[skElUm] for written <schelm>).  Plus, we know that "Flemings" settled
in Scotland at one time (though we also know that there were connections
between the Low-Saxon-speaking Hanseatic Trading League and the British
Isles.

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

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