LL-L "Etymology" 2002.05.21 (06) [E/LS]

[Lowlands-L]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 21.MAY.2002 (06) * 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: "Friedrich-Wilhelm.Neumann" <Friedrich-Wilhelm.Neumann at epost.de>
Subject: "Etymology"

n' Oobend/Good evening, Leeglanners/Lowlanders, Ron,

jümmers, wenn ick dat Wourd (lowl:) *Sprook* or *Spraak* (engl.:
"language")
hööern dau, heff ick'n slecht Gefööhl: in uns "Küstenplatt" secht kein
ein
souwatt, unn as "Verbum" (as hauchdüütsch "sprechen") waard dat amenn ne
bruukt. Wi ümschrieevt dat einnich jümmers mit *snacken* (engl.:)  "the
and
to talk", maybe too "to and the speak[ing]".
He Ji Lust , dat mool tau ünnerseuken?

Översetten:

Everytime I use or hear the lowlandic word *Sprook* or *Spraak" (engl.:
"language") I get kind of bad feeling. In our (coatal) dialect there
normally won't  be used a  word like this, and there isn't a VERB
(similar
to upper German "sprechen" = to talk) for it at all. We always try to
"circum"scribe it with (lowlandic) *snacken*, e.g. (engl.:) "the and to
talk", maybee too "to and the speak[ing]".
Could it be interesting to have a look on this?

Gaoud' Nacht/Regards

Fiete.

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

Fiete,

[English below]

To Anfang harr "snacken" dat Bedüden "plaudern" or "schwätzen", un denn
wöör 't 'n Alternativ-Woord för _spreken_.  So wöör "snacken" ook as
_snakke_ in 't Däänsche övernahmen.  _Spreken_ -- de Verbform vun
_Spraak_ -- was dat "eernsthafte" Woord daarför in ole Tieden un wardt
ook noch in 'n Barg neddersassische (nedderdüütsche) Dialekten bruukt
(in 't Oostfaalsche un in d'n Oosten).  Ik glööv', dat eernsthafte Woord
full so bilütten bi de Kant, as us Spraak middemank all dat Verdüütschen
un Minnachtig-Maken nich mehr eernst nahmen un as egenstännige Spraak
ankeken wöör.  Eernsthaftig "spreken" (> _sprechen_) doon de nu
indüütschten Sassen denn man bloots in 't "Hoog"-Düütsche, dat jüm vun
baven in de Sluuk rinsteken wöör.  Middewiel füngen de mehrsten mank jüm
an jüm ehr egene Spraak minnachtig antokieken, nich as 'n reale
"Spraak," man as so 'n "Snack(wies')."  För 't "Snacken", "Kekeln",
"Kören", "Küren", "Praten", "Praatschen" un "Plötern" un wo se dat noch
anners in jüm ehr lüttjen Dialekten nömen, tja, so seker un kommodig
tohuus' or bi d'n Naver, weg vun de Hoogdüütschen, daar was düsse Spraak
> Snack noch good noog för.
Tominnst is düt mien nich heel un deel wetenschupplich Verklaren.  :)

_Snakken_ used to have the meaning 'to chat', and then it developed into
an alternative to _spreken_ 'to talk', 'to speak'.  This is how
_snacken_ was borrowed into Danish.  _Spreken_ -- the verb form of
_Spraak_ 'language' - used to be the "serious" word for 'to speak' in
earlier times and still is in quite a few Low Saxon (Low German)
dialects (in Eastphalian and eastern dialects).  I think the serious
word gradually fell by the wayside as underneath a wave of Germanization
and denigration our language ceased to be taken seriously and ceased to
be considered a language in its own right.  The now Germanized Saxons
started to seriously _spreken_ (> _sprechen_) only in "High" German that
had been shoved down their throats from on high.  Soon enough most of
them started to despise their own language, no longer saw it as a real
"language," only as a _Snack(wies')", a way of chatting.  As long as no
"High Germans" were around and they were in their safe and cozy homes or
over at their neighbors', this _Snack(wies')_ was still good enough for
_Snacken_, _Kekeln_, _Kören_, _Küren_, _Praten_, _Praatschen_ and
_Plötern_ or whatever they call their laid-back chatting in their own
little dialects.
At least this is my not entirely scientific explanation.  :)

Kumpelmenten/Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

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