LL-L "Etymology" 2002.11.05 (03) [ES]

[Lowlands-L]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 05.NOV.2002 (03) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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 A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian B=Brabantish D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian
 L=Limburgish LS=Lowlands Saxon (Low German) S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic
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From: John M. Tait <jmtait at wirhoose.co.uk>
Subject: LL-L "Etymology" 2002.11.02 (05) [S]

Sandy wrate:
>
>The SND dis list "ferlie" as a adjective, tho it gies ferlie
>few examples (tho that's ane o them!).
>
>It wad mean "wondrous, strangely, remarkably".
>
>It micht be (my theory, no the SND's) that the adjective form
>isna sae aesy notticed wi the wey it's aften written an sayed
>"fairly", sae it micht be taen tae be the adverb "fairly".

Thare's a thocht nou! Coorse, in some dialects - Shetlandic bein ane o
thaim - <ferlie> an <fairly> is baith pronunced the same - [fe:rli] or
[fe:rlI]. This wadna hae oniething ti dae wi the fact at in Shetlandic, at
onie rate, 'fairly' can mean 'completely'? Compare the follaein:

English: It's quite cold today.
Scottish English: It's fairly cold today (means the same as above?)
Shetlandic: Hit's braaly caald da day.

In Shetlandic, 'Hit's fairly caald da day' wad mean 'it's extremely (lit:
completely) cold today'. Cf the meanins o English 'quite' in 'it's quite
cold' an 'it's quite finished'.

I'm no shuir gin ye coud lippen on 'it's fairly cauld the day' bein liftit
siccar in general Scots. Wad 'fairly' here mean 'quite' or 'extremely'?

John M. Tait.

http://www.wirhoose.co.uk

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From: John M. Tait <jmtait at wirhoose.co.uk>
Subject: LL-L "Etymology" 2002.11.02 (09) [E]

Ron wrate:

>Questions:
>
>o In which dialect group(s) is _ook_ prevalent?

I can't tell you this, but I can say that in Shetland the word is regarded
as (a) old fashioned, and (b) characteristic of certain localities within
Shetland. I have always presumed that this was a case of the older Scots
word giving way to the English 'week', and then becoming regarded as 'Unst'
or whatever, depending on where it survived.
>
>o Is there any list of Scandinavian loans in Scots?

Don't know. In some cases, of course - as Dan and I were discussing with
regard to palatalisation (sorry I didn't answer your answer, Dan - I
couldn't find it again) it's sometimes difficult to tell what's a Norse loan
word and what isn't. Jakobsen's 'Etymological Dictionary of the Norn
Language in Shetland' (2 vols, in its English version) lists a large number
of Norse words in Shetlandic, which would perhaps be better described as a
substratum rather than loans.
>
>I was also entertained to come across the Scots word _dunny_ 'basement'.  I
>take it that's the origin of the Australian "slang" word "dunny" (from
>_doon_/_doun_ 'down'?) for what is called "bathroom" or "restroom" in the
>U.S., "washroom" in Canada and "toilet" elsewhere, in Scots _wattry_ (so
the
>place with water, the W.C., I assume).

Also in Scots: _lavvie_ (perhaps the most widespread?) and _cludgie_. In
Shetland you also get _nittie_ (very localised), cf. Geordie _netty_.
>
>Last question:
>
>o Is there any list of Scots loans in Australian English?

Again I don't know, but I've mentioned before hearing the phrase 'take a len
of' in Australian (Neighbours - as with Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I of
course watch this programme purely from linguistic motives!) with a meaning
similar to the Scots meaning, ie: to play a trick on, or similar. The word
'len', rather than English 'loan' suggests that this is a Scots loan - or
len - word. (Phew!).

John M. Tait.

http://www.wirhoose.co.uk

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