LL-L "Lexicon" 2002.09.30 (03) [D/E]

[Lowlands-L]

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 L O W L A N D S - L * 30.SEP.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
               V=(West)Flemish Z=Zeelandic (Zeêuws)
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From: George M Gibault <gmg at direct.ca>
Subject: LL-L "Lexicon" 2002.09.29 (04) [E]

Fellow Lowlanders,

In the substrate discussion it might also be useful to consider the
position of the Baltic languages. While what used to be East Germany was
Slavic 1,000 years ago the cutoff lands of Prussia were Baltic and they too
were Germanized only gradually. Old Prussian, a close relative of
Lithuanian - the most conservative of all the Indo-European languages -
survived along with a trinitarian paganism related to early Hinduism
(equivalents of Agni, Indra and Varuna being chief gods) into the 18th
century. Only a comparison of DNA and archaeological research is likely to
give a complete picture. Much of the DNA research would have to be done in
areas such as Bremen where many Prussians were resettled. There may be
parts of north Germany where Balts succeeded pre-Indo-Europeans, only to be
succeeded in turn by Slavs, who in turn were succeeded by Germans. How much
of the succession was cultural and how much genetic is still I think an
open question - but one which could now be answered for the first time,
thanks to the advance of DNA analysis. The resulting map is likely to be an
extremely complex one. A real advantage is the survival of peat bog bodies
in Denmark and north Germany capable of yielding very early DNA samples for
comparison with modern populations. Preliminary work in Britain suggests
more cultural and less genetic change in populations there than had been
thought likely before. Anyone wanting to know what our ancient
Indo-European ancestors sounded like will come closest by listening to the
oldest of the Lithuanian folksongs and the liturgical chanting of the
Sanskrit Rig Veda - which has continued daily for several thousand years.
All of our Germanic tongues - even Icelandic - are very innovative compared
with these.

                                 George M. Gibault
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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Lexicon

Thanks for making an important point (above), George!

Yes, it ought not be forgotten that Baltic language varieties used to be
spoken where later West Slavic and then Germanic ones came to be spoken,
thus forming layers.  Many Northeastern Lowlands Saxon (Low German)
varieties, especially those spoken along the Baltic coast (including
Mennonite varieties) thus have both Slavic and Baltic substrate and numerous
lexical items to prove it.

> Old Prussian, a close relative of
> Lithuanian - the most conservative of all the Indo-European languages -
> survived along with a trinitarian paganism related to early Hinduism
> (equivalents of Agni, Indra and Varuna being chief gods) into the 18th
> century.

Interestingly, Pomeranian Slavic "paganism," too, had as its main deity
Triglav ("Three-Head"), the three-headed god.  I wonder if this was a part
of imported Slavic belief or a Baltic substrate, or both.

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

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