LL-L "Etymology" 2003.04.11 (05) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 11.APR.2003 (05) * 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) N=Northumbrian
S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic V=(West)Flemish Z=Zeelandic (Zeêuws)
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From: Ruud Harmsen <rh at rudhar.com>
Subject: LL-L "Etymology" 2003.04.11 (04) [A/D/E]

10:14 11-4-2003 -0700, R. F. Hahn <admin at lowlands-l.net>:
>Like our friends above, I believe that Afrikaans _dalk_ 'maybe' is
related
>to (i.e., a contracted derivative of) Dutch _dadelijk_ 'really',
>'immediately' (< _daad_ 'deed'), only underwent a peculiar semantic
shift
>("really" > "probably").

Perhaps - and this is just my phantasy without any evidence - the
shift in meaning has a precursor in what in modern Dutch lead to:
"Dalijk gaat hij nog zeggen dat ..."
"Straks zegt hij nog dat ... "
with a mixture of amazement, indignation, expectation. Literally "In
moment he will say", but more like "suppose he'd say ...", "imagine
he'll say ...".
>From there to a meaning "maybe, perhaps" may be a smaller step.

There may be something similar in the history of Dutch dialects.
--
Ruud Harmsen  http://rudhar.com/ - update 15 maart 2003

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From: R. F. Hahn <admin at lowlands-l.net>
Subject: Etymology

Good one (above), Ruud!  Note also English phrases with similar connotations
of anticipation -> possibility, such as "Next thing you know he says, '..."
(= "He is likely to say, '...").

Note another, different weird semantic change in Lowlands Saxon (Low
German):

sachtens ~ sachts ~ sachs 'perhaps', 'maybe', 'I guess ...',
   sometimes 'hopefully'
cf.:
sachten ~ sacht 'carefully', 'gently', 'calmly', quietly
   (<> English "softly", Scots _saft-lik_, cf. Dutch _zachtjes_,
   Afrikaans _saggies_, German _sacht(e)_)
cf.:
sacht 'soft', 'smooth', 'gentle', 'quiet'
   (<> English "soft", Scots _saft_, Dutch _zacht_, Afrikaans _sag_,
   German _sacht_)

Cheers!
Reinhard/Ron

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