LL-L "Syntax" 2003.07.11 (02) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 11.JUL.2003 (02) * 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: Allison Turner-Hansen <hallison at gte.net>
Subject: Semantics

> From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
> Subject: Language varieties
>
Ron wrote,
>
> (1) Semantics:
>
> Where genitives are used, several of the local speakers put into
> adjectival place phrases that
> otherwise would be relative; for example,
>
> That('s) the ole-guy-who-I-do-his-tax(es)-('s) house.
> (That's the house of the old guy whose taxes I do.)
>
> He('s) the cousin-I-grew-up-with-in-Pushmataha('s) son.
> (He's the son of the cousin with whom I grew up in Pushmataha.)
>
> How widespread is this feature in American and other English and Lowlands
> dialects?

Dear Ron, Lowlanders,
    Ron, I used to live in the Florida panhandle, though further east than
where I think you are staying, namely, St. George Island.  Most of the
oyster fisherfolk move back and forth between Florida and Louisiana,
depending on the abundance of oysters.  The Cajuns who participate in this
call themselves Coonasses.  What a delightful area it is!  I hope you are
enjoying your stay, and I hope you get out in the swamp and see some
wildlife.
    Anyway, the usage you mention above is pretty widespread, at least in
the south.  I have certainly heard it in upper Georgia and in North
Carolina.
Regards,
Allison Turner-Hansen

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

Thanks, Allison!  It's so good to hear from you!

I don't understand why I called that section "Semantics" when it was
supposed to be "Syntax."  I guess it was a combination of fatigue, vacation
carelessness and distraction.  But thanks for following the
instructions/request.

This type of syntactic structure is fascinating, probably rare in
Indo-European, certainly in Germanic.  It is very much like the normal
structure in Altaic languages (whose branches are Turkic, Mongolic, Tungusic
and, connected on a pre-Altaic level, Japanese and Korean).  Anything that
modifies a noun is packed into the adjectival slot, and this includes
complex subordinate phrases.

I agree that the said area is quite nice.  The people tend to be very kind
and courteous.  And the seafood?  What can I say but "like budda"?

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

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