LL-L "Games" 2003.05.27 (12) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 27.MAY.2003 (12) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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From: "ezinsser" <ezinsser at icon.co.za>
Subject: LL-L "Morphology" 2003.05.27 (04) [E]

Hi Ron and all,

You're saying about 'dolos': "But what a weird name for a bone toy for
children!"

Keep in mind that the 'dol' particle (meaning 'dumb' here) gives
adjectival
meaning to the 'os' - particle. A real ox would react to a whip; this
make belief
animal can only be pulled/dragged along.
Incidentally, my dad tells me that theirs came with long hide whips and
all.

If you think about it, a Barbie doll or toy gun is pretty dull in
comparison.

Regards,
Elsie Zinsser

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

Elsie:

> Incidentally, my dad tells me that theirs came with long hide whips and all.
>
> If you think about it, a Barbie doll or toy gun is pretty dull in
> comparison.

Indeed, unless they came out with a Barbie version that comes with a
bullwhip ... But that would mean taking the toy industry to a whole new
level ... though they could always call it "Ossewa Barbie" or
"Voortrekker Barbie" and give it a bonnet to wear, but I suppose that
wouldn't sell very well this day and age.

Seriously though, I find it fascinating what kinds of toys ordinary
children had not very long ago.  (Why, even I remember having hours and
hours of fun with nothing but small blocks of wood, just before Lego
became the must-have.)  The kinds of antique toys that are collected and
preserved these days tend to be from wealthier families.  This _dolos_
("dumb oxen") bone toy of South Africa sounds rather unique to me.
Might there be a touch of Khoisan or Nguni influence?  Or does it have
counterparts elsewhere?  Lowlandic ones?  I can imagine that early
European immigrants and treckers in the Americas and in Australia had to
be similarly inventive, using what they had (which usually wasn't much)
while making it fit their environment and their educational ideals.

Can anyone else think of unique toys and games elsewhere?

Cheers!
Reinhard/Ron

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