LL-L "Syntax" 2003.09.12 (04) [A/E]

[Lowlands-L]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 12.SEP.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: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Syntax

Liewe Laaglanders,

Laat ek julle iets vra na die Afrikaanse woordjie "laat" met betrekking tot
die gebiedende wys.

I am rather intrigued by the Afrikaans use of _laat_ 'let' in imperative
constructions, such as _Laat ek jou iets vertel van Gordonsbaai_ ("Let I you
once tell about Gordon's Bay(?)") 'Let me tell you about Gordon's Bay."

When I first came across this type of construction it sounded "wrong" to me.
My first inclination was that it ought to be _Laat my jou vertel van
Gordonsbaai_, with objective _my_ 'me' rather than with nominative
(subjective) _ek_ 'I'.  I suppose this is not only how it would be in
English, but also in Lowlands Saxon (Low German), _Laat my Dy maal vun
Gordon's Bay vertellen_ (not *_Laat ik Dy vertellen vun Gordon's Bay_) -- ex
cept that it's rare to hear this "correct" form either, because it is more
natural to say this in a non-imperative way: _Ik vertel Dy maal vun Gordon's
Bay_ 'I'll tell you about Gordon's Bay.'

I am now beginning to understand that the Afrikaans construction is
different, that it is not {Laat {subject}{predicat}} but {Laat
{{subject}{predicat}}}, where _laat_ is a proposal marker, something like
"Let (it be the case that) I tell you."  In other words, _ek_ is not the
object of 'let' here, thus is not _my_ 'me' but _ek_ 'I'.

Is this correct?  If so, what are the limitations?  Can you do this with the
third person as well, e.g. *_Laat hy jou vertel van Gordonsbaai_ ("Let he
you tell about Gordon's Bay") rather than *_Laat hom jou vertel van
Gordonsbaai_ ("Let him you tell about Gordon's Bay") 'Let him tell you about
Gordon's Bay'?

I suppose this is an Afrikaans-specific feature, an innovation.  Or does it
exist in other Lowlands varieties as well, such as Zeelandic, the likely
primary ancestor of Afrikaans?

Baie dankie by voorbaat!

Groetjies,
Reinhard/Ron

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