LL-L "Semantics" 2004.08.17 (02) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

======================================================================
L O W L A N D S - L * 17.AUG.2004 (02) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
http://www.lowlands-l.net * lowlands-l at lowlands-l.net
Rules & Guidelines: http://www.lowlands-l.net/index.php?page=rules
Posting: lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org or lowlands-l at lowlands-l.net
Server Manual: http://www.lsoft.com/manuals/1.8c/userindex.html
Archives: http://listserv.linguistlist.org/archives/lowlands-l.html
Encoding: Unicode (UTF-8) [Please switch your view mode to it.]
=======================================================================
You have received this because you have been subscribed upon request.
To unsubscribe, please send the command "signoff lowlands-l" as message
text from the same account to listserv at listserv.linguistlist.org or
sign off at http://linguistlist.org/subscribing/sub-lowlands-l.html.
=======================================================================
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)
=======================================================================

From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: How do you say ...?

I wrote under "How do you say ...?":

> I'll write about _te(g)en_ under "Semantics."

And here goes.


By the way, the Lowlands Saxon (Low German) verb _te(g)en_ ( past part.
_tagen_) -- basically 'to pull', or better 'to draw' -- is interesting in
that in many modern dialects it tends to take a back seat to _trekken_
(<trecken>) with basically the same meaning.  I would go as far as saying
that _trekken_ is the general word for 'to pull', 'to draw', and, yes, also
in exactly the same sense as _trekken_ in Dutch and _trek_ in Afrikaans,
namely 'to migrate', 'to treck'.  _Te(g)en_ tends to have more specicialized
meanings, such as in this case ('to raise (a child)').  Some people use
_üm-te(g)en_ (<ümte(g)en>) in the sense of 'to move (house)' (Dutch
_verhuizen_).  I say _üm-trekken_ (<ümtrecken>) instead, which to some
people sounds like 'to move in a procession'.

I personally feel that in the sense of 'to pull', 'to draw', _trekken_
connotes a vigorous movement, even 'to drag' (similar to _slepen_), while
_te(g)en_ connotes, at least has the potential to connote, a gentler
movement.  I would _trek_ a box out from the closet or _trek_ a struggling
child into the house, but I would _te_ (<teh>) threads out of a garment or
herbs out of the soil (but I would _trek_ handfuls of mature, tough weeds
out of the soil).  _Up-te(g)en_ for 'to raise (a child)' thus implies a
sense of gentleness.

At least these are my perceptions.  Do others disagree?  And how does this
compare with Low Franconian varieties?

By the way, I may have mentioned this before, the LS verb _volgen_
(_folgen_) means simply 'to follow' in many LS dialects, while in others it
has been specialized to mean 'to participate in a funeral (procession)'
(i.e., 'to follow a casket', e.g., _Wy hebt by Jan-Oom volgd_ 'We attended
Uncle John's funeral'), and in these dialects 'to follow' has to be
paraphrased, e.g., _achter ran gaarn_ (<achterrangahn>).

Are there similar situations in other Lowlands varieties, either pertaining
'to follow' or any other basic verb that has taken on a specialized meaning
and can no longer be used in its original meaning?


Regards,
Reinhard/Ron

==============================END===================================
* Please submit postings to lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org.
* Postings will be displayed unedited in digest form.
* Please display only the relevant parts of quotes in your replies.
* Commands for automated functions (including "signoff lowlands-l") are
  to be sent to listserv at listserv.linguistlist.org or at
  http://linguistlist.org/subscribing/sub-lowlands-l.html.
=======================================================================