LL-L "Semantics" 2004.01.27 (06) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

======================================================================
L O W L A N D S - L * 27.JAN.2004 (06) * 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 Address: lowlands-l at listserv.linguistlist.org
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: Sandy Fleming [sandy at scotstext.org]
Subject: "Semantics"

> From: R. F. Hahn lowlands-l at lowlands-l.net
> Subject: Semantics
>
> Vörmiddag ("fore-midday" = "forenoon"): the time between 9 or 10 a.m. and
> noon.

"The forenuin" ['fo:rnIn] in Scots is from about 10am to noon.

This seems to be in contrast with English - in the Somerset village where I
live you'll hear people saying "good morning" from sun up to about 2pm!

> Nacht: 'night' -- which begins when the average person goes to bed, not in
> the evening (_Avend_) as in English ('tonight' etc.).

In Scots the "nicht" [nIxt] starts in the early evening too. I think the
reason for this is that in country areas people used to go to bed at about
eight in the evening so as to be able to get up in time to milk cows &c.
Thus it was pretty much bedtime by the time they were home, washed and
dined. As people started to stay awake later, perhaps the use of
"night/nicht" stayed in place?

Sandy
http://scotstext.org/

----------

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

Thanks, Sandy.  What you said about Scots _nicht_ may well apply to rural
dialects of Lowlands Saxon (Low German) and other as well.  My perception
(attributed semantic value) is that of a city dweller (surrounded by night
owls, also on this list).  It may be different for someone in a rural
community or with more immediate rural roots than mine, who belongs to the
second generation of city dwellers with rural roots.  I have a feeling that
what exactly is "night" differs from community to community or even from
family to family, depending on what they consider normal bedtime.  So,
perhaps we should assume that "night" is semantically fairly vague or
flexible.

One of the major cultural and linguistic distinctions seems to be with
regard to the beginning of a "day."  I guess that all Lowlands varieties
traditionally consider morning (i.e., return of sunlight = dawn, LS _ucht_)
to be the beginning of a day, more recently overlaid by the "scientific"
notion that a day begins with midnight.  Some other cultures and languages,
such as those of the Middle East, traditionally consider evening (i.e.,
sunset) to be the beginning of a day, hence beginnings of holiday
celebrations on what West Europeans and their descendants consider the
previous evening.

Is there any variation in the Lowlands region in this respect?

By the way, dusk -- the time of fading daylight around sunset) is featured a
lot in LS literature.  Its names:
   _schummertyd_ (<Schummertiet> ['SU.m at ti:t])
   _schummerey_ (<Schummeree> [SU.m@'rE.I])
   _schummern_ (<Schummern> ['SU.m at n])
all from the verb _schummern_ 'to dusk', 'to grow dark'

There is also the variant _schuptyd_ (<Schupptiet> ['SUpti:t]), which I
assume to be a derivation  (with stop assimilation) of _schummertyd_.

Furthermore, there is an in my opinion lovely word for the same thing
(reminding me very much of Old Norse "poetic nicknames"):

_ulenvlugd_ (<Ulenflucht> ['?u:lnflUxt]), literally "owls' flight"

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.
=======================================================================