LL-L "Morphology" 2004.09.10 (02) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 10.SEP.2004 (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: Ruth & Mark Dreyer <mrdreyer at lantic.net>
Subject: LL-L "Etymology" 2004.09.09 (05) [E]

Hi Críostóir,

Subject: LL-L "Etymology:

What is the purpose of the _-je_ suffix commonly found after verbs
> and nouns, e.g., _een boekje_ ("a book")? Is it just a diminutive? If so,
it
> seems to be used with the similar frequency to the forms _-o_ and _-ie_ in
> Australian English, e.g., _reggo_ ("registration"), _bikie_ ("biker").

You are not wrong here. It is a diminutive, but also it is used, to borrow
from our Hugo Zweep, as an affectionate mutation, indicating 'little',
'cute', & 'mine', or any of the foregoing together.
I think it is a usage common to all Lowlands languages, & probably even
further afield; certainly others understand it. How does it go in Gaelic,
from 'Faeginn' to 'Fegi', (Peggy), & 'Guinevere' to 'Guini' (Jenny)? (don't
trust my spelling).

Afrikaans uses other suffixes indicating affection without the diminutive
implication, e.g. 'my Volkswagen to 'my volla'. A guy with huge feet would
be accorded the honorific 'Foeta' - (futa), as in 'Foeta Murray' (a rugby
player), where the normal plural is 'foete' - (fut@). The abbreviation for
'broeder' or 'broer' - (brother) is 'boet'. A little brother would be
'kleinboet or 'boetie' - (buti), & a big brother would be 'ouboet' or
'boeta'.
I wouldn't say it's ironclad, but this does indicate the general trend.

Yrs,
Mark

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