LL-L "Lexicon" 2005.09.10 (05) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

======================================================================
L O W L A N D S - L * 10.SEP.2005 (05) * 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
Commands ("signoff lowlands-l" etc.): listserv at listserv.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: Luc Hellinckx <luc.hellinckx at gmail.com>
Subject: LL-L "Lexicon"

Beste Heiko,

Regarding mathematical terms in a Lowlandic idiom, I'd like to refer you to 
"Simon Stevin".

Single-handedly, he coined most of the Dutch words we're using today in 
math. He wasn't only a cunning mathematician, a remarkable engineer, a good 
accountant, but also linguistically very proud of his native language (16th 
century Dutch), judging one of his  writings "Uytspraeck van de weerdicheyt 
der Duytse tael (1586)". Definitely an engineer he was in more than one way 
*s*.

The guy was born in Bruges, discovered some gravitational laws before 
Galileo Galilei did, moved to the Northern Lowlands later on in his life and 
became a private teacher of prince Maurits within the Dutch royal family 
(amongst many other things). He must be one of the best scientists we ever 
had in the Lowlands (but I could be biased, being a mathematician myself 
*s*). By the way, his word for math, "wisconst", hints at "wis" (= sure, 
certain, true), a word that can still be heard in expressions like "wis en 
waarachtig" (= 100% true) and in the verb "vergewissen" (= to make sure). 
Today, math is one of the few, if not the only science, in which Dutch words 
still abound (other sciences got flooded with French, English and Latin 
terms).

You can find most of his works online at:
http://www.xs4all.nl/%7Eadcs/stevin/index.html
and
http://www.library.tudelft.nl/digitresor/?bookname=Wisconstige%20Ghedachtenissen%20deel%201&page=I

Kind greetings,

Luc Hellinckx

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