LL-L "Idiomatica" 2007.05.29 (08) [E]

[Lowlands-L List]

L O W L A N D S - L  -  28 May 2007 - Volume 08

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From: Reuben Epp <reuben at uniserve.com>
Subject: LL-L "Idiomatica" 2007.05.29 (03) [E]

From: Soenke Dibbern <s_dibbern at web.de >
Subject: dood blieven [LS/Scandinavian]

Dear Lowlanders,

the Low Saxon speaking among you will know the expression 'dood blieven'
(to die, "to remain dead"). I always wondered how this came into the
language. 'blieven' is normally used alike to German 'bleiben' (stay,
remain).

Kind regards,
Sönke

Reuben Epp reuben at uniserve.com replies:

My understanding of the term 'doot bliewen' means to die. It appears to
have originated among the north coastal Low Saxons of Germany, many
of whom engaged in fishing and general seafaring. Some who engaged
in seafaring failed to return. In such case family members referred to
occurence as 'opp See bläwen.' This simply meant that the missing person
had died at sea. Apparently, this later developed into 'doot blieven.'

Cheers!
Reuben Epp
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