LL-L "Grammar" 2008.01.28 (01) [E]

[Lowlands-L List]

L O W L A N D S - L  -  28 January 2008 - Volume 01
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From: Reuben Epp <reuben at uniserve.com>
Subject: LL-L "Grammar" 2008.01.27 (10) [E]

Reuben Epp reuben at uniserve.com replies:

Although there may not be hard rules as to how this
grammatical construction should be handled, the usual
construction is to use 'daut' as either article or demonstrative.
However, in the case of 'daut' as an article, the emphasis
in pronunciation varies considerably from 'daut' as a
demonstrative.

If you were to say "This house is old," you would articulate "Det
or (dit) Huus es oolt." (with no particular emphasis on 'det' or 'dit' )

If you were to say "That house is old," (meaning that house over
there) you would articulate with clear emphasis on 'daut,' "Daut
Huus es oolt."

Cheers!  Reuben

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From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
Subject: Grammar

Hello, dear Reuben! It's great to hear from you.

I don't want to gild the lily, nor do I want to confuse our recently
returned Brasilian member Ívison. Let me just explain to others what the
situation is as I see it.

Many, if not most, Low Saxon varieties have lost the neuter pronoun *it* ~ *
et* ('it') and the neuter definite article *it* ~ *et* ('the'), and they use
*dat* in both cases (which in Mennonite varieties is pronounced and
therefore also written *daut*). Depending on the context, *dat* can also
mean 'that', which is its original meaning.

So how do you make sure people understand, for instance, that *dat
bouk*means 'that book' and not 'the book'? In normal speech and within
certain
contexts there is no ambiguity. For one thing, if there is more stress
(emphasis) on *dat* it means 'that'. Also, the speaker is likely to point to
the book or look and nod in its direction. Depending on the dialect, the
meaning 'that' may also be emphasized by adding *daar* (often spelled *dor*),
either *dat bouk daar* ("that book there") or *dat daar bouk* ("that there
book").

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron
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