LL-L "Etymology" 2008.01.31 (04) [E]

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L O W L A N D S - L  -  31 January 2008 - Volume 04
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From: Luc Hellinckx <luc.hellinckx at gmail.com>
Subject: LL-L "Etymology"

Beste Ingmar,

You wrote:

Something I always stroke me as funny is the North Brabant expression:
 "mens" lit. human being, in the sense of husband, in Dutch just "man".


Southern Brabantish sometimes uses "mens" for wife, but then it gets neuter
gender:

"Da mens èè noeët ni vööl van eul lèève g'ad" (the poor lass had a tough
life)

I think such usage can also be observed elsewhere though, and generally
wants to evoke compassion (in lieu, you could also hear "da schààp").

Kind greetings,

Luc Hellinckx

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

Hey, Luc and Ingmar,

It's very similar in Low Saxon dialects of Germany.

   - *dey minsch* *(de Minsch*) 'the human being', 'the person' - pronoun
   *hey* (*he*) 'he' (masculine)
   - *et/it/dat minsch* (*et/it/**dat Minsch*) 'the woman' (pejorative) -
   pronoun *et ~ it ~ dat* 'it' (neuter)

But the latter is quite negative, pretty much like "the b..." or "the piece
of work" (in reference to a woman). It carries "despicable" with it.

Regards,
Reinhard/Ron
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