LL-L "Syntax" 2009.02.03 (03) [E]

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L O W L A N D S - L - 03 February 2009 - Volume 03
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From: M.-L. Lessing <marless at gmx.de>
Subject: LL-L "Syntax" 2009.02.03 (01) [E]

Hello all,



this Genitive construction is widely used in the Plattdeutsch I learnt for
persons and, partly, animals. "Dat sünd Johann sin Schoh" is more normal
than "Dat sünd Johanns Schoh". If the latter form is used too often, is
sounds like adapted high german -- at least in the Platt I learnt. For
things and, partly, animals, you mostly use the "vun" form: "De Rööd vun dat
Auto" instead of "Dat Auto sin Rööd".



In high German, both forms exist too, but are considered very bad German
(perhaps consistent with the formerly low reputation of everything
plattdeutsch). I remember one of my early school lessons (who doesn't? :-)),
I was schooled in a village renowned as a somewhat lower-class place. The
teacher showed us a pair of shoes and asked us to imagine they belonged to
our father; how would we express it? The answers poured in "Das sind Vater
seine Schuhe!" The teacher shook her head. "Das sind die Schuhe von Vater!"
She still shook her head. Literally no child had ever learnt to use the
correct high german genitive. Timidly I suggested "Das sind des Vaters
Schuhe", fearing another shake of the head :-)



Hartlich!



Marlou

•

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