LL-L "Syntax" 2009.02.04 (05) [E]

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L O W L A N D S - L - 04 February 2009 - Volume 05
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From: heatherrendall at tiscali.co.uk <heatherrendall at tiscali.co.uk>
Subject: LL-L "Syntax" 2009.02.02 (03) [E]

from Heather  heatherrendall at tiscali.co.uk

Ron wrote

"As you probably know, Middle Saxon, the medieval ancestor of Low Saxon,
strongly influenced the Scandinavian languages because of close ties with
the Hanseatic Trading League. I can't say if the construction you talked
about is a result of this. Written Middle Saxon tended to use the
*van*construction as well as archaic genitive constructions that are
no longer
used. However, my strong hunch is that there used to be differences between
written and ordinarily spoken Middle Saxon (as one can tell by the use of
highfalutin expressions and longwinded sentences in writing). I would not be
surprised if the type of construction you are referring to was already in
common use at that time.

I wonder whether you have unintentionally solved an English mystery - re the
origin of the apostrophe for possession ( a lively debate is being held
following Birmingham City Council's decision to remove them from road
signs!)

according to Baugh & Cable: there was a mistaken belief that what one was
hearing was 'The King his army' when in fact what was being said was " The
Kinges army" straightforward Germanic genitive.

But with the influx of Lowland influence during the Reformation could
perhaps some of the new 'protestants' from across the water have been
transliterating their own langauge and actually saying in English " The King
his army"

Certainly Shakespeare uses this form by late 16thn century

The apostrophe was used to denote the loss of the supposed 'hi'.

Perhaps not so supposed - but actually there in fact due to Reformation
language being strongly North Germanic!

What thinkest thou, Ron?

Heather [Randall]

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

What thinkest thou, Ron?


Dear Lady Heather, most witty Dame,
Your proposition meryt'th thought.
Yet for your hvmble seruant's parte the word is Chavnce, not mindefull aim,
As well you to your Felowes' mindes brought.

Reinhard/Ron
Seattle, USA

•

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