LL-L "Grammar" 2010.08.15 (01) [EN]

Sun Aug 15 16:16:14 UTC 2010

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*L O W L A N D S - L - 15 August 2010 - Volume 01
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From: Cliff Smuts <csmuts at xsinet.co.za>

Subject: LL-L "Grammar" 2010.08.14 (02) [EN]

Cliff Smuts csmuts at xsinet.co.za

Subject: Afrikaans connection

Hello Hendrik and LLers

Re the construction"mijn dochters aan het werk op school voor nieuwe
speeltoestellen te bemachtigen".  In Arikaans voor  (Afr. vir) would also
not fit in this construction, no matter what the meaning of the caption is
(supposed to be). If the caption is translated directly/ verbatim in
Afrikaans it woud be something like "my dogters aan't werk op skool vir nuwe
speeltoestele te bemagtig, which does not make sense, as we have an "om"
theat normally goes with "te". Looking at the caption, and considerig the
scooling situation in SA I would think could be following in Afr: "My
dogters aan't werk *om* 'n skool *met *nuwe toestelle te bemagtig" or in
Dutch: My dochters aan het werk om een school met nuwe speeltoestellen te
bemachtigen" - My daughters at work making new playing equipment to empower
a school.' Incidentally that is the only meaning I can see in this
situation. In this case it would mean there are two wrong prepositions in
the Dutch caption

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From: Mark Dreyer <mrdreyer at lantic.net>

Subject: LL-L "Grammar" 2010.08.14 (02) [EN]

Beste Henry Pijffers

Subject: LL-L South African connection?

You wrote:

"I was looking at someone's web profile, and as caption for a picture, she
had put: "mijn dochters aan het werk op school voor nieuwe speeltoestellen
te bemachtigen". Now, this construction with "voor" is incorrect in Dutch.
However, it struck me as Afrikaans. Would a construction like that with
"voor" be allowed in Afrikaans? Or not?"

Mark:

I think I have a notion what is going on here, but it doesn't seem to be
either Afrikaans or AG Nederlands. Perhaps hyper-correction of the latter,
by an Afrikaner? Mind you it seems unlikely.

Assuming I understand I would have couched it so in Afrikaans:

'My dogter op skool is besig om nuwe bemagtingsspeeltoestelle te ontwerp.'

or:

"My dogters op skool speel met 'n nuwe bemagtigingstoestel."

If I had to cleave closer to the actual text I would try:

'...my dogter is aan die werk op skool vir nuwe speeltoestelle te bemagtig
(ter bemagtiging?).' But then I don't understand it. It isn't good
Afrikaans. It isn't even bad Afrikaans. Is she developing empowerment toys,
or is she (or they) playing with empowerment toys in front of her (them)?

'Voor' in Afrikaans means 'in front of', 'prior to' or sometimes 'at' in
English, as in:

Daar is 'n modderplas voor jou. = There is a mud-plug in front of you.

Was jou skoene voor (of 'voordat') jy binnestap. = Wash your shoes before
you step inside.

Hy staan voor die deur. = He stands at the door.

'Vir' in Afrikaans means 'to' or 'for' in English:

Ek gee die boek vir jou. = I give the book to you.

Vir 'n appel en 'n ei gekoop. = Bought for an apple & an egg (sold for a
song).

Opoffering vir wat? Verniet. = Sacrifice for what? For nothing.

Let me try in English:

'My daughter at school is developing new empowerment games - or toys.'

Maybe:

'...my daughters at school playing with new empowerment games - ot toys.'

This may be wandering off the subject but 'te bemachtigen' doesn't make good
Afrikaans either.

'te bemagtig' or rather 'om te bemagtig' means 'to empower'.

'ter bemagting...' or rather 'ter bemagtiging van...' means 'for the
empoerment of...'

Good gaan,
Mark Dreyer

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