Etymological Notes (XI). Equivalents of the German Diphthong au in Estonian loanwords
Etümoloogilisi märkmeid (XI). Saksa au vasted laensõnades
Author(s): Udo UiboSubject(s): Language and Literature Studies
Published by: SA Kultuurileht
Keywords: Estonian; lexicology; etymology; loanwords; Low German loans; Baltic German loans; German loans
Summary/Abstract: On the example of 18 words it is shown that in Estonian borrowings the literary German diphthong au is represented not only by au, but also by the diphthong ou or the (long or short) monophthong o. The reason for such variation can be seen in the presence of Low german phonetic substrate in the Baltic German dialect (the diphthong au was not characteristic of Middle Low German). A few new or improved etymologies are presented, incl. for the words molu ’vulg. ’face’, muulukas ’green strawberry (Fragaria viridis)’, nodi ’sl. riches’, ploom ’plum’, vorlontsik ’good-for-nothing’.
Journal: Keel ja Kirjandus
- Issue Year: LIII/2010
- Issue No: 12
- Page Range: 920-927
- Page Count: 8
- Language: Estonian