Greun snacken

vun Clara Kramer-Freudenthal
(Siet 27 in Ollanner Vertelln)

De Hambörgers seggt ,,geel snacken'' daarto, wi Ollanners seggt: ,,Hüür di dat bloots mool an, he snackt greun, hett wull vergeten, wat sien Modersprook is.'' Hüüttodoogs is dat anners, beid' Sproken leeft in Freden blangenenanner. In mien Kinnertiet wüür Plattdüütsch ober noch de Ümgangssprook op'n Lann. Hoochdüütsch hebbt wi altohoop iers in de School liehrt, dat wüür uns ierste Fremdsprook. Ober mit dat Snacken op hoochdüütsch, dor dünn wi uns bannig swoor. Foken sünd wull gans verdeubelte Wüür dorbi rutkoom.

Köttens kreeg ik en Breef vun een Diern ut mien Dörp. Wi schrieft uns op Platt. Se meen, ik schull man mool öber dat Greunsnacken schrieben. Ok hett se mi enige Bispilln ut ehr Kinnertiet opschreben.

Irma schull bi Albert Fock op'n Crans (Cranz) Grieß inkeupen. Bi Fock geef dat allns, wat de Huusfro bruken dä.  Pütt, Pannen, Schöddeln, greune Seep un Sulthiern ut de Tünn. Zucker, Mehl un Sult wöörn ut den Sack verköfft. Op een Woogschool mit Wichten wöör allns afwogen. Boben de Lodendöör stünn in grote Bookstoben schreben: KOLONIALWAREN. Poor Kilometer müß Irma vun Leeswig no'n Crans lopen. Op'n Weg dorhin hett se sik dat Wuurt Grieß in't Hoochdüütsche öbersett. Ries heet ,,Reis'', demno müß Gries denn ,,Greiß'' heten. Nu stünn Irma in'n Loden. ,,Guten Tag, ik harr giern ein Pfund Greiß'', sä Irma to Unkel Fock. De ober smuster düchtig öber de lütt Diern, de dor half hooch- un half plattdüütsch ehre Wünsch vördregen dä. ,,Was will deine Mutter denn kochen, mein Deern?'' freug he fründlich. Na, dat müß he doch weten, in de Kirschentiet, dach Irma un anter plietsch: ,,Kirschensupp mit Greißklüten.''

Noch een lütt Besinn vun Irma. Bi Diedn Keupk (Dietrich Köpke) hett Irma ehr Mudder ümmer bi de grote Wäsch holpen. Nu schull de lütt Diern Kniepen vun de Buurfro hooln. Fuurts is se in de Köök lopen un röter: ,,Tante Köpke, ik schull för Mamma Kneifen holen.'' In ehrn Kinnskopp harr se dat Wuurt ,,Kniepen'' recht öbersett, ober dat gellt bloots för dat Verb kniepen, wat jo op hoochdüütsch ,,kneifen'' heet.

Öber mien egen Greunsnacken, as Schoolroot Otto bi uns in de School wüür, hebb ik in ,,Ut mien Schooltiet'' [in dat sülvige Book] vertellt.

Talking "Green"

by Clara Kramer-Freudenthal 
(Page 27 in Ollanner Vertelln)

"Talking yellow" is what people in Hamburg call it. We Olland folk say, "Just listen to that! He's talking green, must have lost track of what his native language is." It is different nowadays. Both languages coexist peacefully. But during my childhood Low German was still the language of general use in the countryside. All of us learned High German as late as in school. It was our first foreign language. But talking in High German did not come easily to us. Oftentimes we made up really weird words in the process.

Recently I got a letter from a girl from my village. We correspond in Low German. She suggested that I talk about "talking green" for a change, and she wrote down for me a few examples from her childhood.

Once Irma was supposed to shop for semolina at Albert Fock's at the Cranz [an Olland township]. At Fock's you used to get anything a housewife needed: pots, pans, bowls, green soap, and salted herring from a barrel. Sugar, flour and salt were sold straight from bags. Everything was weighed on scales with weights. ,,GROCERY STORE'' it said above the store's door in large capitals. Irma had to walk a few kilometers from Leeswig to the Cranz. On the way she rendered the word Grieß [semolina] into High German. Ries [rice] was Reis; so Grieß [also Grieß in German] would have to be called Greiß [sounding like German Greis 'old man']. Irma was then standing in the store. "Hello! I'd like to get a pound of Greiß," Irma said to Uncle Fock who smiled a lot about the little girl who had phrased her request half in High German and half in Low German. "What is it your mother wants to cook then, lass?" he asked affably [in High German but using the Low German word Deern 'girl']. 'Why, he should know, during cherry season,' Irma thought and answered acutely, "Cherry soup with Greiß dumplings."

And there is another thing Irma remembers. Her mother used to assist on big laundry days at Dietrich Köpke's house. Once the little girl was supposed to fetch some Kniepen ['clothespins'] from the farmer's wife. She ran straight into the kitchen and babbled, "Auntie Köpke, I'm supposed to get some Kneifen [i.e., (Wäsche-)Klammern in correct High German] for Mom." The [Low German] word Kniepen got transformed correctly in the child's head, but that applies only to the verb kniepen ['to pinch', 'pinching'] which is called kneifen in High German.

In "My School Days" [in the same book] I report about myself "talking green" while Superintendent Otto was visiting.

Groyn snakken

fun Clara Kramer-Freudenthal
(Siit 27 in Ollanner Vertelln)

De Hamboergers segt ,,geel snakken'' daar tou. Wii Ollanders segt ,,Hoyr dii dat bloots maal an! He snakt groyn, hett wul fergeten wat siin mouderspraak is.'' Huyttoudaags is dat anners. Baid' spraken leevt in freden blangen einanner. In miin kindertiid woyr Platduytsch aver noch de uemgangsspraak op d'n land. Hoogduytsch hevt wii altouhoup eirsd in de schoul leird. Dat woyr uns eirsde fremdspraak. Aver mit dat snakken op Hoogduytsch, daar duen wii uns bannig swaar. Faken suend wul ganss ferdoyvelde woyrd' daar bii ruut-kamen.

Koettens kreeg' ik 'n breiv fun 'n deirn uut miin doerp. Wii schriivt uns op Plat. Sei mein ik schul man maal euver dat groynsnakken schriven. Ouk het sei mii einige biispillen uut er kindertiid op-schreven.

Irma schul bii Albert Fock op d'n Cranss (Cranz) Griis in-koypen. Bii Fock geev dat allens wat de huusfro bruken dee -- puet, pannen, schoeddeln, groyne seip, un sultheirn uut de tuen. Tsukker, meel un sult woyrden uut d'n sak ferkoeft. Op 'n waagschaal mit wichten woyrd' allens af-wagen. Baven de ladendeur stuend in grote boukstaven schreven: ,,KOLONIALWAREN''. Paar kilometer muess Irma fun Leeswig naa d'n Cranss loupen. Op d'n weg daar hin het sei sik dat wourd ,,griis'' in't Hoogduytsche euversett. ,,Riis'' heitt ,,Reis''; dem naa muess ,,griis'' den ,,Greiß'' heiten. Nuu stuend Irma in d'n laden. ,,Guten Tag! Ik harr giern ein Pfund Greiß'', see Irma tou Unkel Fock. Dei aver smuuster duechtig euver de luet deirn dei daar halv Hoog- un halv Platduytsch ere wuensch foer-dregen dee. ,,Was will deine Mutter denn kochen, mein Deern?'' froyg hei fruendlich. ,Na, dat muess hei doch weten, in de kirschentiid,' dach Irma un anter pliitsch: ,,Kirschensupp mit Greißklüten.''

Noch 'n luet besinnen fun Irma. Bii Diden Koypk (Dietrich Köpke) het Irma er Mudder uemmer bii de grote wesch holpen. Nuu schul de luet deirn knipen fun de buurfrou halen. Fourts is sei in de keuk loupen un reuter: ,,Tante Koepke, ik schull foer Mamma Kneifen holen.'' In eren kindskop har sei dat wourd ,,knipen'' recht euversett, aver dat geltt bloots foer dat werb ,,knipen'' wat jaa op Hoogduytsch ,,kneifen'' heitt.

Euver miin eigen groynsnakken, as Schoulraat Otto bii uns in de schoul woyr, hev ik in ,,Ut mien Schooltiet'' [in dat suelvige bouk] ferteld.

Talking "Green"

by Clara Kramer-Freudenthal 
(Page 27 in Ollanner Vertelln)

"Talking yellow" is what people in Hamburg call it. We Olland folk say, "Just listen to that! He's talking green, must have lost track of what his native language is." It is different nowadays. Both languages coexist peacefully. But during my childhood Low German was still the language of general use in the countryside. All of us learned High German as late as in school. It was our first foreign language. But talking in High German did not come easily to us. Oftentimes we made up really weird words in the process.

Recently I got a letter from a girl from my village. We correspond in Low German. She suggested that I talk about "talking green" for a change, and she wrote down for me a few examples from her childhood.

Once Irma was supposed to shop for semolina at Albert Fock's at the Cranz [an Olland township]. At Fock's you used to get anything a housewife needed: pots, pans, bowls, green soap, and salted herring from a barrel. Sugar, flour and salt were sold straight from bags. Everything was weighed on scales with weights. ,,GROCERY STORE'' it said above the store's door in large capitals. Irma had to walk a few kilometers from Leeswig to the Cranz. On the way she rendered the word Grieß [semolina] into High German. Ries [rice] was Reis; so Grieß [also Grieß in German] would have to be called Greiß [sounding like German Greis 'old man']. Irma was then standing in the store. "Hello! I'd like to get a pound of Greiß," Irma said to Uncle Fock who smiled a lot about the little girl who had phrased her request half in High German and half in Low German. "What is it your mother wants to cook then, lass?" he asked affably [in High German but using the Low German word Deern 'girl']. 'Why, he should know, during cherry season,' Irma thought and answered acutely, "Cherry soup with Greiß dumplings."

And there is another thing Irma remembers. Her mother used to assist on big laundry days at Dietrich Köpke's house. Once the little girl was supposed to fetch some Kniepen ['clothespins'] from the farmer's wife. She ran straight into the kitchen and babbled, "Auntie Köpke, I'm supposed to get some Kneifen [i.e., (Wäsche-)Klammern in correct High German] for Mom." The [Low German] word Kniepen got transformed correctly in the child's head, but that applies only to the verb kniepen ['to pinch', 'pinching'] which is called kneifen in High German.

In "My School Days" [in the same book] I report about myself "talking green" while Superintendent Otto was visiting.

Greun snacken

vun Clara Kramer-Freudenthal
(Siet 27 in Ollanner Vertelln)

De Hambörgers seggt ,,geel snacken'' daarto, wi Ollanners seggt: ,,Hüür di dat bloots mool an, he snackt greun, hett wull vergeten, wat sien Modersprook is.'' Hüüttodoogs is dat anners, beid' Sproken leeft in Freden blangenenanner. In mien Kinnertiet wüür Plattdüütsch ober noch de Ümgangssprook op'n Lann. Hoochdüütsch hebbt wi altohoop iers in de School liehrt, dat wüür uns ierste Fremdsprook. Ober mit dat Snacken op hoochdüütsch, dor dünn wi uns bannig swoor. Foken sünd wull gans verdeubelte Wüür dorbi rutkoom.

Köttens kreeg ik en Breef vun een Diern ut mien Dörp. Wi schrieft uns op Platt. Se meen, ik schull man mool öber dat Greunsnacken schrieben. Ok hett se mi enige Bispilln ut ehr Kinnertiet opschreben.

Irma schull bi Albert Fock op'n Crans (Cranz) Grieß inkeupen. Bi Fock geef dat allns, wat de Huusfro bruken dä.  Pütt, Pannen, Schöddeln, greune Seep un Sulthiern ut de Tünn. Zucker, Mehl un Sult wöörn ut den Sack verköfft. Op een Woogschool mit Wichten wöör allns afwogen. Boben de Lodendöör stünn in grote Bookstoben schreben: KOLONIALWAREN. Poor Kilometer müß Irma vun Leeswig no'n Crans lopen. Op'n Weg dorhin hett se sik dat Wuurt Grieß in't Hoochdüütsche öbersett. Ries heet ,,Reis'', demno müß Gries denn ,,Greiß'' heten. Nu stünn Irma in'n Loden. ,,Guten Tag, ik harr giern ein Pfund Greiß'', sä Irma to Unkel Fock. De ober smuster düchtig öber de lütt Diern, de dor half hooch- un half plattdüütsch ehre Wünsch vördregen dä. ,,Was will deine Mutter denn kochen, mein Deern?'' freug he fründlich. Na, dat müß he doch weten, in de Kirschentiet, dach Irma un anter plietsch: ,,Kirschensupp mit Greißklüten.''

Noch een lütt Besinn vun Irma. Bi Diedn Keupk (Dietrich Köpke) hett Irma ehr Mudder ümmer bi de grote Wäsch holpen. Nu schull de lütt Diern Kniepen vun de Buurfro hooln. Fuurts is se in de Köök lopen un röter: ,,Tante Köpke, ik schull för Mamma Kneifen holen.'' In ehrn Kinnskopp harr se dat Wuurt ,,Kniepen'' recht öbersett, ober dat gellt bloots för dat Verb kniepen, wat jo op hoochdüütsch ,,kneifen'' heet.

Öber mien egen Greunsnacken, as Schoolroot Otto bi uns in de School wüür, hebb ik in ,,Ut mien Schooltiet'' [in dat sülvige Book] vertellt.

Talking "Green"

by Clara Kramer-Freudenthal 
(Page 27 in Ollanner Vertelln)

"Talking yellow" is what people in Hamburg call it. We Olland folk say, "Just listen to that! He's talking green, must have lost track of what his native language is." It is different nowadays. Both languages coexist peacefully. But during my childhood Low German was still the language of general use in the countryside. All of us learned High German as late as in school. It was our first foreign language. But talking in High German did not come easily to us. Oftentimes we made up really weird words in the process.

Recently I got a letter from a girl from my village. We correspond in Low German. She suggested that I talk about "talking green" for a change, and she wrote down for me a few examples from her childhood.

Once Irma was supposed to shop for semolina at Albert Fock's at the Cranz [an Olland township]. At Fock's you used to get anything a housewife needed: pots, pans, bowls, green soap, and salted herring from a barrel. Sugar, flour and salt were sold straight from bags. Everything was weighed on scales with weights. ,,GROCERY STORE'' it said above the store's door in large capitals. Irma had to walk a few kilometers from Leeswig to the Cranz. On the way she rendered the word Grieß [semolina] into High German. Ries [rice] was Reis; so Grieß [also Grieß in German] would have to be called Greiß [sounding like German Greis 'old man']. Irma was then standing in the store. "Hello! I'd like to get a pound of Greiß," Irma said to Uncle Fock who smiled a lot about the little girl who had phrased her request half in High German and half in Low German. "What is it your mother wants to cook then, lass?" he asked affably [in High German but using the Low German word Deern 'girl']. 'Why, he should know, during cherry season,' Irma thought and answered acutely, "Cherry soup with Greiß dumplings."

And there is another thing Irma remembers. Her mother used to assist on big laundry days at Dietrich Köpke's house. Once the little girl was supposed to fetch some Kniepen ['clothespins'] from the farmer's wife. She ran straight into the kitchen and babbled, "Auntie Köpke, I'm supposed to get some Kneifen [i.e., (Wäsche-)Klammern in correct High German] for Mom." The [Low German] word Kniepen got transformed correctly in the child's head, but that applies only to the verb kniepen ['to pinch', 'pinching'] which is called kneifen in High German.

In "My School Days" [in the same book] I report about myself "talking green" while Superintendent Otto was visiting.

Groyn snakken

fun Clara Kramer-Freudenthal
(Siit 27 in Ollanner Vertelln)

De Hamboergers segt ,,geel snakken'' daar tou. Wii Ollanders segt ,,Hoyr dii dat bloots maal an! He snakt groyn, hett wul fergeten wat siin mouderspraak is.'' Huyttoudaags is dat anners. Baid' spraken leevt in freden blangen einanner. In miin kindertiid woyr Platduytsch aver noch de uemgangsspraak op d'n land. Hoogduytsch hevt wii altouhoup eirsd in de schoul leird. Dat woyr uns eirsde fremdspraak. Aver mit dat snakken op Hoogduytsch, daar duen wii uns bannig swaar. Faken suend wul ganss ferdoyvelde woyrd' daar bii ruut-kamen.

Koettens kreeg' ik 'n breiv fun 'n deirn uut miin doerp. Wii schriivt uns op Plat. Sei mein ik schul man maal euver dat groynsnakken schriven. Ouk het sei mii einige biispillen uut er kindertiid op-schreven.

Irma schul bii Albert Fock op d'n Cranss (Cranz) Griis in-koypen. Bii Fock geev dat allens wat de huusfro bruken dee -- puet, pannen, schoeddeln, groyne seip, un sultheirn uut de tuen. Tsukker, meel un sult woyrden uut d'n sak ferkoeft. Op 'n waagschaal mit wichten woyrd' allens af-wagen. Baven de ladendeur stuend in grote boukstaven schreven: ,,KOLONIALWAREN''. Paar kilometer muess Irma fun Leeswig naa d'n Cranss loupen. Op d'n weg daar hin het sei sik dat wourd ,,griis'' in't Hoogduytsche euversett. ,,Riis'' heitt ,,Reis''; dem naa muess ,,griis'' den ,,Greiß'' heiten. Nuu stuend Irma in d'n laden. ,,Guten Tag! Ik harr giern ein Pfund Greiß'', see Irma tou Unkel Fock. Dei aver smuuster duechtig euver de luet deirn dei daar halv Hoog- un halv Platduytsch ere wuensch foer-dregen dee. ,,Was will deine Mutter denn kochen, mein Deern?'' froyg hei fruendlich. ,Na, dat muess hei doch weten, in de kirschentiid,' dach Irma un anter pliitsch: ,,Kirschensupp mit Greißklüten.''

Noch 'n luet besinnen fun Irma. Bii Diden Koypk (Dietrich Köpke) het Irma er Mudder uemmer bii de grote wesch holpen. Nuu schul de luet deirn knipen fun de buurfrou halen. Fourts is sei in de keuk loupen un reuter: ,,Tante Koepke, ik schull foer Mamma Kneifen holen.'' In eren kindskop har sei dat wourd ,,knipen'' recht euversett, aver dat geltt bloots foer dat werb ,,knipen'' wat jaa op Hoogduytsch ,,kneifen'' heitt.

Euver miin eigen groynsnakken, as Schoulraat Otto bii uns in de schoul woyr, hev ik in ,,Ut mien Schooltiet'' [in dat suelvige bouk] ferteld.

Talking "Green"

by Clara Kramer-Freudenthal 
(Page 27 in Ollanner Vertelln)

"Talking yellow" is what people in Hamburg call it. We Olland folk say, "Just listen to that! He's talking green, must have lost track of what his native language is." It is different nowadays. Both languages coexist peacefully. But during my childhood Low German was still the language of general use in the countryside. All of us learned High German as late as in school. It was our first foreign language. But talking in High German did not come easily to us. Oftentimes we made up really weird words in the process.

Recently I got a letter from a girl from my village. We correspond in Low German. She suggested that I talk about "talking green" for a change, and she wrote down for me a few examples from her childhood.

Once Irma was supposed to shop for semolina at Albert Fock's at the Cranz [an Olland township]. At Fock's you used to get anything a housewife needed: pots, pans, bowls, green soap, and salted herring from a barrel. Sugar, flour and salt were sold straight from bags. Everything was weighed on scales with weights. ,,GROCERY STORE'' it said above the store's door in large capitals. Irma had to walk a few kilometers from Leeswig to the Cranz. On the way she rendered the word Grieß [semolina] into High German. Ries [rice] was Reis; so Grieß [also Grieß in German] would have to be called Greiß [sounding like German Greis 'old man']. Irma was then standing in the store. "Hello! I'd like to get a pound of Greiß," Irma said to Uncle Fock who smiled a lot about the little girl who had phrased her request half in High German and half in Low German. "What is it your mother wants to cook then, lass?" he asked affably [in High German but using the Low German word Deern 'girl']. 'Why, he should know, during cherry season,' Irma thought and answered acutely, "Cherry soup with Greiß dumplings."

And there is another thing Irma remembers. Her mother used to assist on big laundry days at Dietrich Köpke's house. Once the little girl was supposed to fetch some Kniepen ['clothespins'] from the farmer's wife. She ran straight into the kitchen and babbled, "Auntie Köpke, I'm supposed to get some Kneifen [i.e., (Wäsche-)Klammern in correct High German] for Mom." The [Low German] word Kniepen got transformed correctly in the child's head, but that applies only to the verb kniepen ['to pinch', 'pinching'] which is called kneifen in High German.

In "My School Days" [in the same book] I report about myself "talking green" while Superintendent Otto was visiting.