§ 4. PG. not Alsatian.
In the very German county of Berks there is an Elsass township, which indicates an Alsatian influence. As a German province of France,[55] two languages are in use, and are taught in the schools, but the French is Germanised in pronunciation, as may be verified among the Alsatian and German servants of Paris. Being akin to Swiss and Suabian, PG. has some points in common with this dialect, without being influenced by French.
Alsatian differs from PG. in having i haa for 'ich hab,' tsel for 'sei' (G. derselbe), bluǝt for 'bluut,' ūss for 'aus,' hūs for 'haus,' tsiit for 'tseit,' bisch for 'bischt,' biim for 'bei'm,' morje for 'marrghǝ.'
PG. and Alsatian turn some b-s to w, they have the vowels of fall, what, up, and have 'prowiirǝ' for probiren, 'ass' for als, 'do' for da, 'joo' for ja, 'joor' for jahr, 'hoor' for haar, 'fun' for von, 'isch' for ist, 'jets' for jetzt, 'uff' for auf, 'druff' for dorauf, 'uff'm' for auf dem, 'raus' for daraus, 'draan' for daran, 'iwwǝr' for über, 'dno' for darnach; PG. 'ǝffǝ,' Alsat. 'offǝ,' G. ofen; 'bal' for bald, 'm'r' for wir, 'm'r muss' for man musz, 'mee' for mehr, 'welli' for welche; 'was batt s' (what boots it).
The following lines (Radlof, 2, 110) are extracted from a piece of Alsatian which well illustrates the concurrent use of two languages. The French should be read in the German mode. Other French words occur in Radlof's examples, such as allong allons, tur tour, schalu jaloux, anterpoo entrepôt, bangenet baïonnette. The original of the following is in German (gothic) and French (roman) print according to the language, here imitated by roman and italic types. The speaker is telling a friend how she was addressed by a stranger:
So kummt ä Wälscher her, und macht mit Kumblemente,
Und redt mich gradzu an.—Mach er kein Spargemente,[56]
Hab i glich zu ihm g'sait. Losz Er, was ich 'ne bitt,
Mich mine Waih fortgehn; ich kenn de Herre nit.
»Sans avoir, frout er mich, l'honneur de vous connaître,
Vous êtes seule ici, voulez-vous me permettre
De vous offrir mon bras pour vous accompagner?«
Allez, Mousié, sa ich, allez-vous promener,
Und spar Er sich die müh; Er musz sich nit trumpire,
Ich bin von dene nit die mer am Arm kann führe.[57]
»Vous êtes bien cruelle, arrêtez un moment,«
Sait er, und kummt soglich mit sine Santimang....
Zu diene, hab i g'sait; losz Er mich aber gehn,
Min Ehr erlaubt mir nit noch länger do zu stehn.
»Je n'insisterai pas, mais veuillez bien m'apprendre,
Si demain en ces lieux vous daignerez vous rendre.«
Behüt mich Gott davor! i gib kein rendez-vus.
Adié, mousié, adié, je ne vus [sic] verrai plus.Translation.—Thus comes a Frenchman up and proceeds with compliments, and (an-redet) accosts me (gerade zu) directly. Make no formalities,[56] I said to him at once. Let me, what I beg ('ne, G. ihn) him, continue (meinen weg) my way—I know not the (herren) gentlemen. "Without having," he (frägt) asked me, "the honor of knowing you, you are alone here, will you permit me to offer you my arm to accompany you?" Go, sir, (sagte) said I, Proceed with your walk—and spare himself the trouble; he must not deceive himself, I am not of those who can be conducted on the arm.[57] "You are very cruel, stay a moment," says he—and comes at once with his sentiment.... At your service, I said, he should let me go, my honor would not allow me to stand there longer. "I do not insist, but will you kindly inform me, if to-morrow in these places you will deign to return." Preserve me heaven from it! I give no rendez-vous; adieu, sir, adieu, I will not see you more.
|
So kummt ä Wälscher her, und macht mit Kumblemente, Und redt mich gradzu an.—Mach er kein Spargemente,[56] Hab i glich zu ihm g'sait. Losz Er, was ich 'ne bitt, Mich mine Waih fortgehn; ich kenn de Herre nit. »Sans avoir, frout er mich, l'honneur de vous connaître, Vous êtes seule ici, voulez-vous me permettre De vous offrir mon bras pour vous accompagner?« Allez, Mousié, sa ich, allez-vous promener, Und spar Er sich die müh; Er musz sich nit trumpire, Ich bin von dene nit die mer am Arm kann führe.[57] »Vous êtes bien cruelle, arrêtez un moment,« Sait er, und kummt soglich mit sine Santimang.... Zu diene, hab i g'sait; losz Er mich aber gehn, Min Ehr erlaubt mir nit noch länger do zu stehn. »Je n'insisterai pas, mais veuillez bien m'apprendre, Si demain en ces lieux vous daignerez vous rendre.« Behüt mich Gott davor! i gib kein rendez-vus. Adié, mousié, adié, je ne vus [sic] verrai plus. |