How Do You Spell OLD DUTCH?

Pronunciation: [ˈə͡ʊld dˈʌt͡ʃ] (IPA)

The spelling of the word "old dutch" can be confusing for English speakers who are not familiar with the Dutch language. In IPA phonetic transcription, it is written as /oʊld/ /dʌtʃ/. The first syllable is pronounced with a long "o" sound, and the second syllable has a short "u" sound. The "d" in "dutch" is pronounced as a voiced dental fricative, similar to the "th" in "the". Despite its spelling, "dutch" does not refer to the country of the Netherlands, but rather to the Dutch language and culture that originated in the Low Countries.

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OLD DUTCH Meaning and Definition

  1. Old Dutch refers to the historical phase of the Dutch language that was spoken between the 9th and 12th centuries AD. Also known as Old Low Franconian, it is classified as a West Germanic language, belonging to the larger Indo-European language family. Old Dutch is the predecessor of Middle Dutch and ultimately modern Dutch, which is currently the official language of the Netherlands and one of the official languages of Belgium.

    During the Old Dutch period, the language underwent significant changes, evolving from the Frankish dialects spoken by the Franks, a Germanic tribe. Old Dutch incorporated various influences, including the influence of Latin due to the Christianization of the region and the influence of neighboring languages such as Old High German.

    The written records of Old Dutch are limited and mostly consist of short and fragmented texts such as legal and administrative documents, religious texts, and glosses. These written records provide valuable insight into the phonology, morphology, and vocabulary of Old Dutch.

    Old Dutch demonstrates characteristics common to other Germanic languages, such as the presence of strong and weak verb classes, noun declensions, and grammatical gender. However, it also exhibits distinct features, such as a more complex vowel system and the presence of a nasal element in its phonology.

    Overall, Old Dutch represents an important phase in the development of the Dutch language and is significant for understanding the linguistic and cultural history of the Low Countries.

Etymology of OLD DUTCH

The term "Old Dutch" refers to the old form of the Dutch language that was spoken between the 6th and 12th centuries. The etymology of this phrase can be broken down as follows:

1. Old: The word "Old" is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "aldaz", which means "grown, elder, old". This word has cognates across various Germanic languages.

2. Dutch: The word "Dutch" is derived from the Middle Dutch word "duutsch" or "duetsch", meaning "Dutch". The Middle Dutch term itself comes from the Old High German word "diutisc" or "diutisc", which means "of the people" or "belonging to the people". It distinguishes the language spoken by the common people from the language used by the elite.

Idioms with the word OLD DUTCH

  • my old dutch "My old dutch" is a Cockney rhyming slang term that refers to a person's wife or girlfriend. It comes from the phrase "Dutch plate," which rhymes with "mate."