An Etymological Dictionary of the Norn Language in Shetland/Introduction/IV
IV.
The old inflexional endings have, for the most part, dropped off, and the simple English method of inflexion has become general. In various words, however, old inflexional endings are found preserved in a fossilized state (i.e. having lost their significance); and added on to these endings, in the case of nouns, is the English genitive and plural inflexional -s. Several words have adopted English and Scottish suffixes.
Substantives, Substantival Endings.
1. The masculine nominative -r is found in a few substantives: adnaᶊūr. blostər, blɔustər [blástr]. fɔgbȯrdər (-gər) [*fokburðr]. glōmər [glámr]. gōgər [Icel. goggr]. gostər [gustr]. hɛᶅər [hellir]. hōgər [hagr], ıldər [eldr], ilder1. kɛgər, ᶄɛgər = keger1. kɛpər, ᶄɛpər [keppr]. *mādər [matr] (see Fragments of Norn, conversation), sᶇokər, sᶇogər, sᶇukər, sᶇugər [snykr], snjuger. ᶊaldər [tjalðr], sjalder.
2. Nominative -i has been preserved in several words, e.g.: äᶇdi [andi], andi1. bani [bani]. bıdi [biti]. brimi [brimi]. bødi [*bœti], bødi2, bøti. fjäᶇdi [fjandi]. ga‘lti, gȯ‘ᶅti [galti]. grani [granni], granni. hēgri [hegri], hegri1. 2 kāvi [*kafi]. li̇̄ri [Fær. líri]. mogi [magi], mæ‘rki [merki], merki2. nɔki [nokki], nokki1. pøti, etc. [*pytti], potti, pøtti. raki [rakki], rakki1, 2. sōdi, sɔdi [*sáti = sæti], sodi1. spadi [spaði]. stjāgi [stjaki]. -twari [*þvari] *twari, rivatwari. tæri [*þerri], terri. Applied to some names of stallions and bulls, ending in -i, see § 8.
Note. In some words the suffixed -i is the Scottish diminutive ending -ie, which however in Shetl. by no means always has a diminutive sense. Thus e.g.: bōli = bōl [bál], bol1, boul. glāni = glān: glan2, glani. ꬶøti = gȯit [gátt], gott, etc. hogi [hǫgg], hogg1, etc. krugi [No. krugg], krugg. lopi, lupi [laupr], lopi1, lupi. mēᶊi [meiss]. mæ‘rki [mergr], merki1 = mergi1. ɔus·kær·i [aus(t)ker], ouskerri. røni [hraun]. skøvi [skauf], skovi1. ᶊopə‘l·ti, etc. [*sjópiltr], sjupilti. stæ‘rti [stertr]. sukni [sókn]. — With regard to -i for older -a see § 9; as also -ək for -i see § 11.
3. Some words in the masculine gender ending in -i have been preserved in the accusative form, ending in -a. Occas. -i and -a alternate, e.g.: fȯna, fəna (-i) [funa from funi]. hōga [haga from hagi]; see bonnhoga. i̇̄la (i̇̄la-stane) [íli]. kāfa (mūr·kā·fa) = kāvi [*kafi]. klȯva (klȯvi) [klofa from klofi]. sᶄɛga (-i) [skeka from skeki]. strȯba [stropi].
4. In some words -i has been dropped, e.g.: andər, etc. [anddyri], andor, etc. bɔ̇d [boði], bod2, dım [dimmi]. (ogə-) dū [dái], ogedu1. grō [gráði]. hɔst [hosti], kjɔ‘lk [kjálki]. klıbər [klyfberi]. kɔd [koddi]. krak [kraki], krak or krakk1. løm [*lummi]. -mjȯ‘rk, -mȯ‘rk [mjörkvi, myrkvi]. skȯtəl, etc. [skutþilja], skottel1. stab (stȯb) [stabbi (stubbi)], stabb. -stık (nægistık) [stykki], neggistikk. tɔskər, tȯᶊkər [torfskeri], torvsker. øm [*ómi].
Some words appear in a double form, e.g.: bä‘ᶅki and beı‘ᶅk [*bylki], bilk, bilki. brimi and bri̇̄m (bri̇̄v) [brimi]. kāvi and kāv [*kafi]. klōvi and klōv [klofi]. ᶅumi and ᶅūm [ljómi], ljumi, ljum.
5. The nominative -a has been preserved in, e.g.: bläᶇda [blanda]. brɛna [brenna].2 fjora, fjɔra [fjara]. flokəra [*flykra], flukra, etc. -flȯga [fluga], floga2. *gå̄fa [gáfa], gola [gola, gula]. grȯla [No. græla]. groma (-ȯ-) [gróma?]. həmna [himna]. ja‘rta [hjarta]. *jōga [auga]. *jōra [øyra]. kupa [kúpa]. ᶊēla [héla], sjela. *ᶊəᶅō·ga [Icel. sjálægja], *sjoljoga, etc. *skjɔldra [*skjaldra]. stȯ‘ᶅka [stulka]. sø̄da [*søyða]. vɛmba [*vemba]. -a is long in the word rū·rā· [No. rura].
6. Sometimes -a (orig. nom. fem. -a) alternates with -o or -u (orig. acc., Gen., and dat.: -u): grȯ‘ᶇᶊka and grȯ‘ᶇᶊko (-ᶊku; greenska, -sko, -sku) [*grœnska]. ı‘lᶊka, ä‘ᶅᶊka, eilᶊko [*ilska], ilska1. lēga and lēgo (ᶅēga, -go) [lega]. wȯsta and wɔstu, wōstū [*vasta] (cf. O.N. vǫst).
7. A number of cow-names have been preserved with the ending -a, esp. in Fo. and N.I.; now commonly the ending -i has replaced -a. Examples: Flɛka, Flæka; a flɛkət, flækət [*flekkótt] coo. Fūda, *Fóta. Gri̇̄ma; a gri̇̄mət [*grímótt] coo. Kidna; a kidnət [*kinnótt] coo. Krāga; a krāgət [*krǫgótt] coo. Lå‘rka; a lå‘rkət [*lárkótt = *lærkótt] coo. Lænda; a lændət [*lendótt] coo. Rıg(g)a; a rıg(g)ət [*hryggjótt] coo. ᶊålma = Sjolma; a ᶊålmət [*hjálmótt] coo. Spɔŋga; a spɔŋgət [*spǫngótt] coo. Swa‘rta.
8. Consciousness of -i being a masc. sign and -a a fem. sign has not died out, as is proved by the following names of domestic animals, preserved in the N.I.: Bro‘ŋki, brown stallion or bull [*Brúnki], Bro‘ŋka, brown mare or cow [*Brúnka]; Grōgi, gray stallion or bull [*Grái], Grōga, grey mare or cow [*Gráa]; Rødi, red stallion or bull [*Rauði], Røda, red mare or cow [*Rauða].
To these may further be added: puki and puka = puki1. grɔtsi and grɔtsa.
9. In a number of words (through infl. of English and Scottish words ending in -y, -ie) -i has replaced the older -a (-ja), e.g.: bɛrgȯ‘ᶅ·ti [*berggylta]. bo‘ŋki [No. bunka], bunki1. bȯmi [No. bumba]. flɔti [flatta], flotti. gri̇̄mi [gríma]. kɛᶊi [No. kjessa]. kɔli [kola]. kopi, kupi, kobi, kȯbi [kúpa]. -lōdi [hlaða], lodi1. pəki [pikka], pikki2. rȯdi [No. rodda]. tıᶅi, teᶅi [þilja], *tilji, *tilli. wıdi [viðja].
ros(s)i, russi, is partly = hross, partly = hryssa.
-i and -ək (see the foll. paragraph) alternate, e.g.: grø̄li and grø̄lək [grýla]. sōdi and sōdək [sáta], sodi2, sodek. wȯ‘lki and wȯ‘lkək (wȯlək).
10. Sometimes an original -a is dropped or alternates with the suffix -ək (Eng. and Sc. -ock: diminutive ending).
Dropping of -a always takes place in words, such as blānd [blanda], bland2, ēs [eisa]. frōd [froða], fro2, frod. klɔk [*klokka or *klukka], klokk1. kø̄d [No. kjøda]. näil [*negla]. rūg [hrúga]. rømikəl, remikəl [*rjómakolla]. ᶊok [No. tjukka], sjukk. swēl [svæla], swel2. (w)ōd [Icel. vaða], wod, od.
Alternation between forms ending in -a and forms without ending is found in words, such as: at·avɛ‘ᶅ·ta and ativɛ‘lt, atifels (-fəls) [*aptrvelta]. də‘mska, də‘msk [*dimska]. kat·jog·la, kat·jog·əl [*kattugla], kattjugla, etc. mar·flȯg·a, mar·flog· [*marfluga]. sȯga, sȯg [No. sugga]. Beside the general form skȯd [Fær. skadda, No. skodda], the unfrequent skȯda = skodda1, skodd2, is still occas. used.
-a and -ək alternate in, e.g.: grø̄ta, grø̄tək (grødək) [grýta].
Forms without ending, and forms ending in -ək alternate in words, such as: (planti-) krȯb and krȯbək [krubba]. skɛp and skɛbək, skæbək [skeppa]. spȯr and spærək [sperra], sperrek.
11. In a number of words the ending -a (more rarely: -i) has been superseded by the suffix -ək (-ock), e.g.: bētək, bɛætək [beita]. bırdək [byrði from byrðr, f.]. bı‘rtək, bə‘rtək [birta, birti]. brısmək [brosma]. dȯᶅək [No. dulla, dylla], dollek1, 2. flād(ə)rək, etc. [*flaðra]. fȯdək, fədək [fata], gōdək, gȯdək [gáta], hɛlək [hella], hella2, hellek. hıfsək [No. hyfsa]. kıbək [kippa]. kjø̄lək, kjø̄rək [No. kjøra], kragək [kraki]. kromək [krumma], krummek. nisək [hnísa]. rıvək (revək) [rifa]. rɔvək [rófa], rovek2. tūg (tūəg) (for *tū·ək) [þúfa]. v(j)ēdək [veita], vedek2. visək [vísa].
12. -ək is found also in some words which in O.N. end in a consonant, e.g.: færdək [ferð], ferd1. hȯᶇək [horn], honnek1. hȯrdək [urð]. kramək [hrammr]. mōlək [mál]. sȯᶇdək (sȯᶇək) [sjón(d), sýn(d)], soinnek, soindek.
Alternation takes place in ꬶȯrd and ꬶȯrdək [gjörð, gerð], gjord.
grik (more rarely: grøk) occas. assumes the suffix -in: grikin; in Fo.: grønin.
-ək has a dim. sense in words, such as: sto‘mpək [stumpr], stumpek. täᶇək [tǫnn], tannek, etc. tȯdək = tȯd [tuttr], toddek, todd. urmək [from ormr].
More irregular is -ək (tək) in “istək (is-t-ək) wadder” [ísótt veðr], and “brei‘ntək wadder”. Cf. ronifeɩ‘ᶇ·tak. bø̄nək, būnək = bø̄nhus.
13. The foll. words may exemplify the treatment of old genitive endings in words forming the first part of compds. (O.N. -ar, -a, -u > Shetl. -a or -i or -ə).
bagiskjo‘mp [bakka-]. bakagrȯf, etc. [*bakkagrǫf]. beniman [*bøna(r)maðr]. *dâlamjȯ‘rk [*dalamjörkvi]. dorifel [*durafjǫl]. fɩskafel [*fiskafjǫl]. *flɩŋəsə = *flingaso, -sø. færdalək [ferðalag]; but: færdimɛt, fērdimɛt [ferðarmatr]. *hɛᶅahwa‘rf [*heillarhvarf]. hȯm(b)li-, homliband (homləband) [hǫmluband]. joŋnakȯdi = jognakoddi. kjɔ‘lkəkast [*kjálkakast]. landimȯrs [landamœri]. nɔralɛg [*nálarleggr]. nægistɩk [*hnakkastykki]. päᶇibrɔd [*pǫnnubrot]. pɔita- and pɔitibrɔd [*pottabrot]. rɩgagitəl [*hryggjargeitill?]. rø̄dastab, rȯdərastȯb [røyð(r)arstabbi]. sɔkatū [*sokkató]. spoŋnakȯdi, see *spunnin, spugnin and koddi. toŋ·gəfäᶅ· (-fəl, -fadəl) [*tungufall]. to‘rkəsȯt, -sət [*þurkasótt]. väita-, väƫi- or väitibând, veitiband [*vattaband].
The nominative endings have found their way in: fjȯrahwa‘rf, fjɔraskit, fjȯraskit and rivatwari.
Gen. -r from O.N. -(a)r is found in ōrli, wȯrli [*árhlið] and ᶊūrməl [*sjóvarmál], sjurmol. On the other hand: “sūs” = sjós in sū··sameᶅ·abak··a. Gen. pl. forms, governed by millum, are found in: hosameᶅ·a [*húsa millum], and skäƫ·ɩmeliskrū·a = skɔtameliskrū·.
14. A trace of the pl. ending -ar is to be found in skɛklər, still remembered by a few persons as the old pl. of skɛkəl (see skekel in Dict.). Now skɛkəl and skɛklər alternate as sing. forms; pl.: skɛkəls and skɛklərs.
15. The derivative ending -ing(r) (-ung(r)) mostly changes to -in (through analogy with words, taken from English and Scottish, ending in -in’ — ing), more rarely -ən. Examples:
bja‘rtin [birtingr]. bulin or bolin [bulungr and bolungr], bolin(g), etc. ēᶊins [*æsingar]. fjēdin [*feitingr?]. fudin [*fótingr = *fœtingr?]. -grȯinin [Icel. grunnungr], *groinin. grønin [No. graaning], see § 12. hālin [*halingr]. ha‘ŋklin [*hangling(r)]. hō·kɩl(l)·in [hákerling]. hømin [*hýming]. jɛlin [Da. iling]. kläinin [klíningr], klø̄vin [*kløyfingr]. pjuslin, pøslin [Da. pusling]. rɩvlin [hriflingr], sɛtnin [*setningr]. skāvin [*skafingr], skavin2. skɔt·hȯm·lin [-hǫmlungr]. skrōvin [*skráfingr]. snɩgin [*hneggingr], sneggin, etc. stablin [*stabblingr]. sti̇̄vin, stivən [*stýfingr]. ta‘nt·fɛᶅ·ən [*tantfellingr], tantfellin1, 2. -ən for -əŋ in stamərən [*stafnrǫng], stamron.
In a few words (in certain parts of the Isles, such as in the isle of Whalsey and occas. in Yell) the ending -iən appears for -in, e.g.: bɛldᶎiən [Icel. belgingr]. glūbiən [*glúpingr]. rādiən, rōdiən. ūriən = hōrin. In a few words ending in -i, the -i seems to be an abbr. of -in, e.g.: hâli (cf. hālin). kāvi for *kāvin = *kafingr. kōgi [kagingr?], *kogi1. negi = neggi (cf. snɩgin). rāmi (for: *rāmin).
16. In some cases -in alternates with -ək, corresponding to an old -ingr, e.g.: fȯitlin and fȯit(l)ək [prob. *fœt(l)ingr]. hōrin and hōrək, see prec. ūriən. njafin and njafək. skɛptin and skɛbdək [*skeptingr].
17. In a number of words -ək has found its way, replacing -in, corresponding to -ingr (-ungr). Examples:
breɩᶇək, bräᶇək [Fær. brenning], brennek1. brølək. būrək. ɛrək, ærək [*æringr]. grø̄mək [*grýmingr = *grímungr?]. hȯdək [*hǫddungr?], hoddek2. hūdək, hø̄dək [hótingr? hœtingr?]. jarmək [*jarmingr]. sələk, sʌlək [Icel. silungr], silek2, sillek. ski̇̄tək [*skítingr]. slȯdərək [*slytringr]. swäƫək, etc. [*skvettingr], swettek, etc.
In individual cases it is uncertain whether -ək is only a later addition to the word-root or represents an older -ingr, -ungr, e.g.: pʌ‘ltək [piltr or piltungr], piltek.
18. The derivative ending -ari almost always changes to -ər (Eng. -er). The foll. words form exceptions to this rule:
bjin·târ· [*bindari], binder, stɔŋgari̇, stoŋ·gari̇̄ [*stangari].
In drȯᶇasi [*drynjari], dronjer, -asi has replaced an older -ari.
The ending -ar(r) has changed to -ari, -əri in: de hāmaris (-riᶊ) or heməris, həməris = hamari.
The ending -ur(r) is recognisable in the word gȯᶅūr·, gaᶅūr· [gollurr].
19. The old definite article is recognised as a fossilized suffix in a number of words. In some instances it is the nominative form, in others the accusative form, which has prevailed. Examples:
de bɩ‘rtən = birtek, birti. a drø̄lin [*drýlinn]. de (vats-) dudlin = *vatsdudla. de fɛstən [festin(a) from festr, f.]. fjandin, de fjan·din· [*fjandinn]. de fjɔrən [fjaran or fjǫruna]. de glȯbərən [*gláparinn?]. de (h)ɩldin [eldinn], ilder1, etc. a hɩl·mɔŋ·gin [*himlunginn?]. de hogən, hɔgən [hagann], hoga, hog. a hȯlgin [hólginn]. a hȯrdin [urðin(a)]. de klȯvən [klofann], klovi, etc. (with lengthened ending in a‘ŋ·klȯvain·). de kropin, krupin [kroppinn], kruppin, etc. de *kwȯlvin [kálfinn]. de roᶊən, ruᶊən [hryssan], russen, etc. a sɩmən [sími]. a skogin [skóinn]. a skɔln [skálin(a)] = a skɔl. a träᶅ·faŋ·gin [*þrælfanginn]. a vadᶎ·gōr·din [fastgarðinn], vasgord. Usually in pl.: de knɔkins or nogins [*hnokkarnir], †knokk2, knokkin and nokkin.
In a rigmarole from Fetlar (in recent dialect) appear the words: de bȯᶇəns: the children, and de hȯᶇəns: the dogs.
de *ᶄø̄r(ə)n [kýrnar], *kørn (see Fragments of Norn, conversation). de sȯmərə läitla (läƫla, leɩtᶅa) [sumarit lítla] (see under litel, adj.).
20. In place-names the suffixed, definite article has freq. survived, commonly preserved in the accusative form. Adjectives, when added to substantives, also assume in the feminine the ending -a (for: -u), like the substantives to which they belong. Examples:
Bakən swa‘rta (Ai.), *bakkann svarta. Blegəna hwi̇̄da (Y.), *bleikjurnar hvítu. Bläƫəna grø̄na (Yh.), Blækna grø̄na (Yn.), *blettina grœnu. Dálin (-ən) grø̄na (U.), *dalinn grœna. Fɩdna grø̄na (Ai.), *fitina grœnu. Gɔ‘rstən stūra or Stūra Gɔ‘rstɩ (Sound near Lerwick), *garðstaðinn stóra. Hɛᶅəna bræita (Fe.), H. grō (Yn.), H. hwi̇̄da (Yh.), *helluna brǫttu, gráu, hvítu. Hulən bräᶇda (Un.), H; kwi̇̄da (Fladabister in Conn.), H. ska‘rpa (Weisdale), H. stūra (Du.), *hólinn brenda, hvíta, skarpa, stóra. Hæsən gola (N.Roe), *hestinn gula. Løgəna grø̄na (Yh.), *lœkina grœnu. Mørna kwi̇̄da (Fo.), *Mýrina hvítu. Pɔᶅən dᶎūba (Ai.), *pollinn djúpa. Røni fōgra (Fedeland in N.Roe), *hraunit fagra. Skūən bräᶇda (Quarff), *skóginn brenda. Stakən ᶊok(k)a (Un.), *stakkinn þjukka. Tēgəna grȯᶇa (Fe.), *teigana grunnu or grœnu? Tona grȯna (Sound near Lerwick), *tóna grœnu. Væ‘lta kådnə kwi̇̄da (Fo.), *velta kornit hvíta.
In a number of names of fishing-grounds, named after the landmarks by which they are recognised, examples may be found of substantives in the definite form, governed by the preposition “við”, which has become “wi̇̄, wi”, through influence of Eng. with, e.g.: Rɩvəna-hø̄gəna-wi̇̄ (Uw.) = *rifuna hauginn við (see rivek, sb.). -a in hø̄gəna has doubtless arisen through influence of the preceding rɩvəna. Ø̄rnawi (Un.): *øyrina við.
Adjectives, Adjectival Endings.
21. The ending -ən (rarely: -in) [O.N. -inn] is found in a few words: bȯ‘ᶅtin [No. bulten]. dōvən [dofinn]. nōmən. vālən. gōsən and gȯzən [gosinn], properly perf. part., but now only used as an adj. in the expr.: g. fish. -ən and -i (Eng. -y) alternate in, e.g.: drāvən and trāvi. fōsən, fōzən and fōsi, fōzi (L.Sc. fozy). -i for -in or -ən in, e.g.: kȯ‘ᶅti [No. kulten].
22. The ending -ət [O.N. -óttr] is preserved in a number of words: bjōgət [*baugóttr], bjoget1. fə‘lskət [*fíflskóttr]. kȯᶅət [kollóttr]. skäᶅət [*skallóttr for *skǫllóttr]. Applied to sheep, e.g.: a) bjæ‘lsət = krāgət: kraget1. According to S. Bugge, the prefixed b in bjæ‘lsət may doubtless be regarded as a survival of the old prefix “bi-”, thus: *bihæ‘lsət from an older *bi-helsóttr. Cf. blohȯᶇ·in[errata 1]: V, § 19. b) i̇̄mət [*ímóttr]. c) i̇̄sət [*ísóttr]. d) mōgət [*mǫgóttr], esp. in the compd. kat·mō·gət. e) moskət, muskət (= i̇̄mət) [*muskóttr]. f) skjōmət [No. skjaamut]. Various adjectives ending in -ət are mentioned under § 7.
-ət and -i (Eng. -y) alternate in, e.g.: fjo‘ŋsət and fjo‘ŋsi = fjungset, fjungsi. glȯdərət and glȯdəri. trȯᶅət and trȯᶅi. tȯ‘rfət and tȯ‘rfi. -i has become prevalent in, e.g.: ūmi = umie. skūmi = skumie. ho‘msi = humset2, humsi.
il·skȯd· [*ilskótt: corn, understood] = ä‘ᶅᶊkət, ä. corn = ilsket corn.
23. The ending -igr, as a rule, has become -i (Eng. -y), e.g.: (un-)hāgali. ti̇̄li [þýðligr]. In a few cases -i, -ək and -ə(k)t (prop. neuter: -igt) interchange: ȯᶇdali, also (more rarely) ȯᶇdələk, ȯᶇdələt [undarlig(t)]. unti̇̄li and *ūtȯƫləkt (-ləχt). -ək and -ət interchange in: lølək or lølət [hlœg(i)ligr].
24. O.N. smátt (from smár) is found in smut (smot) = smutt, adj.
25. A number of adjectives have adopted the ending -ous (on analogy with Eng. adjectives in -ous): ub(j)â·dous, o-. ugjō·vous, o-, = ubjâdous. undø̄·mious. usȯᶇ·dious (= usȯᶇ·dali). ū·tø̄· and utø̄·ious.
26. Of the few adjectives which have been preserved in the def. form, are occas. mentioned: läitla, läƫla, leɩtᶅa [lítla from lítill], litel; furthermore (among the sea-terms): de fōgri [hinn fagri], and prob. de hardi [hinn harði]; de hwādi [hinn hvati], hwadi2, and de flāda [hin flata].
27. An old compar. form appears to have been preserved in the expr.: de äƫ(ə)ri, äitri or at(ə)ri (o’ de dɩm) = ettri.
In a versified riddle (of common occurrence) are found two adjectives ending in -óttr in the def. form: Huk·əti·, kruk·əti· [*húkótti, krókótti] = huketi, kruketi.
Surviving Pronominal Forms.
28. O.N. þú, thou, is preserved in the form dū, du.
For the plural form (prop. the old dual form) in 2nd pers., see dor. Forms of the word mínn, my, are contained in the endearing exclamation: kērəmi! see ker, adj., and lamit or my lamit = lamb mítt, my lamb! see *min.
For äᶇəhwa‘rt [annathvart] and aitrahōla [aðrahvára] see *annehwart and atrahola.
Verbs.
29. Survivals of Old Northern verbal inflexion are found only quite sporadically, thus: -fōrən [farinn] in the compd. mɩs·fō·rən. In the preterite is found mɩs·fø̄rd· (-fø̄ld) [misfór(sk)] with added d (for ø̄ from “ó”: see V, § 8), from which form d has found its way into the infinitive and present along with the preterite: he mɩs·fø̄r·dət. For ɔplø̄s· and ɔpløst· see uppløs. For lopəm (lopm) [O.N. hlaupinn] see lop, lup.
A single conjunctive form has been preserved, viz.: “verði” with dropped i-mutation, in the expr.: vē vâr dee (Un.; rare), woe to you! See var3, vb.
In the verb “to fɩn”, the old inflexion is still found (pres.: fɩn; preterite: fan; perf. part.: I’m fȯn, I have found[1], but, for the rest, the Shetl. dialect is almost in accordance with L.Sc., with reference to the inflexion of the verbs.
30. On the other hand, the Old Northern verbal constructions have been preserved to a great extent. Many of the Latin verbs current in English are not known, or not used by the common people, who prefer to employ everyday verbs of Northern or Anglo-Saxon origin in combination with certain prepositions or adverbs. In some cases, in which an old verb has been assimilated in form to an English or Scottish verb, the Old Northern use of the word has been preserved, differing from Mod. English or Scottish usage.
“to bear” is still occasionally used instead of the more common “to carry”. See Dict, under ber (kom, lay, set, stand, tak).
The English periphrasis with the auxiliary “do” (Shetl. “dø̄”) is now commonly used in Shetl. In some cases, however, where it might have been expected, this periphrasis is not used (e.g. in a couple of tabu-phrases): row no (pronounced rɔuna), don’t row; settle no, don’t settle. Cf. “why spø̄rs dū?” to be found under huketi, adj.
- ↑ The use of “to be” instead of “to have” as auxiliary is characteristic of more recent Shetl.; thus, e.g.: I’m been ill; I’m done it; dey’re gotten plenty o’ fish; he was seen him; he was ta’en it, etc.