Yoïn van Spijk(@yvanspijk) 's Twitter Profileg
Yoïn van Spijk

@yvanspijk

/'dʒowɪn/
• historisch taalkundige | historical linguist
• dialectoloog | dialectologist
• See my Tumblr for all graphics and videos: https://t.co/vDE6Wth705

ID:305530695

linkhttps://www.patreon.com/yvanspijk calendar_today26-05-2011 11:28:22

18,2K Tweets

16,2K Followers

672 Following

Yoïn van Spijk(@yvanspijk) 's Twitter Profile Photo

Linguist Henk Wolf has published a book containing a great variety of articles on the Saterlandic Frisian language, written by sixteen authors - a group I'm honoured to be part of!

Linguist Henk Wolf has published a book containing a great variety of articles on the Saterlandic Frisian language, written by sixteen authors - a group I'm honoured to be part of!
account_circle
Yoïn van Spijk(@yvanspijk) 's Twitter Profile Photo

The English words 'of', 'off', 'after', and 'ebb' all contain the same root.

It also lies at the basis of German 'von' (of; from) and 'aber' (but).

This root, Proto-Indo-European *h₂(e)p-, meant 'off; away'. By adding suffixes, related meanings were derived.

Here's more:

The English words 'of', 'off', 'after', and 'ebb' all contain the same root. It also lies at the basis of German 'von' (of; from) and 'aber' (but). This root, Proto-Indo-European *h₂(e)p-, meant 'off; away'. By adding suffixes, related meanings were derived. Here's more:
account_circle
Yoïn van Spijk(@yvanspijk) 's Twitter Profile Photo

The word 'tooth' is a remnant of an ancient present participle meaning 'biting'.

It is etymologically related to French 'dent', German 'Zahn', Irish 'déad', Ancient Greek 'odṓn', and Sanskrit 'dán'.

These words all stem from the same Proto-Indo-European ancestor.

Here's more:

The word 'tooth' is a remnant of an ancient present participle meaning 'biting'. It is etymologically related to French 'dent', German 'Zahn', Irish 'déad', Ancient Greek 'odṓn', and Sanskrit 'dán'. These words all stem from the same Proto-Indo-European ancestor. Here's more:
account_circle
Yoïn van Spijk(@yvanspijk) 's Twitter Profile Photo

English '(he/she) eats', Welsh 'ysa', Ancient Greek 'édei', Sanskrit 'átti', and Polish 'je' all stem from the same Indo-European verb.

Over time, words change beyond recognition, undergoing regular sound changes and irregular alterations.

Here's the family of 'eats':

English '(he/she) eats', Welsh 'ysa', Ancient Greek 'édei', Sanskrit 'átti', and Polish 'je' all stem from the same Indo-European verb. Over time, words change beyond recognition, undergoing regular sound changes and irregular alterations. Here's the family of 'eats':
account_circle
Yoïn van Spijk(@yvanspijk) 's Twitter Profile Photo

German 'gegessen' and Dutch 'gegeten', meaning 'eaten', are quite peculiar.

German and Dutch past participles normally get the prefix 'ge-', but these words contain a doubled form.

As 'ge-' had been obscured in earlier 'gessen' and 'geten', it was added once more.

Here's more:

German 'gegessen' and Dutch 'gegeten', meaning 'eaten', are quite peculiar. German and Dutch past participles normally get the prefix 'ge-', but these words contain a doubled form. As 'ge-' had been obscured in earlier 'gessen' and 'geten', it was added once more. Here's more:
account_circle
Yoïn van Spijk(@yvanspijk) 's Twitter Profile Photo

When I first posted this yesterday, it had only 25 likes after two hours. Was it boring?

I then realised I had attached a second tweet with a link to my Patreon.

So I deleted both tweets and posted only the main tweet afresh.

25 likes within a minute.

Ah, the algorithm... 😒

account_circle
Yoïn van Spijk(@yvanspijk) 's Twitter Profile Photo

'To think' and 'thanks' are etymologically related.

The distant ancestor of 'thanks' meant 'thought'.

This meaning evolved into 'benevolent thought', 'grateful thought', and ultimately 'gratitude'.

My infographic shows the Germanic relatives of 'to think', 'thanks' and more:

'To think' and 'thanks' are etymologically related. The distant ancestor of 'thanks' meant 'thought'. This meaning evolved into 'benevolent thought', 'grateful thought', and ultimately 'gratitude'. My infographic shows the Germanic relatives of 'to think', 'thanks' and more:
account_circle
Yoïn van Spijk(@yvanspijk) 's Twitter Profile Photo

Dutch 'hangmat' and German 'Hängematte' come from French 'hamac' (hammock).

Seeking to rationalise this opaque word, people associated it with their words for 'to hang' and 'mat' and changed it.

Here are more Dutch and German examples of this type of change: folk etymology.

Dutch 'hangmat' and German 'Hängematte' come from French 'hamac' (hammock). Seeking to rationalise this opaque word, people associated it with their words for 'to hang' and 'mat' and changed it. Here are more Dutch and German examples of this type of change: folk etymology.
account_circle