Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 November 1899 — SOME BOER WORDS. [ARTICLE]

SOME BOER WORDS.

Meaning .and Pronunciation of Eouth African Dntch Annie#. The American reading public has found considerable difficulty in pronouncing the Dutch names that come in the cables from far-off Africa. The language of the Boers is identical grammatically but not in idiom with that of the people of Holland. The Dutch Afrikanders are called Boers because that word describes their class—farmers. The pronunciations given the letters in these Dutch words are not like those of the English. The double “o,” for iustauce, in Dutch has the same sound as “o” in Rome, while the diphthong “oe” is pronounced by the Dutch as we pronounce “oo” in boot. The English pronunciation of these two diphthongs is the reverse of that given them by those who speak Dutch. “Ou” has the sound of “ow” in owl. The sound of *‘ni” is nearly like that of the English “oy” in boy. The Dutch double “aa” is the same as the English “a” in war. As there is no “y” in Dutch, its place is taken by “ij,” which is sounded as “y” in defy. If one, therefore, would pronounce Oom Paul properly he would say it as if it were spelled “Ome Fowl." The family name of Gen. Joubert would, for the same reason, be pronounced as if it were spelled “Yowbert.” The word Boer is pronounced by the Afrikanders as if it were of two syllables; the first long and the second short, thus: “800-er.” The plural is not “Boers.” It is “Boeron,” and it is pronounced “80-ereh,” because the final “n” is slurred. Here are some of the Dutch words that are oftenest in print in connection with the news of the Transvaal, and their pronounci at ion and meaning: Bloemfontein (bloom-son-tine) _ Flower fountain Boer (boo-er) Farmer Bultenlander (boy-ten-lont-er) Foreigner Burgher (buhr-ker) Citizen Burgherregt (buhr-ker-rekt) Citizenship Buigherwacht (bulir-ker-voku , Citizen soldiery Jonkherr (yunk-hare) ... .Member of the volksraad—gentleman Oom (ome) Uncle Raad (rahsl) Senate Kaadsheer (rahds-hare) Senator' Handhuis (rabd-hoys) ..Senate house Hand (rahnt) Margin—edge Stuat (stalit) State Staatkunde (staht-kuhn-dej Politics Staatsraad (stahts-rahd) ... .Council of state Stad (stot) City Stemmer (stemmer) Voter—elector Transvaal (trans-fahl) Circular—valley Trek (treck) Draught—journey Trekken (treck-en) To draw—to travel Trekpaard (treck-pahrd) Draught horse UJt(oyt) Out-out of Ultlander (oyt-lont-er) Foreigner Vaal (fuhl) Valley V aderlandsliefde (fah-ter-tonts-leef-te).. ....... Love of one's country—patriotism Veld (felt) Field—open lands Veldheer (felt-hare).. .General commandant Veldwachter (fclt-vock-ter) Bural guard V olksraad (fulks-rahd) ....' * „ Lower house of congress V oorregt (fore-rekt) Franchise—pririlege » reemdellng (frame-de-llng) Stranger Witwatersrand (vlt-vot-ters-ront) Margin of the white water Pretoria, the capital of the South African Republic, is named in honor of its first president, Pretorius, who led the Dutch in the great trek, or journey, out of Cape Colony sixty years ago and into the Transvaal to escape the dominion of England. Johannesburg is easily translated info English as Johnstown. The term of “Afrikander” is used to designate the Dutch from the other white people of South Africa.