What if English were more like Dutch! (2)
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- Опубліковано 22 лис 2023
- Learning Dutch through etymology and cognates
This video aims to showcase my method of learning Dutch through etymology and cognates. I break down Dutch words and reconstruct them as pseudo-English words. These aren't accurate translations but rather exact cognates with English, even if there might be better Germanic or non-Germanic reconstructions possible. So, the goal is not to have precise or optimal English translations. The aim is to have a part-by-part direct cognate English equivalents of more challenging Dutch words for English and other Germanic language speakers. It has personally helped me enormously to learn and remember new Dutch words.
If you know some basic rules, such as the second Germanic consonant shift, you can often predict how a word would sound like in Dutch, Low German, High German, Modern English, Old English, or any other direction. Dutch has the added advantage of having some French loanwords, like English. For example, let’s say you’re struggling with the Germanic word for "population" in Dutch, which is "Bevolking" (very easy to break down, by the way: Be- + volk + -ing = Bevolking), no worries! If you remember your French, you can use the Romance equivalent, which is 'Populatie' in Dutch. This way, you can expand your Dutch vocabulary by thousands of new words effortlessly!
As a language enthusiast, I tried learning Chinese in China for four years but didn't achieve much language mastery. However, I quickly learned Dutch. After one and a half years of studying Dutch (Duolingo+self-study+Dutch lessons), I aced the CNaVT academic Dutch exam (B2 level). This certification allows me to study in Dutch at the university level in Flanders and the Netherlands.
When people ask how I managed to learn Dutch so quickly, this is basically it. This is my secret! I leverage the power of etymology and cognates to make Dutch words sticky and memorable. If I can deconstruct a Dutch word the way I've explained in this video, I will never forget it.
Good luck! Please share your ideas and tips. Thank you! Heel erg bedankt! Cheers, Schol!
Here are some related videos that sparked my inspiration:
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Disclaimer: I am not a Dutch teacher. I am a Dutch learner. My focus is on cognates and etymology, not accurate translations.
Music used in the video (in order of appearance). All from UA-cam Audio Library:
1. Nimbus - Eveningland
2. Faith - Vibe Tracks
3. Silky Smooth - Audio Hert
#Dutch #English #similarities #cognates #etymology #Nederlands #leren #languagelearning #languagetips
Though "veer" is a cognate of "feather", in "veerkracht" it comes from the verb "veren", which means "to spring" or "to bounce".
You're absolutely right. Thankfully, it turns out the verb 'veren' and 'veer' are also cognates. The sense of "spring" originates from the capacity of feathers to regain their form after being bent. So, 'feathercraft' for 'veerkracht' can remain as it it.
awesome, learnt a lot, great video as usual! 👍
Thanks. Appreciate your positive vibes!
I think the 'veer' in 'veerkracht' means 'spring' (coiled wire), not 'feather', which seems more apt in relation to elasticity.
Thanks for the clarification. You're correct. But while "veer" in this context is linked to the verb "veren," meaning to spring back in Dutch, it's not etymologically related to "spring" in Dutch or English. "Veer" and "feather" though are actual cognates originating from the same Proto-Germanic root (feþrō). The verb "veren" (to spring) and "de veer" (feather) are also cognates, denoting to the elastic nature of feathers (Feathers easily bounce back to their original form). So, "veren" (v) and "veer" (n) in Dutch, and "feather" in English are ultimately related.
My approach emphasizes cognates for simplicity in memorizing Dutch words, especially for non-native speakers. If accuracy were the goal, "veerkracht" could be pseudo-translated as "springpower" in English. Feathercraft is not a good translation but has the crucial benefit of being construed from direct Germanic cognates. It's an interesting linguistic exploration! 👌
@@ArmArmAdv Okay, cool.
Very interesting video for language learners
Bedankt!👍
Very interesting video, you did a good job.
The difference between "macht" and "kracht" has much to do with its application in the sentence. "Kracht" is mostly used as physical power like muscle power or natural forces like gravity (zwaartekracht) while "macht" has more to do with the ability to influence others (there are of course different levels of "macht") such as governmental power. I hope this helps and if you have questions or would like to talk about it feel free to talk with me.
Also populatie is a Dutch word mostly used as a more proper way of saying bevolking
Thank you very much, Ismael! Very illuminating comment!👌So, basically, 'superkracht' refers to superpower as superhuman abilities, like what Superman can do. Whereas, 'supermacht' is equivalent to the geopolitical superpower, where a nation like the US is considered a superpower. Interestingly, English doesn't have two separate words for these two concepts, and they're both just called superpower! Dutch seems to be more precise, having two distinct words for these two concepts.
As for 'populatie,' that's interesting to note. I thought 'bevolking' and 'populatie' are interchangeable. Thanks for the clarification. Cheers!
@@ArmArmAdv you are welcome, as for the last part in essence the are interchangeable but there is a slight difference in it's use. You would be grammaticly correct (most of the times) using either yet it would sound strange to a native speakers, there isn't a rule for that just intuition.
@@ArmArmAdv I'd say "populatie" is a more technical word, used when talking about demographics, comparable to English "populace".
@kilianhekhuis Interesting! Thanks for clearing that up. Although, I just checked on Reverso, which is a context based dictionary. It gives 'populace' for 'bevolking' and 'populatie' for 'population'. Also, on Google Translate, it shows it that way.
very interesting as always!
Thank you! Cheers!
Wow, Armin. Jouw video is heel intrigerend en visueel. Ik heb met open mond zitten kijken naar de linken die jij kan leggen tussen talen.
Heel knap! Waar heb je je meeste info gehaald?
Dankjewel Anja!🙏 Dat is echt aardig van je. Eerlijk gezegd begon ik die verbanden intuïtief te zien vanaf het begin. Voor een tijdtje dacht ik dat iedereen die connecties tussen Engels en Nederlands gewoon zo zag. Maar nu merk ik dat het blijkbaar niet zo voor de hand ligt, zelfs niet voor moedertaalsprekers van Engels en/of Nederlands. Zodra ik de basiswoorden in het Nederlands leerde, kon ik min of meer raden hoe een Engels woord zou klinken in het Nederlands, en andersom. Het is geen perfecte regel, maar het werkt meestal wel
Bijvoorbeeld, zodra je beseft dat het "ch", "g"-geluid in het Nederlands klinkt als het "j"-geluid in het Engels, kun je nieuwe woorden raden, zoals 'eight' en 'acht,' 'night' en 'nacht,' 'soft' en 'zacht,' 'wacht' en 'wait.' Het is niet altijd 100% accuraat, je moet een beetje flexibel zijn met klanken en betekenissen.
In sommige gevallen hebben cognaten tussel het Nederlands en Engels niet alleen verschillende uitspraken, maar ook verschillende betekenissen, valse vrienden maar niet helemaal. Met dit soort halfcognaten krijg je nog steeds het idee, zoals 'hond' en 'hound', waarbij 'hond' niet precies hetzelfde betekent als 'hound' in Engels, maar je begrijpt dat het over honden gaat.
Ik zou zeggen dat van de nieuwe woorden die ik tegenkom in het Nederlands, ik zo'n 80% correct kan raden op gevoel, nog eens 10% raad ik verkeerd, en de laatste 10% kan ik geen cognaten met het Engels bedenken, of misschien hebben ze geen cognaten tussen hen. En in veel gevallen komen niet-Germaanse Nederlandse woorden uit het Frans en de Romaanse talen, wat vaak ook in het Engels gedeeld wordt! Ik vind etymologie en cognaten echt krachtige hulpmiddelen bij het leren van talen, en ik begrijp niet waarom ze niet populairder zijn.
Top video! Very clear, concise, and interesting!! ❤
Thanks Zach! I appreciate it!😉
English never understood why the Northsea was called Northsea 😂😂😂
For english it should be called Eastsea....
For us frisians...we have Northsea/ Middelsea and southsea.
And why the english do not name the frisian in their history?
How odd is that?
Frisian and English are indeed the closest sister languages. I wonder, as a Frisian, do you notice more similarities between English and Frisian than between English and Dutch?
Wow, great to learn that you are picking up Dutch!
Cheers Cathy!🙏☀️