From: Steve Woodson
Message: 3586
Date: 2000-09-06
Mark Odegard wrote:
Mark,
I came across a wonderful web site. The main index is here: http://samogitia.mch.mii.lt/rodykle.en.htm There are some fine dialect maps, as well as an overview of Lithuanian dialects here: http://samogitia.mch.mii.lt/KALBA/girdstr.en.htm Samogitian is the present dialect, and apparently, a formerly full-fledged language spoken in western Lithuania. The 2nd web citation suggests that the Samogitian dialect represents a convergent dialect, having derived from Curonian, a now-extinct Baltic language. 'Curonia' is a new one for me, one of those 'quaint' European place/ethnic names which just about never show up in English texts. I don't think my 'natural' English pronunciation of Samogitia would be correct. I see the Lithuanian version (the adjective?) is Zemaiciai (carons over Z and C). The terms 'Low' and 'High' Lithuanian are also new to me.
Thanks for the links. Courland was that part of the lands of the Teutonic Order located in present day Latvia south of the Dvina (Duna) River. Many German towns were located in this area.
Steve