Re: [tied] Re: Danaans [was Poseidon]

On Fri, 16 Feb 2001 15:22:46 -0000, tgpedersen@... wrote:

>(a similar example: the masculine, oblique form of the Dutch definite
>article used to be "den". It was abolished also in the written
>language in the 1930's, except for two cities: Den Haag(s'Gravenhage)
>and Den Bosch(s'Hertogenbosch), since cities rarely are (grammatical)
>subjects (expressions like "Den Haag says..." are metaphorical).

I have no official confirmation, but my guess would be an "allative"
(= acc.): <naar den Hage/Bosche>, cf. Istanbul < eis ta:n poulin "to
the city". On the other hand, both constructions are originally
genitives: <(de)s graven hage> "the count [of Holland]'s hedge",
<(de)s hertogen bosch> "the duke [of Brabant]'s forest".

=======================
Miguel Carrasquer Vidal
mcv@...