Re: Geschlecht (clan, lineage, nobility)

From: Torsten
Message: 67143
Date: 2011-01-23

--- In cybalist@yahoogroups.com, "t0lgsoo1" <guestuser.0x9357@...> wrote:
>
>
>
> >And now you have proved that 'Geschlecht' means not just
> >"lineage", but "noble lineage".
>
> At last! 6 from 49! Garcon, a bottle of Dom Perignon, svp!
>
> >What you haven't done is provide an example where
> >it means "(the estate of) nobility".
>
> This is called Adel. This is called Adelsstand. This
> I explained to you at least in my latest post. Hadn't
> you insisted, I would have never imagined that a
> German speaking intellectual, and a German-speaking
> linguist, and a German-speaking Danish linguist at that
> needs explanations on these things, on the usage of
> Geschlecht and the differences between Adel(sstand) and
> Geschlecht. As though you need to be explained the
> difference betw. king and kingdom, prince and principality.

Irrelevant. What you haven't done is provide an example where it means "(the estate of) nobility".


> But, again, pay attention: above you say "...PROVIDE...
> AN EXAMPLE WHERE IT MEANS "(THE ESTATE OF) NOBILITY".

Yes, please pay attention and don't digress.


> Below, this (the noun) you'll change again to the adjective!

Yes, I asked you to provide an example where 'Geschlecht' means "nobility" and an example where 'von Geschlecht' means "noble".

>
> But first read the examples I randomly found:
>
> (1) OHG gislaht, gislaht "(wohl)geartet"
> Antonym: ungislaht > ungeschlacht
>
> < slaht "Gesamtheit der Loden (Schößlinge)
> eines Ausschlagstamms"; extended to Sproß,
> Generation, Art (ie, Nachkommenschaft of
> a certain kind, having the same origin;)
>
> So even the Old High German level slaht fits
> Polish szlachta 100% (edle or adelige Sprößlinge)!

Is there an asterisk (*) before 'slaht'? If so, it's a reconstructed form which can't be used as evidence. If not, you're wrong, the OHG slaht means "a lineage", Polish 'szlachta' means 'nobility' (as class).

> (2) knights, gentry:
>
> "Mein Geschlecht seit grauen Zeiten
> War - wie Rittersmännern ziemt -
> Keck, gestreng' und fast berühmt;

Yes, his noble lineage, his family.

> [...]
>
> Nie vergaßen deine Brüder
> Dieser großen Ahnen Wert;
> Reich und Kaiser schüzt' ihr Schwert"
>
> [...]
>
> Rosig auf zum Jüngling blühte
> Bald der Niedre von Geschlecht;
> Edler lohnte nie ein Knecht
> Seines Pflegers Vatergüte;"

Yes, the lower of lineage, of birth; the 'von Geschlecht' does not mean "noble" here.

> (3)
> Lichtenhals chronicle on Elsabetha von Lichtenberg
> (beginning of the 14th c.):
>
> "Ein Fraw von Geschlecht und Tugendten Edel, ist
> dem Gotteshauß wohl und nutzlich vorgestanden."

'von Geschlecht und Tugendten Edel' = "noble wrt lineage and virtues", you can't separate out 'von Geschlecht' here, and it doesn't mean "noble".

> (3) Geschlecht = Adelssippe
>
> "Damals erhielt der Kleriker Pilgrim von König
> Arnulf reichen Besitz im Zillertal geschenkt.
> Erzbischof Pilgrim wurde von der älteren Forschung
> durchwegs der mächtigen bayerischen Adelssippe
> der ARIBONEN [...] Von Geschlecht kann man um diese
> Zeit und auch durch die Quellenlage bedingt kaum
> sprechen. Vgl. Schmid K.: Zur Problematik von
> Familie und Sippe, Haus und Dynastie beim
> mittelalterlichen Adel, Zeitschrift für
> Geschichte des Oberrheins 105 Seite 1-57.]
> zugewiesen."

'Von Geschlecht kann man ... kaum sprechen.' = "of lineage/family one can ... hardly speak". 'Von Geschlecht' does not mean "noble" here.


> (4) "So kam es, dass der Essayist Gerhard v. K.
> sämtliche Stände in einer Person vereinigt:
> proletarisch von Besitz, bürgerlich von Gesinnung
> und adlig von Geschlecht."

'adlig von Geschlecht' = "noble by lineage"; 'von Geschlecht' does not mean "noble" here.

> (5) "Adelig von Geschlecht, aber noch adeliger durch
> die Gnade, eine Jungfrau dem Fleische nach, dem
> Geiste nach ganz keusch, an Alter noch ein Mädchen,
> aber an Geistesreife eine Greisin, standhaft im
> Vorsatz und in Gottesliebe brennend vor heißem
> Verlangen."

'Adelig von Geschlecht' = "noble by lineage"; 'von Geschlecht' does not mean "noble" here.


> (6) "nobilis genere, sed nobilior sanctitate
> adelig von Geschlecht, aber noch adeliger in
> der Heiligkeit"

'Adelig von Geschlecht' = "noble by lineage"; 'von Geschlecht' does not mean "noble" here.

> (7) Sankt Agatha von Catanien:
>
> "Agatha die Jungfrau war edel von Geschecht
> und schön von Angesicht und wohnte in der
> Stadt Catania;"
'edel von Geschlecht' = "noble by lineage"; 'von Geschlecht' does not mean "noble" here.

> (8) "Vornehm, edel von Geschlecht müsst'
> der Jüngling doch wohl sein, der dich,
> Tochter, dürfte frein!"
'edel von Geschlecht' = "noble by lineage"; 'von Geschlecht' does not mean "noble" here.

> (9) JGT Gräße, Gesta Romanorum:
> "Sie aber erhob ein lautes Geschrei, und
> ein Ritter, edel von Geschlecht und That,
> ritt zufällig durch denselben Wald, vernahm
> die Stimme der Jungfrau,"
'edel von Geschlecht' = "noble by lineage"; 'von Geschlecht' does not mean "noble" here.

> (10) "Steh Still Und Lis Wers Gwesen Ist,
> Maria Eleonora Hies Ihr Namm, Vornehm Von
> Geschlecht Adelich Von Sta(mm) Von Haus
> Prandegg Ist Sie Geboren Mit Herrn"
> (ie, "steh still und lies, wer's gewesen
> ist, M. E. H. ihr Name, vornehm von
> Geschlecht, adelig von stamm, von Haus
> Prandegg (Brandeck) ist sie geboren mit
> (dem) Herrn")
'vornehm von Geschlecht' = "noble by lineage"; 'von Geschlecht' does not mean "noble" here.
>
> (11) "Er ist von königlichem Blut, .....
> Und von Geschlecht ein König hehr."
> (Wolfram von Eschenbach, Parzival, 48,5)
'von Geschlecht ein König' = "by lineage a king"; 'von Geschlecht' does not mean "noble" here.
>
> (12) "wie von Ew. Hoch: wohlgeboren, gnädig
> und geneigt ... pflegend und genießend,
> sich von Geschlecht zu Geschlecht ein
> anständig ..." (J. W. v. Goethe)
'von Geschlecht zu Geschlecht' = "from generation to generation"; 'von Geschlecht' does not mean "noble" here.

> >I asked you to provide an example where 'von Geschlecht'
> >means "noble". It doesn't matter?
>
> Is your keyboard or your google kaputt?

I asked you to provide an example where 'von Geschlecht' means "noble". It doesn't matter?


> >Yes, you will find many examples of 'von Geschlecht',
> >but none where it means "noble", otherwise you would have
> >triumphantly shown it.
>
> Now, after having read the frish samples, you
> may correct yourself.

You haven't found a single example where 'von Geschlecht' means "noble".

> A few lines ago, you were
> requesting "nobility" (the state of being an
> aristocrate), now you need something for the
> adjective. For that, the examples galore containing
> Geschlecht.

You haven't found a single example where 'von Geschlecht' means "noble".


> For the other one, nobility, aristocracy,
> it is difficult to find "direct" examples, since
> the German language tends to use other specialized
> words: (höher and niederer) Adel and Adelsstand.

Put more directly: that sense, "nobility" does not exist for German.

> But (and I repeat again and again, perhaps in 20
> years you'll understand) depending of the context,
> if I tell you "Gestern haben wir ein einer
> Konferenz über die Belange des niederen Adels
> teilgenommen. Torsten war auch dabei". "Wirklich?
> Der ist doch ein Bürgerlicher!" "Nee, der ist
> auch von Geschlecht". Also note I write "des Adels"
> and not *"des niederen Geschlechts" (which'd be a
> nonsense).

Yes, in that context 'von Geschlecht' would mean "noble".

> >I only protest against lists of useless words if
> >I'm presented with lists of useless words.
>
> This is not true: you also reject lists of words
> that you can't use because you're not able to see
> their usefulness because your linguist's "toolkit"
> is of no help in some cases.

I never thought I would experience a German recommend the wrong type of tools for a job.

> >I wouldn't object to a single case of 'von Geschlecht'
> >meaning "noble".
>
> Again: YOU MEAN "NOBILITY"!

No, I mean "noble".

> "Noble" is simply rendered
> by exactly the syntagm *you* keep repeating ad nauseam:
> "VON GESCHLECHT".

No, you repeat them them in your lame attempt of finding that sense documented in German.

> >>"Hier gründete der mythische König Francio
> >>das nach ihm benannte Geschlecht der Franken".
>
> >Yes, here 'Geschlecht' means "people". But it doesn't
> >mean "nobility".
>
> You know that only based on your knowledge of Franks.
> But the sentence doesn't tell you that. Only based on
> the sentence you can assume that either (1) all the
> Franks were called so or (2) only Francio's royal
> descendants. Especially knowing, as a German-language
> speaker that if you wanna say "all people, the
> rank-and-file and grassroots and hoi-polloi included",
> then you do not use the word Geschlecht, you'll use
> words such as <Stamm>, <Volk>, <Volksstamm>, <Völkerschaft>
> and (because they're ruled by kings) <Untertanen>.

Here's what I know:
Dansk Etymologisk Ordbog
'slægt en; glda. slæct, no. slekt, sv. släkt; lån fra mnty. slecht n., æ. slechte, modsv. oldhty. gislahti n. 'slægt, stamme, art, egenskab', ty. Geschlecht; af germ. *(ga)slahtia-, der ligesom oldhty. slahta i. 'slægt, slags, art' hører til roden i II. slå. - Låneordet har fortrængt det nord. ord æt. - Jf. I. slag, slægte.
...

I. adel en 'høj byrd el. værdighed; rigets fornemste stand'; ænyda., no., sv. d.s.; lån fra mnty. adel 'afstamning, fornem fødsel; adelsstand', ty. Adel d.s. som ny betegn, for herremandens stand. Oldhty. adal betød tidligst 'slægt, herkomst', senere spec. om legitim', derefter 'fornem herkomst'. Egl. sa. ord som II. adel. Et adj. dannet til
dette ty. ord er ædel. - Jf. adle.
Litt.: O. Szemerényi: The etymology of German Adel. Word VIII (1952) 42-50.

II. adel subst. 'det ypperste i sin art, hoved-'; nu kun i ssgr. som adelvej, alfarvej, algade, i glda. i ssgr. som athælby 'hovedby (i forh. til torp)', athælkonæ 'ægtehustru'; fornsv. aþal, oldnord. aðal n. 'natur, beskaffenhed', oldsax. athali, oldhty. adal 'slægt, fornem familie' (se I. adel), oldeng. æþelu n. pl. 'ædel afstamning'. I aflydsforh. til odel. Germ. *aþala- 'fædrene, nedarvet' kan hidrøre fra ie. *ato-s, et barneord for 'fader' el. 'moder', der - også som *atta - træffes vidt omkring: got. atta m. 'fader' (med diminutiv i personn. Attila), oldhty. atto 'fader, forfader', oldfris. aththa 'fader', lat. atta 'fader', oldkirk. otĭcŭ d.s. (af *attikos), russ. otéts, alb. at, gr. átta 'lille fader', oldind. fx attā 'moder, ældre søster'; en aflyds-form er tokh. A ātäl 'mand'. - Men også i ikke-ie. sprog møder vi et sådant barneord, fx magyarisk atya 'fader', bask. aita, tyrk. ata d.s. Litt.: W. Betz i Festgabe für L. L. Hammerich. (Kph. 1962) 7-12.'

> >Yes, 'Geschlecht' means not 'lineage' but "noble lineage".
>
> It depends on the context: peasants, craftspeople, merchants,
> clergy also have Geschlecht, meaning (1) "social group", and
> (2) (today old-fashioned) "generations".
>
> >But it doesn't mean "nobility".
>
> It depends on the context and way of expressing.
> If you say "alle Geschlechter waren auf dem Felde
> vertreten neben den Agilolfingern und den Welfen.
> Auch die niederen Stände, ja sogar einige alten
> Bauerngeschlechter aus dem Voralpenland sowie aus
> Tirol". Your listener will automatically know
> which of the Geschlechter are self-understood as
> (and replaceable as a word by) "Adel" and which
> of them not.

No, the word 'Geschlecht' does not mean "nobility".

> >By using the weasel word 'nexus' you here avoid
> >stating what is the exact connection between
> >German 'Geschlecht' and Polish 'Szlachta'.
>
> I don't care, it's not mein Bier.

You chose to express yourself that way, because you don't care?

> I only "dropped in"
> telling my brief impression, because gislaht and
> szlachta look like good relatives (brethren of
> cousins).

Yes, that's what I said. But their meanings differ in German and Polish.

> How and in which circumstances and which
> exact semantic part was attractive to medieval Poles
> in order to use Geschlecht or Schlacht (or Ritter
> schlagen) I don't know. Maybe someone explains it
> to me or maybe sometime later on I'll look it up.

Or maybe the word is from a third language.


> >>collectivity called <der Adel> or <Adelsstand>.
> >
> >Yes, 'Geschlecht' means "noble lineage"-
>
> No, here your reply should have been: <klatschuffdestirn>
> "Heureka, Adel! Adelsstand! These are the words for
> nobility I insisted to be shown!"

I insisted on no such thing. You introduced 'Adel', which means "nobility", and that fact is irrelevant to the question of whether 'Geschlecht' means "nobility", which it doesn't.

> >'Geschlecht', as can be seen from your textbook
> >quotes, was never used in German nor its predecessors
> >as a synonym of 'Adel'.
>
> Synonym in the semantic sense: "Jeder der von
> edlen Geschlecht ist, ist ein Mitglied des Adels".

Synonym has no such sense.

> Or, in other words, "Jemand von Geschlecht ist von Adel." (!)
>
> But not as an interchangeable *word*. You can't
> replace Geschlecht with Adel or Adel with Geschlecht
> as you can Hahn with Gockel or Tischler with Schreiner
> or Klempner with Spengler (and even in these cases
> the synonymity is not exactly 100%!).

Exactly.

> In order to change places with one another,
> Adel(stand) and Geschlecht, one has to be in
> a good command of German!

So if German is your first language, then 'Geschlecht' means "Adel", and if it's not, then 'Geschlecht' does not mean "Adel"?


> >And that was exactly my point: the supposedly
> >German
> >loans in the central area of activity of the
> >Szlachta have a semantics which deviates from
> >the German one, which makes me wonder whether
> >both languages had those words from a third
> >source, ie. Bastarnian/Proto-Hochdeutsch.
>
> I don't know.

I know.

> And, as of "Bastarnian Proto-HG",
> the discussion is closed as far as I'm concerned.

Nice.

> >For daring to correct your German?
>
> You corrected a typo, and you're even proud of
> that. What can I say?
It's a common semantic mistake, based on ignorance
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schuster,_bleib_bei_deinem_Leisten#Schuster.2C_bleib_bei_deinem_Leisten

Google:
"bei deinen Leisten" 605.000 hits
"bei deinem Leisten" 135.000 hits

(You seem you're not accustomed to netiquette either.)
I've met your type of netiquette before.

> >George sees a church.
>
> Even the confiscation of church property
> and the defrocking of superfluous clergy people. :)
>
> >If you think so.
>
> Szlachta is abgehakt because, to me, it is
> marginal, I see there is a plausible connection,
> I don't see why authors shouldn't be right, I
> don't have more info on that (on the time
> table and place where German exerted the
> decisive influence on Polish).

Thank you. Was that so hard? You could have saved yourself a lot of trouble.


Torsten