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English is so much more courtly than Dutch. "I love you" sounds in
Dutch as if you're a barking dog: "Ik hou van jou." Even in German it
sounds more attractive and I can't blame the Flemish for using the
understatement that they "like to see" eachother.
We don't have words for a crush or infatuation, let alone for
limerence. We can be charmed by someone, but it lacks the magical
connotation it has in English.
If Sapir and Whorf were right with their controversial hypothesis, then
Dutch must be a very un-passionate people. We are either in love or
we're not. We can be a little bit in love or like someone, but to have
a crush is unheard of. I had not even known about the concept before
Britney Spears sang about it.
Infatuation was a new thing too, although I'm sure I have been
infatuated before I knew the word. For how else would you call it if
food looses its taste and music its beauty, simply because you long for
someone you shall never have?
The word limerence I only learned last week. Appearently it means
something like a very long lasting crush. Something unparalleled in the
Dutch language then, as we don't even have a word for crushes.
What a language English is... So many words for different degrees of
affection. No wonder so many people think of your country as romantic... |
Written by Phil (6838 comments posted) 24th June 2007 | Oh, we're romantic alright.
Have you heard the line:
'Like to come and see me etchin's luv?'
Interesting piece F, and you've taught me a new word here. 'Never heard of 'limerence' before - but then my crushes never lasted that long. I was always moving onto the next thing.
Phil. |
Written by Fledermaus (3448 comments posted) 24th June 2007 | Hi Phil,
If even an Englishman doesn't know that word, I supose I should be surprised I didn't know it then.
Still, English already sounds better.
Dutch [ou] sounds like [ow] in a word like 'cow', so you can imagine how the sentence sounds in Dutch... | Hi Fledermaus
Written by Josie (2825 comments posted) 25th June 2007 | | I'm not sure that "seeing etchings" has anything to do with romance. Lust is more like it, ha ha. Some people are waiting for the one millionth word of English to be invented, whilst others claim that we have over two million. Of course, we poets invent words when necessary. One of mine is “crevie” (shortened version of crevice). April showers are short but heavy, flowers come out in every crevie. Well – when you are in charge!!! But I hadn’t thought of the fact that other languages didn’t have words for the various areas of romance. Fledermaus, your piece of writing is so very interesting. I just love everything to do with words. I may do a follow up piece to add to your interesting article. You’ve got me thinking | Heavens above!
Written by Josie (2825 comments posted) 25th June 2007 | | When I read what you said about "Ik hou van jou" suddenly there was a flash of remembrance. I met a very tall, blonde Dutch student from Breda when I was 18. To have a foreign boyfriend was "something different". I remember those words! ha ha. for he said them to me. But, as happens, we parted company over something silly. Strange how things can trigger off memories. |
Written by Fledermaus (3448 comments posted) 25th June 2007 | Thanks Josie. Ever since I heard of the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis, I have wondered about the different number of words for certain concepts in the languages I (more or less) know. It can't be a coincidence that Dutch has do many words for canals and lakes and that Welsh has so many for hills and valleys.
I'm not surprised it triggers a memory  They're powerful words and probably the first ones lovers teach eachother. Still though, I think that, ignoring the meaning, the Dutch sentence sounds too harsh to be sweet. |
Written by Gill21 (566 comments posted) 22nd July 2007 | Nicely written. Although the most romantic thing to ever happen to me is having 'Ik hou van jou' written to me on a napkin over dinner, by the man who would become a great love and the best friend i ever had. I didn't even speak dutch but i knew what it meant. Nothing in english
has ever come close. I'm still young though, so here's to hoping! Triggered a wonderful memory for me, thank you  |
Written by Gill21 (566 comments posted) 22nd July 2007 | Nicely written. Although the most romantic thing to ever happen to me is having 'Ik hou van jou' written to me on a napkin over dinner, by the man who would become a great love and the best friend i ever had. I didn't even speak dutch but i knew what it meant. Nothing in english
has ever come close. I'm still young though, so here's to hoping! Triggered a wonderful memory for me, thank you |
Written by Fledermaus (3448 comments posted) 23rd July 2007 | Thanks Gill.
Funny that your first love should be Dutch Somehow I do think the words look better than they sound, but that could also be because my ex-GF after a while started to write "ik kauw" instead of "ik hou", which sounds roughly the same, but means "I chew" rather than "I love"  |
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