praten

Forms

praten^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle Dutch praten, a word of unclear origin, perhaps imitative of chatter.^[2][3][4] The only close relative is Middle Low German prāten (“to talk, babble”).^[2][5] English prate (from about 1420), Swedish prata and Danish prate were probably borrowed from Middle Low German or Dutch.^[2][4][6]

Some have compared Polish bredzić (“to talk nonsense”) and Russian бредить (brédit’), but De Vries found this unlikely for a fairly young, West Germanic word.^[2][5][6] De Vries also linked Old Norse pati (“chatter, rumour”) and dialectal German pfattern (“to mumble”), taking the ⟨r⟩ as an expressive insertion.^[2][5] Wiktionary thinks it probably related to Proto-Germanic *prattuz (“boastful talk”), and Franck–Van Wijk discuss it together with prat.^[1][7] North Brabant dialects have a long ⟨ô⟩ and the Saxon east ⟨å̂⟩, and Middle Dutch also had proten.^[7][8]

Earliest recorded meaning

The earliest record is a Holland text of 1440–1450 in which Jesus kept silent and let Pilate praten “talk”.^[2][8][9] A text of 1470–1490 has mit praten ende mit lieflic cozen, “with talking and sweet words”.^[2]

Semantic evolution

The Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal describes praten as a synonym of spreken and zeggen limited to familiar speech, but not vulgar.^[4] Kiliaan and Plantijn gloss it with Latin and French words for idle talk, and the senses still range from talking at all to chatting, discussing and gossiping.^[8][10] Over koetjes en kalfjes praten, to talk about nothing in particular, was first said of farmers talking about their cattle;^[11] Van Effen used it in the 18th century.^[11]

Dutch spread the verb widely: it is West Frisian prate, Afrikaans praat (and South African English praat), Negerhollands praat and Skepi Dutch prat.^[12][1]

Timeline

• 1440–1450 – Middle Dutch praten “to talk”, in Holland.^[2][9]
• 1470–1490 – Mit praten ende mit lieflic cozen.^[2]
• 1477 – The Teuthonista lists praten among words for speaking.^[8][5]
• 1784 – Ik hoorde O. praaten “I heard O. talking” in another room.^[4]

Meanings

Verb

1. To talk, to say one's thoughts aloud.^[10][1]
2. To talk with someone, to discuss: daar valt wel over te praten.^[10][13]
3. To bring someone into a state by talking: iemand iets uit zijn hoofd praten, to talk someone out of something.^[10]
4. To chatter, to gossip.^[10]
5. (transitive) To say: onzin praten.^[10]

Word family

• prater
• gepraat
• bepraten
• napraten
• ompraten
• overpraten
• goedpraten
• aanpraten
• praatgraag
• praatziek
• praatstoel

Related words

• prat
• English prate

Usage notes

Praten als Brugman is to talk a lot and with conviction.^[10]

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Philippa, Marlies; Debrabandere, Frans; Quak, Arend; Schoonheim, Tanneke; Sijs, Nicoline van der (2003–2009), Etymologisch woordenboek van het Nederlands, 4 vols., Amsterdam: Amsterdam University Press; online via etymologiebank.nl
3. ^ Veen, P. A. F. van; Sijs, Nicoline van der (1997), Etymologisch woordenboek: de herkomst van onze woorden, 2nd ed., Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Lexicografie
4. ^ a b c d Vries, Matthias de; Winkel, L. A. te, et al. (1882–1998), Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal, 29 vols., 's-Gravenhage / Leiden: Nijhoff / Sijthoff / SDU; supplement 2001; gtb.ivdnt.org
5. ^ a b c d Vries, Jan de (1971), Nederlands etymologisch woordenboek, Leiden: Brill
6. ^ a b Vries, Jan de; Tollenaere, Félicien de (2004), Etymologisch woordenboek: onze woorden, hun oorsprong en ontwikkeling, 23rd ed., Utrecht: Het Spectrum, p. 296
7. ^ a b Franck, Johannes; Wijk, Nicolaas van (1912), Franck's Etymologisch woordenboek der Nederlandsche taal, 2nd ed., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff
8. ^ a b c d Verwijs, Eelco; Verdam, Jacob (1885–1929), Middelnederlandsch woordenboek, 11 vols., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff; gtb.ivdnt.org
9. ^ a b Sijs, Nicoline van der (2001), Chronologisch woordenboek: de ouderdom en herkomst van onze woorden en betekenissen, Amsterdam / Antwerpen: Veen
10. ^ a b c d e f g Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers
11. ^ a b Stoett, F. A. (1923–1925), Nederlandsche spreekwoorden, spreekwijzen, uitdrukkingen en gezegden, 4th ed., 3 vols., Zutphen: Thieme
12. ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2010), Nederlandse woorden wereldwijd, Den Haag: Sdu; with additions from the Uitleenwoordenbank (2015)
13. ^ WikiWoordenboek (Dutch Wiktionary), nl.wiktionary.org