zodat

Forms

zodat^[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle Dutch sodat, formed in Middle Dutch from Dutch zo + dat: the adverb in the sense “in such a way, to such a degree” followed by the conjunction.^[1][2][3][4] The Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal treats the closed form and the phrase written separately in one article, since the conjunction is still often split by other words.^[3] The same pairing is found in Middle Low German so dat and German sodass.^[2]

As the stress on the first part weakened, so did its meaning, and the compound came to express a looser consequence of what went before.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The Early Middle Dutch dictionary finds it first in a Ghent charter of 1236, in a rule on someone who wounds his neighbour, without breaking the skin, “so that he sheds blood”.^[5] The Chronologisch woordenboek dates its use as a subordinating conjunction to 1285, in a rhymed Bible from West Flanders.^[6][7]

Semantic evolution

In 13th-century Middle Dutch sodat did more than introduce a result: at the head of a sentence it moved a story on (“and then, in that situation”), and it could also mean “while”, “until” and even “because”.^[5][2] These looser senses were lost, and modern Dutch keeps the clause of consequence.^[3][8]

The Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal notes uses in which result shades into purpose, as in a text of 1516, and uses in which the old adverb still means “to such a degree” or “in such a way”.^[3] In Groningen the word is also an adverb, “so, therefore”, recorded in 1952.^[3]

The conjunction passed into Negerhollands as sodat and into Sranan Tongo as sodati, where it can also mean “in order that”, and Afrikaans has sodat.^[9][1]

Timeline

• 1236 – A Ghent charter uses so dat to introduce a consequence.^[5]
• 1285 – A West Flemish rhymed text uses it to move a narrative on, “and then”.^[5][6]
• 1501 – The first quotation in the Woordenboek der Nederlandsche Taal.^[3]
• 1516 – A use in which result and purpose blend.^[3]
• 1952 – Zodat as an adverb “therefore” is recorded in Groningen.^[3]

Meanings

Conjunction

1. (subordinating) so that, with the result that: Het regende hard, zodat de wedstrijd werd afgelast.^[4][8][1]
2. In order that, introducing an aim: Spreek wat luider, zodat iedereen je verstaat.^[1][7]

Related words

• opdat
• German sodass

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d Verwijs, Eelco; Verdam, Jacob (1885–1929), Middelnederlandsch woordenboek, 11 vols., 's-Gravenhage: Nijhoff; gtb.ivdnt.org
3. ^ a b c d e f g h 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
4. ^ a b Algemeen Nederlands Woordenboek (2009–), Instituut voor de Nederlandse Taal, Leiden; anw.ivdnt.org
5. ^ a b c d Pijnenburg, W. J. J., et al. (2001), Vroegmiddelnederlands woordenboek: woordenboek van het Nederlands van de dertiende eeuw in hoofdzaak op basis van het Corpus-Gysseling, Leiden: Instituut voor Nederlandse Lexicologie; gtb.ivdnt.org
6. ^ a b Sijs, Nicoline van der (2001), Chronologisch woordenboek: de ouderdom en herkomst van onze woorden en betekenissen, Amsterdam / Antwerpen: Veen
7. ^ a b WikiWoordenboek (Dutch Wiktionary), nl.wiktionary.org
8. ^ a b Van Dale Groot woordenboek hedendaags Nederlands (2014), Utrecht / Antwerpen: Van Dale Uitgevers
9. ^ Sijs, Nicoline van der (2010), Nederlandse woorden wereldwijd, Den Haag: Sdu; with additions from the Uitleenwoordenbank (2015)