Der Kuss Reloaded: On the Dialectology of ‘Kissing’ in Frisian

Abstract

Elaborating on Theodor Siebs’ article “Zur vergleichenden Betrachtung volkstümlichen Brauches: der Kuss” (1903), this contribution investigates the dialectology and lexicology of the words for ‘kiss’ and ‘to kiss’ in Frisian, focusing on North Frisian. In the non-standardized Frisian dialects, affective words for ‘kissing’ competed with more neutral ones and eventually replaced them. Thus the common Germanic words for ‘kiss’ and ‘to kiss’ (Old Frisian kos—kessa) were lost in the modern dialects and a wide variety of alternative forms (among them words for ‘special’ kissing and child words) took their place. In North Frisian, one finds four basic form groups, exemplified by Fering-Öömrang kleeb—kleebe, Heligolandic Paik—paike, Bökingharde Frisian mak—make and Mittelgoesharde Frisian uup—uupi (with the diminutive variant Hallig Frisian ääpk—ääpke). The geographical distribution, historical development and etymology of these forms and related ones in East Frisian (Saterlandic) and West Frisian are discussed in some detail. The results of the investigation are presented in the form of an annotated dialect map of ‘kiss’ and ‘to kiss’ in North Frisian.