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Magazine Contributors Marcia De Groot Ponderings
Magazine Contributors Marcia De Groot Ponderings
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It was interesting recently to read an obituary notice (sterfgevallen) concerning Frits Philips. Before continuing with this piece of writing, it may be useful to mention that, because Dutch is not my first language, my use of Dutch words may not be correct. I try to read the dictionary very carefully to see if I am using the word in the right sense. For example, ‘obituary’ has several entries in the ninth printing (negende druk) of Kramers’ Engelsch Woordenbook and it seemed at first that ‘sterfgevallen’ was an appropriate choice because in brackets was printed ‘(als krantenrubriek)’.
By Marcia de Groot  Ah, I thought, ‘kranten’ means newspaper so this refers to what I have been reading in the newspaper. However when I returned to the dictionary to check something else out, I noticed further down ‘obituary notice’ – ‘levensbericht’ and wondered if that was the word to be used. Further ponderings fixed on ‘bericht’ and a question occurred – isn’t that some kind of message? – so, back to the dictionary. Yes, so perhaps it’s more to do with a notice or announcement of a person’s death and not so much a tribute to the person which is what an obituary seems to mean. I’d better look up ‘rubriek’ to clarify ‘krantenrubriek’ and as well, ‘obituary’ in an English dictionary and, also check my understanding of ‘sterfgevallen’. For ‘rubriek’, Kramers’ offers the translation as ‘rubric’, and ‘chapter heading (printed in red)’. It sounds a bit like a church document. Let’s see what an English dictionary says. Well, there is a huge amount of information on ‘rubric’ in the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary – the origin is perhaps to do with red earth and red ochre (now archaic). One meaning to do with church is –‘a direction for the conduct of divine service …properly written or printed in red.’ ‘Rubric’ is also used in legal documents. However, if we think of ‘een krantenrubriek’ being written to give some highlights from the life of the recently deceased, then the meaning which most appeals is a ‘red letter entry (of a saint’s name) in the Church calendar; hence, a calendar of saints’ (from 1611). Whether or not our modern people would have thought of themselves being honoured in this way is another matter! In the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary the words obituary, obitual, obiter, obital, and obit all impinge on the notification of death. The source of these words seems to be from Latin, meaning ‘to go’. An obituary usually contains a brief biography of the person who has died (1738). Lastly, does checking out ‘sterfgevallen’ confirm my hunch that it is to do with ‘falling (gevallen) dead? Well, Yes and No – the meaning given is (a) death. Perhaps ‘gevallen’ has another meaning, nothing to do with falling? Correct! Het ‘geval’ (plural ‘gevallen’), is ‘a case’, that is, an occurrence. Just to tie off a loose end, I looked up ‘fall’. The first meaning given is ‘vallen’. I think I’ll stop here because it feels as if I’m going around in circles!An earlier mention of English reminds me of a need to mention the spelling of ‘Englisch’ in the title of the Kramers’ dictionary. As I understand it, this is an older form, now replaced by ‘Engels’. What is the Dutch word for ‘pondering’? To ponder can be peinzen, nadenken or overwegen. ‘Ponderable’ is weegbaar. Once again an insufficient knowledge of grammar slows me down here – is a present participle? If my husband had still been here we’d have had the answer immediately and this section would have been strengthened by his knowledge of grammar and language.  However, let us return to Frits (Frederick) Philips. He was the head of the Philips company based in Eindhoven in the south-east of the Netherlands. His uncle had begun the business in 1891 as a light bulb factory but the firm is now famous for many electrical items. According to Frits Philips obituary, he ‘developed a humane concern for the poor and unemployed,’ which he put into practice in the development of Eindhoven. As well, in acknowledgement of his efforts to protect Dutch-Jewish prisoners who were working for him during the Second World War, Philips was awarded the Yad Vahem medal by Israel in 1995. Eindhoven is known as a company town - the football team PSV Eindhoven began as the Philips factory team. Is this the team which Guus Hiddink coaches? While in this pondering mood, what might be the origin of the name Eindhoven? If ‘hovenier’ is (or was) a word for gardener, and ‘eind’ can mean ‘end’, was the original village at the end of a garden or is that too fanciful? Before I lead us too far up this particular garden path, I think I’ll sign off. However, just one last thing – it occurs to me to look up ‘to ponder’ in an English dictionary. There are several meanings. It can mean, literally to weigh things, but in the case of this piece of writing, the figurative use applies – to think over, to muse over (1605). ‘Ponder’ comes originally from Latin, through Middle English with an Old French connection and then from ‘modern’ French. There are other words with a link to ‘ponder’– for, example, one adapted from medieval French and one from medieval Latin, including ponderosity – ‘heaviness, dullness’. Help! It really is time to stop. Tot de volgende keer.
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