Different spellings for same word

by **Redbeeerd** » June 12th, 2012, 3:00 pm

I keep coming across similar, but different spellings for the same words. Why are there different spellings, are these different dialects? For example, EN 'devil' = NL duvel, duivel, duyvil, and I believe I have also seen duyvel. Why so many?

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by **AppelstroopIsLekker** » June 12th, 2012, 4:16 pm

Redbeeerd wrote:I keep coming across similar, but different spellings for the same words. Why are there different spellings, are these different dialects? For example, EN 'devil' = NL duvel, duivel, duyvil, and I believe I have also seen duyvel. Why so many?

In modern Dutch, there is only one accepted spelling: Duivel. Most of those spellings above are from old dialectical forms of the word "duivel".

It's just like how we sometimes use "Olde Tyme" to mean "Old Time" on products and certain publications to evoke a sort of nostalgia.

by **ngonyama** » June 12th, 2012, 5:23 pm

Duvel is an acceptable, somewhat colloquial word even today, but I agree with Appelstroop: the other forms are obsolete spellings, often from a period (before 1800) that there was no standardization of the spelling yet.

by **FANAdeLdF** » June 17th, 2012, 4:04 pm

The first thing that pops into my mind when I see the spelling "duvel" for duivel is the beer.

As wiki puts it, "Duvel (pronounced [ˈdʏːvəl]) is Brabantian, Ghent and Antwerp dialect for devil, the standard Dutch word being duivel."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duvel_Moortgat_Brewery

by **AppelstroopIsLekker** » June 17th, 2012, 4:37 pm

ngonyama wrote:Duvel is an acceptable, somewhat colloquial word even today, but I agree with Appelstroop: the other forms are obsolete spellings, often from a period (before 1800) that there was no standardization of the spelling yet.

Really? I've never heard duvel used outside either fixed expressions (bvb, een duveltje uit een doosje) or when talking about the beer. :twisted:

by **Dave114** » June 28th, 2012, 3:28 am

Is the difference between "ongelofelijk" and "ongelooflijk" that one of those is an archaic spelling or is there some slight difference that I'm missing?

by **ngonyama** » June 28th, 2012, 3:59 am

Dave114 wrote:Is the difference between "ongelofelijk" and "ongelooflijk" that one of those is an archaic spelling or is there some slight difference that I'm missing?

Both forms occur in present usage and are synonymous.

by **Mauss** » August 4th, 2012, 1:31 pm

it's the same, but the correct spelling is ongelooflijk.

by **grizzler** » August 4th, 2012, 2:08 pm

Actually, they're both correct.

by **Mauss** » August 4th, 2012, 2:49 pm

ow, i didn't know that. i've just never seen it that way.

by **Bert** » August 4th, 2012, 9:57 pm

http://taaladvies.net/taal/advies/vraag/614/