But I admit I call this Chrüüzli just Kreuz in High german. Perhaps I am seeing references that don't exist (die nicht vorhanden sind).
For Kreuz/Chrüüzli, I do feel there might be a semantic difference. The one we do on a form is not a christian cross or Swiss cross version. In that sense, I find natural to make a difference spontaniously too. One says equaly in high German sein Kreuz or sein Kreuzchen setzen.
I think in this case there's nothing more behind than the straightforward meaning. But to me it seems that the diminutivs are far more often used in the Eastern part of the country than in Bern, Fribourg or the Wallis. In Bern we'd definitely say "achrüze". Anyway one thing is for sure: No Swiss would ever call the "Franken" a "Fränkli".
Personally I think the "Li-itis" is about as bad as to end every second sentence with "oder".
SG: Aha, was isch das öbbe gsi? Eja , so um di halbi vieri ume, hä?
EN: So, roughly what time was that? Somewhere around 3:30, right?
HG: Aha, was ist das etwa gewesen? So um die halb vier herum?
Does the "öbbe" mean "somewhere".
And "Eja" either simply "yes" or perhaps "about/etwa"
thanks
öbbe means etwa. Difficult to translante... I'll look up and come back.
EDIT: meaning is context based, around the idea of example, kind of, or so, perhaps, roughly.
"öbbe" : approximatly / circa .
"Eja" : "Oh yes! (now I remember)" An exclamation.
SG: Wen de Aatragschteller nüt Gschparts het isch di ganz Üebig für d'Chatz.
EG: If the applicant hasn't saved anything, it's all in vain.
HG: Wenn der Antragsteller nichts Gespartes hat, ist die ganze Übung für die
Katz'.
Would "Üebig" in this context be "lesson".
Something like "lessons for the cats".
As I see it, in this context "Üebig" is a lot closer to operation / job...
But Üebig/Übung in general would be an exercise..
So would "job for the cats" somehow translate to "all in vein"
Oops - missed that.
Yes, alles für die Katz would roughly translate as "all in vain" or simply a waste of time.
If the applicant has no savings, the entire operation is for the birds.
Was thinking about that one as well - but doesn't "for the birds" imply stupidity instead of a superfluous/useless action?
SG: De wi vilt isch nöchschte Samschtig?
EN: What's the date next Saturday?
HG: Der Wievielte ist nächsten Samstag?
What does "wi vilt" mean? including independently?
I'm assuming wi is shortened from wie? but can't find anything on vielte.
It is one word:
http://www.duden.de/rechtschreibung/wievielte
Literally: howmaniest / howmanieth
SG: Lönds mi doch los! Looslo! Sofort! Bodmer, Kchantonspolizei. Lo !
EN: Let me go right now! Let go! Bodmer, Cantonal Police. Let go!
HG: Lassen Sie mich doch los! Loslassen! Bodmer, Kantonspolizei. Lass!
Does "Lo" actually mean "let go", sort of combined?
Or just short for "let" or "go"?
To me, lo,is just the verb lassen.
SG: Jaja, mer schloot sich so dure.
EN: Yes, yes, we manage to slide by.
HG: Jaja, man schlägt sich so durch.
Does "schloot" actually mean "slide".
Because the HG schlägt doesn't appear to mean this.
I think it's "schlagen", so the phrase in English would be more akin to "to push through" or "to fight your way through it".
Ja, sich durchschlagen. Swiss German usually has kept the short versions, like Dutch and Danish, the Germans reintroduced the normalized long form. As always, long /o:/in Basel, long closed /a:/ in Mittelland. Think of it wenn you have a very short verb, with a bit of luck, you might find out yourself.
schlagen/slân = schloh (slaan, slå)
gehen/gân = goh (gaan, gå)
lassen/lân = loo (long versions in NL and DK)
etc...
are both of these typos? and should be "ich"
Mis Bschtekch, Jch ha Hunger
My silverware, I'm hungry
Mein Besteckich habe Hunger
bevor er vo siich behaupte dörf: lieh bin Schwizer
before he may himself rightfully claim: I am a Swiss
bevor er von sich behaupten darf: Ich bin Schweizer.
Definitely.