Old Speckled Hen Posted December 6, 2008 Share Posted December 6, 2008 Is there anybody on the forum who can tell me how to pronounce ZWARTBLES I found these in a neighbouring field and had a devil of a google search to identify them Now I'd like to know how you pronounce the word. Many Thanks Dani Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackiepoppies Posted December 6, 2008 Share Posted December 6, 2008 Sounds like something I'd say after a couple of glasses ( ) of our local wine Sorry, no help at all Jackiex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fowlbird Posted December 6, 2008 Share Posted December 6, 2008 well, I'm learning Dutch but won't be much help. Zwart is pronounced svart to rhyme with fart and means black. Let me e-mail my teacher and get back to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 6, 2008 Share Posted December 6, 2008 Pronounced ZVaart-Bless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BERTIE MCSQUIRTY Posted December 6, 2008 Share Posted December 6, 2008 Is there anybody on the forum who can tell me how to pronounce ZWARTBLES I found these in a neighbouring field and had a devil of a google search to identify them Now I'd like to know how you pronounce the word. Many Thanks Dani yes i do Schvartbles is the best way i can describe how it sounds in dutch language zwart (is black) and bles is the plural. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackiepoppies Posted December 6, 2008 Share Posted December 6, 2008 Right......I've understood the pronunciation but wouldn't it be more politically correct to call them 'sheep of colour' rather than 'blacks' What would the EEC rule I wonder. They seem to have an opinion on everything else that our money could be better spent on. Jackiex ps Lovely sheep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BERTIE MCSQUIRTY Posted December 6, 2008 Share Posted December 6, 2008 i think the plural of it is supposed to be "blackies". i am a converser of dutch so i can understand and speak the language - the written could be a problem for me tho' i can wade through it, but it batters the cobwebs in between my ears . anyway i will get my dutch collegue to confirm it on tuesday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fowlbird Posted December 6, 2008 Share Posted December 6, 2008 it's exactly as Bertie says... but the es is more the sound of ess Beautiful sheep, I've never seen any like it before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BERTIE MCSQUIRTY Posted December 6, 2008 Share Posted December 6, 2008 it's exactly as Bertie says... but the es is more the sound of ess yes thats right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackiepoppies Posted December 6, 2008 Share Posted December 6, 2008 I agree Fowlbird, they are gorgeous. Do you think the one on the right might be expecting a happy event or is she just extremely well fed or does she have a thick coat Jackiex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted December 7, 2008 Share Posted December 7, 2008 The people around here who have them call them 'Zschvort a bulls' Jackie - all our sheep look like that - even the ones who haven't been in with the ram Shetlands tend to look like that until the day before they lamb - a bit of a nightmare if you don't have them scanned! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted December 7, 2008 Author Share Posted December 7, 2008 Thanks everybody for your help. Jackiepoppies , they are both tups The people around here who have them call them 'Zschvort a bulls' Thanks Lesley, that's what I got from a local farmer. I suspected there would be some local adaptation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted December 7, 2008 Share Posted December 7, 2008 I did mean 'pronounce' not 'call them' - quite a difference really They are beautiful aren't they! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhotchick Posted December 8, 2008 Share Posted December 8, 2008 Beautiful sheep! I'm going to show my friendly local farmer these. She has some kind of rare breed, cant remember which. Maybe she will get a couple of these. She hasn't had chickens for years, but is making mumblings about getting some again. Hooray! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BERTIE MCSQUIRTY Posted December 9, 2008 Share Posted December 9, 2008 right i've had clarification on the name from my dutch collegue. Bles is a plural BUT it also is an older name (rarely used) to describe a blemish (or spot). i think the latter translation is correct in this instance so translation would be Blackspot sheet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted December 9, 2008 Author Share Posted December 9, 2008 I have looked up the breed description and the name means Black with a white blaze. Looking forward to seeing the lambs in the spring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
