[Ger-Poland-Volhynia] Nix, nicht, nein,

[Sig Matt]

Lloyd,

Annegret and Margrit are correct in their explanation of NIX

Though not a linguist, I would like to try to shed a little more light on
some of 
the common usage of some of the related terms.
The Grandmother living in Dortmund likely spoke both "hoch-deutsch" 
(high german) and "platt-deutsch" a local dialect. 
Hoch-deutsch is the language you learn in school to read and write. It is
the language used in commerce, communication and official transactions.
Then 
the various areas of the country have their own distinct dialect such as 
Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Munich, Vienna and many others.
These dialects are used by large (or all) segments of the population in
their 
less formal communication with one another or in markets etc.

In our area, East Prussia, such a dialect was referred to as
platt-deutsch.   
In Grade School we read some stories in platt-deutsch. It was a subject
of 
interest, not a serious subject of study. 
One learnt the dialect growing up from siblings, friends and parents.
The word 'nix' is rather commonly used in several of the dialects that I 
have been exposed to.
In my estimation 'nix' meaning 'nichts' (nothing) is the most precise 
translation. Much more so than 'nicht' or 'nein'.

Now my Volhynian relatives that relocated from Kazakhstan to Germany
in 1990-91 and other Volhynian Emigres that arrived in East Prussia
during WW II spoke German with a distinct brogue that I would not 
describe as a dialect. 
As a comparison the language difference between Ireland and England 
comes to mind. Both countries speak the Queen's English. Yet the 
Irish English ist expressed distinctly different.

Siegfried
sig.matt at juno.com