The Amish speak a variety of dialects of German known as Pennsylvania Dutch or Pennsylvania German. This language originated in the late 17th and early 18th centuries when thousands of German-speaking immigrants settled in Pennsylvania.
What is Pennsylvania Dutch?
Pennsylvania Dutch is a dialect of German that developed in Pennsylvania in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is spoken by the Amish and Old Order Mennonites, descendants of German immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania in the colonial era.
The term “Pennsylvania Dutch” is misleading, as it refers to the German language, not Dutch. It comes from the German word “Deutsch” meaning “German.” Over time, Deutsch became mistranslated into “Dutch.”
Linguistically, Pennsylvania Dutch originated from various southwestern German dialects including Palatinate German and Alemannic German. It incorporates some vocabulary from English and Native American languages as well.
There are several unique features of Pennsylvania Dutch grammar and pronunciation that set it apart from Standard German:
- The verb is placed at the end of the sentence in inverted syntax
- The pronunciation has a “clipped” style
- English loanwords are common
- Some grammatical features are archaic compared to Standard German
From a linguistic perspective, many scholars view Pennsylvania Dutch as a unique language rather than just a dialect of German. Mutual intelligibility with Standard German varies depending on the speaker.
Where is Pennsylvania Dutch spoken?
Today, Pennsylvania Dutch is spoken primarily in southeastern Pennsylvania as well as in Amish and Mennonite communities in Ohio, Indiana, and other parts of the Mid-Atlantic region. It is estimated that around 250,000 people speak some variety of the language.
The highest concentrations of speakers are found in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania which has a large Amish population. Many Amish speak Pennsylvania Dutch at home and use it for worship services. Some Amish speak it as their first language and only learn English at school.
Outside of Amish communities, Pennsylvania Dutch declined sharply in the 20th century as Standard German and English became dominant. Today, many non-Amish heritage speakers only know some Pennsylvania Dutch vocabulary but are not fluent.
Pennsylvania Dutch Dialects
There are several major dialect divisions within Pennsylvania Dutch:
- Pennsylvania Dutch German – Originating from the Palatinate region in Germany, this dialect is spoken by Amish and Mennonites and seen as the most traditional form.
- Bernese German – Derived from Swiss German dialects, this form is used by Amish migrants from Bern, Switzerland.
- East Pennsylvania German – A variant closer to Standard German originating from eastern Germany and Prussia.
- North Pennsylvania German – A transitional dialect between Pennsylvania Dutch and Standard German, including some Pennsylvania Dutch features.
Within these dialect groups there is additional regional, subcultural, and even community-based variation. The most conservative forms of Pennsylvania Dutch are spoken by the Amish, who use very little English loanwords and retain archaic vocabulary and grammar not found elsewhere.
Relationship to Standard German
Pennsylvania Dutch has significant differences from Standard German in grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary:
- Grammar – Verb-final word order, unique plural forms, and archaic verb conjugations differ from modern German.
- Pronunciation – A “clipped” way of speaking and English influences makes the accent very distinctive.
- Vocabulary – Many unique Pennsylvania Dutch words, English loanwords, and semantic shifts from German words.
Due to these differences, Pennsylvania Dutch is not fully mutually intelligible with Standard German. However, many Pennsylvania Dutch speakers, especially the Amish, still learn Standard German for communicating with outsiders or reading the Bible.
Role of Pennsylvania Dutch in Amish Life
For the Amish, speaking Pennsylvania Dutch serves an important cultural purpose. It helps preserve their religious traditions, strengthen community bonds, and maintain separation from mainstream society.
Amish children often learn Pennsylvania Dutch first at home before starting school where they study English. Services, sermons, and Bible readings use Pennsylvania Dutch at Amish church gatherings. It is also the language used at home, work, and social events within Amish communities.
By using their own unique language, the Amish reinforce unity within their group and tradition. It also acts as a barrier against outside influence which the Amish see as a threat to their way of life. Some more traditional Amish discourage the use of English whenever possible.
At the same time, most Amish today are bilingual in Pennsylvania Dutch and English. They need English to interact with non-Amish neighbors, do business, or communicate across settlements. This pragmatic bilingualism allows them to balance separation and integration with the outside world.
Writing and Literature
Pennsylvania Dutch historically was primarily a spoken language without a standardized writing system. But in the 20th century, Amish and Mennonite authors began producing literature in Pennsylvania Dutch using a variety of textual representations of the language.
Hyphonation is often used to indicate clipped speech sounds, such as in the sentence:
Mir hen agora net so feel felder for soy bohne.
We don’t have so many fields for soybeans right now.
Vowel changes are shown through digraphs like aa, ei, or ie. And some English letters are used to represent Pennsylvania Dutch sounds not found in Standard German orthography.
Today, Pennsylvania Dutch writing appears on signs, in newspapers, letters, and especially in a rich array of Amish poetry, songs, short stories, and books about Amish life. These works keep the language alive while transmitting moral lessons and Amish values to new generations.
Threats to the Language
Despite the vitality of Pennsylvania Dutch in Amish communities, there are some concerns about its long-term sustainability:
- Influence of English – Increased contact with English threatens to erode the language, especially among youth.
- Generational Shift – Younger generations may not use the language as much or pass it on to their own children.
- Population Dispersal – Outmigration and resettlement of Amish communities risks diluting the language.
- Education – Most Amish children attend public schools where only English is used.
To counteract these trends, the Amish have made efforts to establish their own schools that reinforce Pennsylvania Dutch language and culture. Continuing to publish literature in the language also helps maintain its relevancy.
Overall, the outlook for the long-term survival of Pennsylvania Dutch seems favorable due to the cultural vitality and separation of Amish society. But ongoing vigilance will be needed to prevent too much English influence from eroding the language.
Conclusion
In summary, Pennsylvania Dutch is a unique German dialect that developed among early German settlers in Pennsylvania. It is now spoken primarily by Amish and Mennonite communities in the Mid-Atlantic region as a means of preserving their religious and cultural identity.
While mutually intelligible to different degrees with Standard German, Pennsylvania Dutch has many distinctive features including grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and the use of English loanwords. The Amish continue to use the language vigorously as both an in-group mode of communication and a vital part of their religious traditions and way of life.
Though some challenges exist, Pennsylvania Dutch remains in a relatively healthy state thanks to the tight-knit nature of Amish society. Their desire to maintain separation from mainstream culture acts as a driving motivation for passing the language down to new generations and keeping their ancestral German dialects alive and well in America.