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I posted an article on this site recently about a Hutterite language project and its aims to preserve a written form of their dialect. Similar efforts have been tried by people studying the Amish. But what is Amish language? I've often compared the Amish language to Cajun French down in Louisiana several generations ago (the language really isn't commonly spoken anymore, except as novelty and by some very old-timers). Cajun French, like Amish German, morphed from its mother tongue into an almost unrecognizable gumbo of English, Creole, and French by the mid-20th century. If a Parisian were to find a fluent speaker of Cajun French deep in a bayou somewhere today, they would probably have a very difficult time conversing. Amish dialects of German have also evolved to the point that someone from Bavaria could probably converse with a Pennsylvania Dutch person in the United States, but it would likely be a halting dialogue with difficultly understanding. Amish German has become infused with English words and has evolved far from its original language. Almost all Amish speak and understand English with little difficultly, although there is often a subtle, but noticeable, German accent in their voices. Whenever I spend even a few hours with the Eichers, I find my voice absorbing their Swiss lilt. Most Amish write quite well in English, some do know written German grammar, but they are intelligent enough not to mix the two up. Amish education is very well-grounded in bilingualism.
Now, in works of popular fiction, you often have Amish people portrayed as speaking a somewhat different kind of English. But these are all simply "literary devices." Literary devices are common tools authors use to differentiate characters and make a read more entertaining. Reading a Beverly Lewis novel, for instance, where an Amish character says "Gut day, I'm goin' to go fishin' now" makes for fun reading and easily identifies a character as Amish. A novel about the Amish wouldn't provide as much of an escapist experience if the author wrote "Good day, I'm going to go fishing now." Literary devices are a fine, acceptable way for an author to make a point, but one always needs to know the difference so they can separate fact from fiction. But don't take it from me. Scan the pages of the Amish newspaper, The Budget. Hundreds and hundreds of letters from Amish authors across the country appear on its pages each week. I've never seen a letter from an Amish scribe that employs Beverly Lewis-type literary devices with folksy tidbits sprinkled in such as "Gut day", "What a blessin'" or Jah. These are all fictional literary devices, again, perfectly acceptable in the world of make-believe.........
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Re: Amish Language, Sorting Fact From Fiction
You are correct, Kevin, when I am typin' on the keyboard, I am shortenin' words and what not. When I write to my Amish friends and family, I do this to a certain degree, with certain words, but it does not look like my posts that I leave on this website or on my own, nee. My apologies to ya as I misunderstood your original post. No hard feelin's, I hope.
Blessin's,
Leah E. Mast
Re: Amish Language, Sorting Fact From Fiction
Hmmm, I use the words ya speak of most all of the time, Kevin, as do my Amish relatives. And the entire of my Amish community, as well. We forever are usin' the words "gut", "jah" and "blessin'" Perhaps this is not common in Lovina's Amish community, nor amongst the Amish you are familiar with, but this is most defenitely the way amongst the Amish group in which I belonged to and whom my relatives belong to. Let's take my Circle Letters, for example, most all of my Amish friends use the words in which you describe Beverly Lewis writin' for entertainment only. It is us Amish and former Amish who have assisted Beverly Lewis in her research and useage of the "Amish Langugage". When writin' a book, the aim is to educate and entertain, I do not disagree with this, but I also believe Beverly Lewis portrays the Amish Language quite well in her stories, nor do I believe it to be far-fetched from how us Amish speak amongst ourselves. As for myself, I speak and have spoken English quite well since I was 5 years of age. Altho' I do have a distinct accent in my speakin' voice, I have never actually called it a "German" accent, simply my "Amish accent."
Have a "gut day" and warm blessin's to all. ;-)
Leah E. Mast
Re: Amish Language, Sorting Fact From Fiction
"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift... that's why they call it the present."
We all talk at home like we most feel comfortable, none more than myself! (Remember, I am a self-proclaimed MO-billy). But I have always wondered, don't you find it a bit hard/awkward typing that way? I am brought back to my jr. hs days of "ASDF JKL;" typing class. LOL
Re: Amish Language, Sorting Fact From Fiction
In defense of Leah, LuvM, I think she, too, is employing literary devices to express and convey her Amish heritage. I don't think even she expects us to believe that is actually how she would type, for instance, her resume or a business letter...that would be absurd...so I think she's just adding flair to her posts...Anyone who bothers to type runnin', knows that it is running....The Amish are actually quite literate and grammatically astute, even with just eighth grade educations....Heck, Lovina's 14-year-old daughter writes better than most non-Amish I know......
Re: Amish Language, Sorting Fact From Fiction
Brad Paisley, that's who comes to mind with this conversation. The song, I'm so much cooler online....
To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Titus 2:5
Re: Amish Language, Sorting Fact From Fiction
As you know we use Rod and Staff curriculum for our children. I've spoken with many of the Brothers and Sisters who work there, and while they have a bit of an accent, it tends to be slightly southern or in one case Canadian. I have not heard any sort of slang terms, not even a ya'll! I would describe the tone as soft spoken, which Biblically in line with the meek and quiet spirit.
One of the reasons for choosing Rod and Staff, was the English curriculum. It is so thorough, as I teach the children I learn so much too.
To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Titus 2:5
Re: Amish Language, Sorting Fact From Fiction
I was a Christian school teacher for five years, and I was glad that in my third year at the school, they took my advice and used the Rod and Staff Grammar curriculum. I agree with you , it is great! Rod and Staff, run by the Beachy Amish, has some very good curriculum choices. I liked their science curriculum too, but the school decided against it. I recall that the teacher's manual was so inexpensive, and the workbooks were a few dollars. Rod and Staff also gives great service, and will send you samples of curriculum by grade! Susan
Re: Amish Language, Sorting Fact From Fiction
Actually Rod and Staff is Conservative Mennonite. We visitied the office on our trip.
To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Titus 2:5
Re: Amish Language, Sorting Fact From Fiction
"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift... that's why they call it the present."
LOVE your dragonfly pic... did it land on a clothespin?
Re: Amish Language, Sorting Fact From Fiction
I am glad you saw that picture! I haven't seen it on the site yet! Yes, it landed on the clothespin, I was inside, my husband sent one of the children in, with a "Mom, Dad says you gotta see this and bring your camera". He sounded serious, so I asked the good thing? Bad thing? It was the most bizzare thing, it was just sitting there! I got really close, I got about four shots.
Yesterday while Iwas editing the photo to fit the perameters of the website I accidentally shrunk and saved my original file, fortunately I have uploaded to an online processor so I can order a print, but it was my background and now it's not.
I am not sure why the artichoke is back, I'll be investigating that. We never did pick the artichoke for eating, we waited too long, it is now blooming and it is quite beautiful!
To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Titus 2:5
Re: Amish Language, Sorting Fact From Fiction
Never met an Amish person in real life but have watch documentaries about them. First time I watched one, I was surprize. First that they were filming them (they were teenagers who hadn't made their commitment to the church) and two if I closed my eyes, I could not tell the English from the Amish.
Luv, I know what you are talking about with typing and the computer. Had to have mine lap top reformated and now my spell check and grammar check is gone from the internet. Boy I miss my spell check
Also in this area it's not uncommon to hear the 'r' sound in the word wash
Re: Amish Language, Sorting Fact From Fiction
"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift... that's why they call it the present."
Exactly! Here, too! Following are a few examples from my family (basically my dad's side):
I remember Elizabeth using the word "younce" a few times in her column, which reminds me of the "you'uns" my dad and his family use. I looked it up, and I think it is the same thing :-)
Re: Amish Language, Sorting Fact From Fiction
yelp, that's us here
We was gonna to the bafroom and warsh our hands but yall called and I's had to stop to see how you all are and give you some taters from the garden by the creak. Wen we's done, we can play shoot the moon
Re: Amish Language, Sorting Fact From Fiction
BK, good example of literary devices. Someone from Appalachian Kentucky might SAY warsh, but they wouldn't likely WRITE warsh.....
Re: Amish Language, Sorting Fact From Fiction
"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift... that's why they call it the present."
LOL... definitely "taters" and "maters". My MIL says 'breakfast' really weird... like "bruff-fuss"... which I have never understood why. And creek always seems to come out sounding like "crick". I think the reason Jeff Foxworthy is so famous is because there is sooo much truth in the redneck comedy
.... and I definitely dated a couple of "Larry the Cable Guy"s in HS.
Re: Amish Language, Sorting Fact From Fiction
My hometown (just outside Toronto) doesn't really have an accent, though mom's family does tend to say "crick" :)
Now that I'm married and living in the Upper Ottawa Valley, boy are there accents up here. If you find someone with a really strong accent, it sounds a lot like an East Coast accent, especially the "ar" combination. The Mennonites around here have a soft German accent, which I find funny since their families have been in North America for centuries!
Paula
Re: Amish Language, Sorting Fact From Fiction
Ah yes funny now but not funny for a 17 year old girl in her freshman year of college. Had many of professors tell me that I needed to learn how to talk properly. One nun drill into me that there is not r in the word wash, adverbs end in ly, you never use the verb is with the pronoun you, f and th are two different phonemic sounds, oh I could go on and on and on.............. Now they see it as a dialect but not 30 years ago.
Re: Amish Language, Sorting Fact From Fiction
I found that when I read Beverly Lewis' novels her dialect seemed more Irish than Amish!
Re: Amish Language, Sorting Fact From Fiction
Good call, Joyce:)....Beverly Lewis's storylines are fine fiction, but the dialect is just her way of "separating" the Amish characters from English ones....which is perfectly fine in fiction. The reality is, though, that written "Amish English" is not much different from "English English", which means it wouldn't be very fun fiction, so Lewis adds a bit of "salt and pepper" to the dialect...again, perfectly appropriate for some forms of fiction.
Re: Amish Language, Sorting Fact From Fiction
"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift... that's why they call it the present."
I have not really had any personal interaction on that level with any Amish individuals, but we have done a lot business with different Mennonite carpenters and butchers in our area. Like you said, I do notice that little accent in their voice, but other than that, they talk like any good old Midwesterner (like myself
). I have been known to use a double negative or two, and toss around the "ain't" bomb quite a bit... but the good thing is when I am typing something, I have the chance to slow down and fix my grammarical faux pas...most of the time! LOL