An Overview Of The Amish Language
Amish Language
The Amish language, also called Pennsylvania Dutch, can seem very foreign to anyone not familiar with it. It’s actually closely related to German and looks very similar to the German language but there are also some English words thrown in here and there.
The Amish language is also related to the English language of the United States especially in Central Pennsylvania due to their exposure to that country’s culture.
In this post, we shall be walking you through an overview of the amish language and everything in between. Keep reading to learn more about this interesting language!
History of the Amish Language
The Amish language has been developing since the late sixteenth century when the first Amish people settled in Pennsylvania. The Amish language is a Swiss dialect that was brought over to America by 18th-century immigrants.
It remained the primary language spoken by the Amish community into the 20th century. However, as more and more Amish children attended public schools, English began to take over as the primary language.
Today, many Amish people are bilingual, speaking both English language and Pennsylvania Dutch. Lancaster County, Pennsylvania has the highest concentration of Amish people in the United States and is often considered the heart of Amish country.
Amish language explained?
The Amish language is a form of Pennsylvania German that is spoken by the Amish people, who are a religious group that originated in Central Europe. The Amish language has been passed down from generation to generation and is still spoken by many Amish children today.
Non-Amish people are often fascinated by the Amish language, as it is very different from English. Some common features of the Amish language include the use of Dutch vocabulary and the use of German words that have been Anglicized.
The evolution of the name: Amish language
The word Amish actually comes from the German word Aussätzige, meaning outcast. This likely came about because the Amish plain people were religious outcasts in their native Switzerland. In Switzerland, the Amish spoke a dialect of German.
When the Amish people immigrated to Pennsylvania in the early 17th century, they found that the Dutch language was more commonly spoken there. So, they began learning Dutch.
Eventually, their German dialect became so infused with Dutch dialects: words and phrases that it became its own unique language, which we now know as Pennsylvania Dutch or Amish German.
The Amish Communities
The Amish community is primarily located in the United States and Canada, but there are also Amish communities in Europe and Africa. The Amish community is known for its simple way of life, shunning modern technology, and embracing a more traditional way of living.
The Amish church is one of the prominent communities of the Amish people that consist of a group of Anabaptist Christians who follow the teachings of Jacob Ammann, a Swiss Mennonite bishop.
The Amish live in settlements throughout the United States and in Canada. The most prominent Amish communities today are located in Pennsylvania. Some small Amish communities still exist in many parts of North America, as well as in some countries in Central Europe and Eastern Europe.
The Amish culture and the effect on their language
The Amish culture is known for its simple living, traditional values, and lack of technology. The interesting aspect of their culture is their language.
The Amish life has had a significant effect on the Amish language, which is a dialect of Pennsylvania Dutch or Pennsylvania German. Most words in the Amish language are derived from German (German Speakers), but there are also many English words used.
The Amish speak three different languages: German, English, and Pennsylvania Dutch.
In Amish, the word for hello is Guder or Guta Dag if they’re speaking Pennsylvania Dutch.
The Amish language: Its vocabulary and alphabet
The Amish language has its own vocabulary and alphabet. In addition, the Amish dialects have their own unique words and phrases.
Although some of the words in the Amish language are borrowed from English as English words are often used in conversation, most of the words are of German origin or come from German Speakers.
How is the Amish language taught?
Formal education in the Amish language typically begins at home, with parents teaching their children to speak and read the language.
However, there are also a number of schools that offer Amish language instruction. These Amish schools typically use a mix of traditional and modern methods to teach the language.
Useful phrases in the Amish language
If you are very much interested in understanding the Amish language, here are a few useful phrases you must know.
1. Good morning – Guder morgen
2. Good day – Gut daag
3. Good evening – Gut nacht
4. Hello – Hallo or Schan es di?
5. How are you? – Wie geht’s? or Wie gschehda?
6. Thank you – Danki or Danke schoen
7. Goodbye – Auf Wiedersehen
FAQ’s
An Amish speaker speaks German or Dutch because they are descendants of German or Dutch immigrants who settled in Pennsylvania in the early eighteenth century. Pennsylvania German or Pennsylvania Dutch is the German dialect or Dutch dialect spoken.
The Amish people speak German – Pennsylvania German because they are closely related to, but distinct from, Mennonite communities, a group of traditionalist Christian church fellowships with Swiss German Anabaptist origins.
