Die Amish People (German Edition)

He went on to explain that he had been raised most of his life in a village in the Pfaltz area. His home had been bombed out during the war. His father was killed when the Russians came. So, he and his mother went back to the Pfaltz to live with his maternal grandparents in their rural farming village. He was so thrilled to hear Mark and the boys with him speak their Pennsylvania Dutch. He said that it just sounded like his grandparents speaking.

He said that so many of the idioms, phrases, expressions, and accent were like the Pfaltz dialect of years ago. He said that it just had touched his heart and was like a gateway to his past. So, Ahaich, whoever you are and wherever it is in Germany you are from, I guess that there are some German people that would disagree with you.

My father speaks a form of Plattdeutch which is similar, but not quite the same as the Deitsch spoken by the Amish. We have roots in the Germans-from-Russia ethnic groups. In my area, we have several Hutterite colonies, and Dad has spoken to the people who live there—again, not quite the same, but intelligible. There were so many small, enclosed areas in Germany, many many many areas spoke some form or another Plattdeutch became the common tongue. But, not all the forms were mutually intelligible.

Some infused a bit of French, some Dutch; it just depended on locale, and sometimes exposure to outsiders. The Amish are a neat people. Germany is just like America when it comes to dialects. They have thrived there ever since. I would not consider myself ignorant nor rude. Quite the opposite actually.

I am simply frustrated with the lack of education on the matter. That may not pertain to you, but it does to many. I speak 5 languages two of those being German and Dutch. The languages are extremely different.

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The Amish folks that I have come into contact with claim they speak German and then refer to it is Dutch. The PA Dutch may be based on these languages but is not one or the other. I highly respect these people and how hard they work. I do apologize for what your friends family has gone through. It must have been terrible. My family went through a lot at that time as well. Granddaddy was in the SS his brother in a camp. My grandmother and her mother hid people in their home and saved many people while her father was forced to kill them.

They were dark times and any of us Germans have a history. I might add that particular label was put on by others and has become a common name for it. My apologies if the inaccurate label put on this dialect by Ameericans offends you. You are correct — it is not Dutch and though it is not High German, getting into all the particulars with a casual visitor is only going to confuse things. So diah kenne Schwabisch schwetze! I aee how that comment could be taken as rude.

I apologize if that was offensive. It was not my intention. I do have a lot of respect for the Amish people and some are actually close friends of mine. A few of them have told me how they wish they could continue their education and are not given the opportunity. She calls Pennsylvania Dutch Pendee. She now speaks fluent HochDeutch and is in the process of learning Dutch. She is doing so to pass the language onto her peers. Again, this is where my frustration stems from and I apologize if it offended anyone. I feel for her if she feels she is missing out by not getting a higher education.

I love learning and probably would have enjoyed getting a higher education, but not enrolling in college or whatever has not stopped me from learning. A person chooses whether or not to join the church — and the stance on going after a higher education is one of the things to be considered. Hopefully now that she is fluent in it she can now read it. In communities I am familiar with it is taught in school and should be taught at home also. We read the Bible in 3 languages: Which was just the New Testament until recently.

Despite what Anne told you, the NT is available in the dialect. I completely agree with Anne on one point: How could we live the lives God wants us to if we could not read what He has written? And this is why I am thankful for the ability to read AND the availability of the Bible in the traditional High German, the mother-tongue dialect, and English. For several days I have been feeling that Mark speaks English so well, and expresses himself in writing so effectively, that he should write about the Amish and his own life for publication.

One way to get started would be to keep a diary. I would also keep a notebook and record my observations and reflections on life. I suggested something similar to another participant on Amish America. The Amish themselves seem to have other things on their minds. Finally, I shall assume that the invective tone of your comments reflects academic purism, which I might understand, and nothing else. The Amish Pa German is a language, however, not because it is simply adequate for communication. There is a substantial literature and written forms abound! In Pittsburgh we have a dialect—the difference being: So what in my opinion is the modern Amish language of today?

To them it sounds the same, so they picked the one easiest to pronounce and spell, which is Dutch, and that mixup has remained to this day. Both of course are 2 totally different languages. The first page states: The date of print is with the signature of the original owner, Arthur Stragis, born December 27, , who was in fact a German immigrant and most likely bought this bible when he entered the US through Ellis Island in New York, like most immigrants from Europe did.

Just a mid Feb. Some words are in English, some are in Pennsylvania Dutch. I was near Intercourse recently and had a conversation with an Amish lady in Pennsylvania Dutch. Well, I was using Hochdeutsch and she was using Penn. I attend the German Language School, and have for a couple of years now. I use Austrian with my father — my teacher has told me off a couple of times for using mountain words.

Most of my friends speak a Rheinland dialect, but my teacher and one of my closest friends both speak Swaebisch. This is the recording of the one-hour June 7, program: An interview is in Pennsylvania Dutch. En Finger, en Daume. Mei Vadder un Mudder sinn Deitch, with English translation. In Dutch has a double meaning! The information says it could be downloaded without the pictures. In I was in this area of Germany and as a young English girl was subjected to a torrid and insulting verbal attack by a group of local residents.

This was unprovoked and was because we were English. Bigoted remarks about other cultures from such people do not suprise me. And what do they really hail from? Best move my dad ever made.

Easy now, I have nothing against the Amish! I respect them land all humans alike! Other Anabaptists from Bern and Jura continued to speak Swiss German after emigrating, but since many came to the US via Alsace on the French-German border, their language split into two different Alemannic external link dialects: The Swiss German diverged even further between Amish and Mennonite communities.

The languages are all similar, but far from identical. He hypothesises that Pennsylvania Dutch is better understood by Swiss German speakers than vice-versa because PD is more closely related to the dialects that gave rise to written standard German, which all Amish learn in order to read the Bible. Today, the US state of Indiana has the largest concentration of Swiss German speaking Amish, who came from Switzerland via Alsace in the early 19 th century. Many settled in a town in Adams County they dubbed Berne, after the Swiss capital. So how do these dialects compare with the standard German and Swiss German spoken in Europe today?

But a more important — and more subtle — difference than borrowed English vocabulary, Louden argues, is the verbatim translation of expressions from English into PD and the Amish Alemannic dialects. U was isch di letschte Name? And what is your last name? Louden sums up the effect thus: According to Seiler, linguistically speaking, the mechanisms behind the divergences and convergences seen in the US German dialects are far from unique.

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But what is special, he says, is the fact that these mechanisms can be seen at work — and not just in history books. Both he and Louden are part of an international research network external link , which also includes the University of Lausanne, and aims to better understand the factors behind the maintenance and evolution of these dialects in Swiss descendants living North America today. Seiler explains that being part of a community, and wishing to identify that community as a separate minority — as the Amish do — are two important factors that have promoted the persistence of these dialects over time.

Not only do they speak a different variety than the other [PD] Amish, but their folk music is distinct. But at the same time, there are some elements of those languages that are archaic compared to the German spoken in Europe today. Choosing to move to a new country is a big step, but what effect does that have on the culture and language the person takes with them? There is some disagreement over whether PD and Swiss German should be classified as dialects or languages, but according to Louden external link , there are no formal criteria for defining one against the other.

Two key concepts for understanding Amish practices are their rejection of Hochmut pride, arrogance, haughtiness and the high value they place on Demut humility and Gelassenheit calmness, composure, placidity , often translated as "submission" or "letting-be". Gelassenheit is perhaps better understood as a reluctance to be forward, to be self-promoting, or to assert oneself.

The Amish's willingness to submit to the "Will of Jesus ", expressed through group norms, is at odds with the individualism so central to the wider American culture.

Amish - Wikipedia

The Amish anti-individualist orientation is the motive for rejecting labor-saving technologies that might make one less dependent on the community. Modern innovations such as electricity might spark a competition for status goods, or photographs might cultivate personal vanity. Electricity lines would be going against the Bible, which says that you shall not be "Conformed to the world" Romans Amish lifestyle is regulated by the Ordnung "order" , [11] which differs slightly from community to community, and within a community, from district to district.

What is acceptable in one community may not be acceptable in another. It is agreed upon within the community by the elders prior to the annual Communion. These include matters such as dress, permissible uses of technology, religious duties, and rules regarding interaction with outsiders. These elders are generally men. However, in the Old Order Amish community, women are allowed to contribute to the creation of the Ordnung. Bearing children, raising them, and socializing with neighbors and relatives are the greatest functions of the Amish family.

Amish typically believe that large families are a blessing from God. Farm families tend to have larger families, because sons are needed to perform farm labor. Working hard is considered godly, and some technological advancements have been considered undesirable because they reduce the need for hard work.

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Machines such as automatic floor cleaners in barns have historically been rejected as this provides young farmhands with too much free time. Amish cuisine is noted for its simplicity and traditional qualities. Food plays an important part in Amish social life and is served at potlucks , weddings, fundraisers, farewells, and other events.

Many Amish communities have also established restaurants for visitors. Over the years, the Amish churches have divided many times over doctrinal disputes. The largest group, the "Old Order" Amish, a conservative faction that separated from other Amish in the s, are those who have most emphasized traditional practices and beliefs. About 40 different Old Order Amish affiliations are known; the eight major affiliations are below, with Lancaster as the largest one in number of districts and population: The table below indicates the use of certain technologies by different Amish affiliations.

The use of cars is not allowed by any Old and New Order Amish, nor are radio, television, or in most cases the use of the Internet. The most conservative affiliations are above, the most modern ones below. Technologies used by very few are on the left; the ones used by most are on the right. The percentage of all Amish who use a technology is also indicated approximately. According to one scholar, "today, almost all Amish are functionally bilingual in Pennsylvania Dutch and English; however, domains of usage are sharply separated. Pennsylvania Dutch dominates in most in-group settings, such as the dinner table and preaching in church services.

In contrast, English is used for most reading and writing. English is also the medium of instruction in schools and is used in business transactions and often, out of politeness, in situations involving interactions with non-Amish.

What language do the Amish speak?

Finally, the Amish read prayers and sing in Standard German which, in Pennsylvania Dutch, is called Hochdeitsch [a] at church services. The distinctive use of three different languages serves as a powerful conveyor of Amish identity. The Amish largely share a German or Swiss - German ancestry. However some Amish descendants recognize their cultural background knowing that their genetic and cultural traits are uniquely different from other ethnicities.

Certain Mennonite churches have a high number of people who were formerly from Amish congregations. Although more Amish immigrated to North America in the 19th century than during the 18th century, most of today's Amish descend from 18th-century immigrants. The latter tended to emphasize tradition to a greater extent, and were perhaps more likely to maintain a separate Amish identity. Several other groups, called " para-Amish " by G. Waldrep and others, share many characteristics with the Amish, such as horse and buggy transportation, plain dress , and the preservation of the German language.

The members of these groups are largely of Amish origin, but they are not in fellowship with other Amish groups because they adhere to theological doctrines e. One such former Amish group is the Bergholz Community. Because the Amish are usually baptized no earlier than 18 and children are not counted in local congregation numbers, estimating their numbers is difficult. Rough estimates from various studies placed their numbers at , in , , in , and , in During that time, they established new settlements and moved into six new states. In , a few religious bodies, including the Amish, changed the way their adherents were reported to better match the standards of the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies.

In , Old Order communities were in 31 U. The largest concentration of Amish west of the Mississippi River is in Missouri, with other settlements in eastern Iowa and southeast Minnesota. Because of rapid population growth in Amish communities, new settlements are formed to obtain enough affordable farmland. Other reasons for new settlements include locating in isolated areas that support their lifestyle, moving to areas with cultures conducive to their way of life, maintaining proximity to family or other Amish groups, and sometimes to resolve church or leadership conflicts.

The adjacent table shows the eight states with the largest Amish population in the years , , , and Amish settlements are in four Canadian provinces: Increasing land prices in Ontario had reportedly limited the ability of members in those communities to purchase new farms. In , an Amish settlement was founded in Manitoba near Stuartburn. In Europe, no split occurred between Old Order Amish and Amish Mennonites; like the Amish Mennonites in North America, the European Amish assimilated into the Mennonite mainstream during the second half of the 19th century through the first decades of the 20th century.

Eventually, they dropped the word "Amish" from the names of their congregations and lost their Amish identity and culture. Only a few outsiders, so-called seekers, [ citation needed ] have ever joined the Amish. Since , only some 75 people have joined and remained members of the Amish. Two whole Christian communities have joined the Amish: The church at Smyrna, Maine , one of the five Christian Communities of Elmo Stoll after Stoll's death [73] [74] and the church at Manton, Michigan , which belonged to a community that was founded by Harry Wanner — , a minister of Stauffer Old Order Mennonite background.

Most of the members of these two para-Amish communities originally came from Plain churches , i. More people have tested Amish life for weeks, months, or even years, but in the end decided not to join. Others remain close to the Amish, but never think of joining. Stephen Scott , himself a convert to the Old Order River Brethren , distinguishes four types of seekers:. Amish populations have higher incidences of particular conditions, including dwarfism , [76] Angelman syndrome , [77] and various metabolic disorders , [78] as well as an unusual distribution of blood types.

Some of these disorders are rare or unique, and are serious enough to increase the mortality rate among Amish children. The Amish are aware of the advantages of exogamy , but for religious reasons, marry only within their communities. When a child is born with a disorder, it is accepted into the community and tasked with chores within their ability. Their extensive family histories are useful to researchers investigating diseases such as Alzheimer's , Parkinson's , and macular degeneration. While the Amish are at an increased risk for some genetic disorders, researchers have found their tendency for clean living can lead to better health.

The Amish are protected against many types of cancer both through their lifestyle and through genes that may reduce their susceptibility to cancer. They are typically covered and dressed by wearing wide-brimmed hats and long sleeves which protect their skin. Treating genetic problems is the mission of Clinic for Special Children in Strasburg, Pennsylvania , which has developed effective treatments for such problems as maple syrup urine disease , a previously fatal disease.

The clinic is embraced by most Amish, ending the need for parents to leave the community to receive proper care for their children, an action that might result in shunning. People's Helpers is an Amish-organized network of mental health caregivers who help families dealing with mental illness and recommend professional counselors. The Old Order Amish do not typically carry private commercial health insurance. In some Amish communities, the church will collect money from its members to help pay for medical bills of other members.

Although not forbidden, most Amish do not practice any form of birth control. They are against abortion and also find "artificial insemination, genetics, eugenics, and stem cell research" to be "inconsistent with Amish values and beliefs". As time has passed, the Amish have felt pressures from the modern world. Issues such as taxation, education, law and its enforcement, and occasional discrimination and hostility are areas of difficulty. The Amish way of life in general has increasingly diverged from that of modern society. On occasion, this has resulted in sporadic discrimination and hostility from their neighbors, such as throwing of stones or other objects at Amish horse-drawn carriages on the roads.

The Amish do not usually educate their children past the eighth grade, believing that the basic knowledge offered up to that point is sufficient to prepare one for the Amish lifestyle. Almost no Amish go to high school and college. In many communities, the Amish operate their own schools, which are typically one-room schoolhouses with teachers usually young, unmarried women from the Amish community. Yoder , the Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned the conviction, [96] and the U.

Supreme Court affirmed this, finding the benefits of universal education were not sufficient justification to overcome scrutiny under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment. The Amish are subject to sales and property taxes. As they seldom own motor vehicles, they rarely have occasion to pay motor vehicle registration fees or spend money in the purchase of fuel for vehicles. In , this policy was codified into law. This exemption applies to a religious group that is conscientiously opposed to accepting benefits of any private or public insurance, provides a reasonable level of living for its dependent members, and has existed continuously since December 31, Supreme Court clarified in that Amish employers are not exempt, but only those Amish individuals who are self-employed.

In , Pathway Publishers was founded by two Amish farmers to print more material about the Amish and Anabaptists in general.

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It is located in Lagrange, Indiana , and Aylmer , Ontario. Pathway has become the major publisher of Amish school textbooks, general-reading books, and periodicals. Also, a number of private enterprises publish everything from general reading to reprints of older literature that has been considered of great value to Amish families. Groups that sprang from the same late 19th century Old Order Movement as the Amish share their Pennsylvania German heritage and often still retain similar features in dress.

The Noah Hoover Old Order Mennonites are so similar in outward aspects to the Old Order Amish dress, beards, horse and buggy, extreme restrictions on modern technology, Pennsylvania German language , that they are often perceived as Amish and even called Amish. Conservative "Russian" Mennonites and Hutterites who also dress plain and speak German dialects emigrated from other European regions at a different time with different German dialects, separate cultures, and related but different religious traditions.

The few remaining Plain Quakers are similar in manner and lifestyle, including their attitudes toward war, but are unrelated to the Amish. Almost all modern Quakers have since abandoned their traditional dress. The Northkill Amish Settlement , established in in Berks County, Pennsylvania , was the first identifiable Amish community in the new world.