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| Format | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Author, Analytic | Louden, Mark L. |
| Title, Analytic | Pennsylvania Dutch |
| Journal Title | Yearbook of German-American Studies |
| Date of Publication | Supplemental Issue, vol. 6, 2025 |
| Location in Work | 107-136, tables |
| View Online | |
| Abstract | While most German-related varieties spoken in North America by European immigrants and their descendants are moribund, Pennsylvania Dutch, along with three other heritage vernacular languages of traditional Anabaptist groups, Hutterite German (Hutterisch), Mennonite Low German (Plautdietsch), and Amish Swiss German (Shwitzer), as well as their distant linguistic cousin, Yiddish, are in a robust state of health. This is due to the exceptional demographic situation of their speakers, members of religious communities who intentionally maintain a measure of distance between themselves and the larger society. The birth rates of these groups are three to four times that of their US American and Canadian neighbors, and most of their children make the decision, in the case of the Anabaptists, to formally join the church. Among Yiddish-speaking Hasidic Jews, for whom being part of their community is a birthright, the retention rate is also very high. For traditional Anabaptists and Hasidim, the maintenance of their distinctive Germanic languages is an important symbolic connection to their Christian and Jewish spiritual heritages. |
| Notes | Includes bibliographical references. |
| Call Number | Digital file (PDF) |
| MKI Terms | Linguistics/ German language -- Dialects |