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FormatDissertation
CreatorMartens, Hedda
TitleLanguage Attitudes of German Immigrants and their Families as Observed in Rochester, N.Y.
Dissertation Note (type -- academic institution)Dissertation -- University of Rochester
Date1971
Extent of Work188 pp.
AbstractThis is a descriptive study of the language behavior of German immigrants and their families who settled in Rochester, New York, covering approximately the period from 1850 to 1970. The attitudes of the pre-World War II immigrants are compared with those who settled here in the 1850's as well as in the 1950's, focusing on maintenance of German and acquisition of English. The speech behavior of voluntary immigrants is compared with that of refugees. Reasons and methods for the preservation of German (or a German dialect) as well as for the acquisition of English are described and discussed, stressing the efforts made through German-founded religious and secular groups as well as the individual homes. The linguistic behavior of skilled craftsmen who are able to earn a living without knowing English is compared to that of the unskilled or professionally trained immigrant. Approximately 150 first and second generation immigrants served as informants. Psychological, sociological and purely linguistic factors determining linguistic changes are described.
NotesUMI, printed in 1988 ; book, in MadCat
Call NumberMKI dissertations
MKI TermsImmigrants, German/ Language, German (US)/ Language, German (US) -- Social aspects/ Linguistics