Pennsylvania Deutsch - Board

There are Pennsylvania German classes in Lancaster County, Lebanon County, Berks County and Lehigh County in Pennsylvania. Where do you live?

Never Fear!

My first language is English. When I first remember hearing PaDutch, I was five years old. My grandparents would talk it when they didn't want me knowing what they were saying. Right then and there I made me a vow to learn it.

Well nau, I ended up taking four years of high school German, and I still didn't understand Pa. Dutch, except for a few words here and there. But I visited old timers often who did, and after a while, now I can understand it well.

I also speak English with a nearly flawless Pa. Dutch accent.

So, it can be done! Learning Pa Dutch, I mean. You MUST be motivated, however. And it is easy to motivate yourself.

After World War Two, the Jews resurrected the Hebrew language which had been long dead among the people, except for the rabbis. I would love Pennsylvania Dutch folks who can't speak it to do the same thing with our "seess Deitsch Schprooch," our sweet Pa. Dutch language.

Practice, practice practice!

If you live in the traditional Pa Dutchland, also known by old timers as the Deitscherei (ei is pronounced as ei in "height", and tsch is pronounced, ch, so it sounds close to "Die Chur Eye" [comprises the following counties in PA plus surrounding areas]: Berks, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, and York. If I missed some, I'm sure somebody will let me know, once. haha

You don't have to learn high German first or at the same time you're learning Pennsylvania Dutch, but it helps.

One advantage of learning PaDutch while not learning High German is that you don't get confused by the grammar. High German has a more difficult grammar than either English or PaDutch.

machs guud! do it well!

Hi all,

I'm glad to have found this forum and this topic! I'm also at college but in California. I've never lived in PA, because my dad was "weird" and moved to Washington (the state). He pretends he doesn't know the language well enough to teach me so I've never gotten much of a chance to learn. Is there any way to start learning it when I'm not anywhere near Pennsylvania? Online classes, or.. software or something? I doubt it but I really want to learn it. Any help would be great, thank you!

G

http://hiwwewiedriwwe.wordpress.com/hiwwe-wie-driwwe/

http://www.lmhs.org/booksale/bkstore/dialect-2007/ look for audio resources. the phrase sheets for the lessons given above are found here.

http://www.geocities.com/trconrad2001/du…consonants.html
note drop down menu at the top "grammar" for all the different parts of speech.

I am just learning myself, and have asked four former amish people to correspond with me.

If you would like to correspond with me, I'd be happy to. It's not as good as learning face-to-face, but I'm finding it really fun, and I am learning.

Quoted from "Gretchen"

Hi all,

I'm glad to have found this forum and this topic! I'm also at college but in California. I've never lived in PA, because my dad was "weird" and moved to Washington (the state). He pretends he doesn't know the language well enough to teach me so I've never gotten much of a chance to learn. Is there any way to start learning it when I'm not anywhere near Pennsylvania? Online classes, or.. software or something? I doubt it but I really want to learn it. Any help would be great, thank you!

G