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Can Pennsylvania Dutch understand German?
So to answer the question: Yes, a german might understand it, but a german from the palatinate area might also feel like at home! First, Pennsylvania Dutch has absolutely nothing to do with Dutch. A more apt name for the language is Pennsylvania German.
Do the Amish understand German?
If that applies to you, here’s the short answer — the Amish don’t speak German anymore because they’ve been isolated from native German-speaking populations. When this happens, languages change into different dialects, some of which may be unrecognizable to the original populous.
Is Pennsylvania German?
There are also thousands of other Mennonites who speak the dialect, as well as thousands more older Pennsylvania Dutch speakers of non-Amish and non-Mennonite background….Speaker population.
| Group | Population |
|---|---|
| Amish* | 278,805 |
| Old Order Wenger Mennonites | 22,610 |
| Old Order Mennonites of Ontario | 6,500 |
| Stauffer Mennonites | 4,260 |
Is Pennsylvania Dutch High German or Low German?
There are possibly more than 300,000 native speakers in the United States and Canada. In Pennsylvania, 29.9\% of the population currently claim German ancestry….Pennsylvania Dutch language.
| Pennsylvania Dutch | |
|---|---|
| Pennsylvania German | |
| Pennsilfaanisch Deitsch | |
| Native to | United States, Canada |
What language do the Amish speak?
The Amish are a religious sect who live in the United States and Canada. They shun some modern technologies and limit their interactions with mainstream culture. The sect began in Switzerland and Alsace, but most Amish today speak a dialect of German called “Pennsylvania Dutch”, “Pennsylvania German”, or “Amish German” 1.
Are all Pennsylvania Germans Amish?
Not all Pennsylvania Germans are Amish. Although they are the best known group, the Amish make up only a small portion of the Pennsylvania Germans in the state. Other groups include the Mennonites, the Brethren, and sub-groups within each group, many of whom use cars and electricity.
What language did the Pennsylvania Dutch originally speak?
These settlers originally came from German-speaking areas of Europe and spoke a dialect of German they refer to as “Deitsch” (Deutsch). It is this word “Deutsch” (German) that has led to the second misconception about the origin of the term Pennsylvania Dutch.
Why are the Pennsylvania Germans often mistaken for Pennsylvania Dutch?
This popular explanation of why the Pennsylvania Germans are often incorrectly called Pennsylvania Dutch fits into the “plausible” category of myths. At first, it seems logical that English-speaking Pennsylvanians simply confused the word “Deutsch” for “Dutch.”