Dutch language in the Catskills

[Millie Webb]

I have not been able to follow all of the replies here for the last week or
so, so forgive me if I bring up something someone else already has....

I have worked a fair amount among the Old Order Amish on their use of both
English and "Plain German", and I have heard (and seen, in many sources)
Plan Pennsylvania German, referred to as "Pennsylvania Dutch" many many
times.  I assume that (likely because of the German word for German, which
is "Deutsch") a lot of the people claiming they were raised hearing "Dutch"
spoken in New York State and elsewhere on the East Coast, were actually
hearing (at best) dialects that mixed German and Dutch, and were referred to
as "Dutch" because that is how the speakers labeled their own language (most
Amish, when they say ""Deutsch" pronounce it more like "Deitch").  Many
Amish, even though their spoken language is definitely more like German than
Dutch, still call it "Dutch". I cannot understand spoken Dutch, but I can
understand spoken "Plain German".  -- Millie
----- Original Message -----
From: "David Bergdahl" <einstein at FROGNET.NET>
To: <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Sent: Tuesday, November 12, 2002 8:16 PM
Subject: Re: Dutch language in the Catskills


> J. L. Dillard discusses "Jersey Dutch" in one of his books. (I'm at home &
> don't remember which one)
> _________________________________
> "Raffiniert ist der Herr Gott, aber Boshaft ist er nicht"
> --Albert Einstein
>