I was at an Amish restaurant and gift shop in Sarasota…I was outside and two Amish ladies stopped on their bicycles next to where I was sitting, and be an to conversation in PA Dutch. I speak fluent High German and so I walked up to them and greeted them in German, and told them I could understand their conversation perfectly. They both looked like they were about to faint. LOL
I agree. I am learning to speak because I do business with many in Lancaster. Even one Amish man was teaching me how to day a few things. When I see him I also ways ask how he is in PA dutch and he replies back in PA Dutch.
I used to live in Knox county Ohio, a large Amish & Mennonite community there, and thanks to your videos i used what you taught me with them, i can honestly say they were excited to see a modern guy speak their language and would engage with me smiling. I also used to take elderly groups to Hope, Charm and Berlin Ohio to shop and would have a ball talking to the locals there, some would get iffy with me but most were very please i knew something of the language. Now i live in west central Ohio and again there's a good sized community around me so i find it helpful to break the ice with them on the job sites.
I work for a mennonite and one morning I answered the phone with guder mariya and he replied with Buenos dias haha apparently he felt like Spanish that day
I totally agree :) Just be open-minded and friendly. Even if they talk to you in English, do not take that as an insult. In my experience, people often just want to be polite when they notice that you have an accent. In case you go to the same store pretty frequently you could explain your situation: "My grandpa spoke PA Dutch and I'm doing my best to learn the language etc."
I think sometimes people get kind of stuck if a person speaks a language different from what they expected. I even think that they may not even understand you because you do not speak the language they expected .... so you may get a funny look until they realize it was in deed PA Dutch (or any other language). I speak multiple languages and sometimes a person approaches me and I have no clue what they are saying because in my mind they were supposed to speak English, so my English brain was listening to someone speaking German...... and my brain did have to switch first ....does this make any sense? So in short, if a person looks at you funny because you say something in a language they did not expect .... keep on going until they switch to the language you are speaking, and not the one they were expecting you to speak.
As with any linguistic community, some want outsiders to speak the language, and some don't. My personal advice is that it really never hurts to ask someone.
As others mentioned here, if your PA Dutch is really good, some Amish might think you're former Amish and maybe shunned/banned from the church. Get that misconception cleared up early and you're good to go. If your PA Dutch is shaky like mine, they will know right away you didn't grow up Amish. I have many Amish friends in Lancaster Co and they appreciate my attempts to speak their language. BTW, they call it "Amish" and there are grammatical and colloquial differences between it and the PA Dutch that Doug teaches us here, but they certainly understand PA Dutch no problem.
I live in ne Iowa and my family has been in business with lots of the Amish in our community and they know us well but I am on the younger side and I’d love to learn how to speak pa Dutch to know what they are saying about the things that we are doing. It would be easier to learn from someone or something that speaks the language but I’m not up there a lot and no one near me knows a word of the language.
I went to Germany a few times in my Air Force career and I always try my Pennsylvania Dutch on them. Some regions can understand me and some cant but I still get my Deutsche and my Pennsilfaanisch-Deitsche mixed up.
Often when I pull in to buy something with my long beard shvetzin’ Die Deitsch, but also mustache and driving, they ask “Bisht du im bann” (Are you expelled [from the Amish church]?). So, if I was, they wouldn’t take money from me. When I say “no”, they want a full report of who I am, whatfer church I’m in, where I live, etc etc
Doug, if you ever get a chance to stop by Burkholders Market just outside Milheim there are a couple of Amish girls id like to introduce you to. I show them your videos and they giggle and laugh!
Being a native P.G.speaker, I find the Mennonites in general a bit more likely to engage in P.G. Although it's my native tongue and have complete fluency, many Amish are quite reluctant to respond in P.G. Although initially perplexed, I suspect they are uncertain if I am ex-Amish and don't want to display fraternity with a person potentially in the "Bann". Another reason may be reluctance to appear discourteous in front of English speaking customers. If I remain persistent many will eventually speak P.G.
My grandparents spoke English, and Pa Dutch. They were not Amish or Mennonite. My father told me my great grandpa only spoke Pa Dutch. Again he wasn’t Amish or Mennonite.
I know many people in my area that can speak it well. But then again I live in Morgantown Pennsylvania. Southern Berks County right next to Chester . I even have the dictionary for my father has The Bible that's quite interesting. But my family name is Good.
denken sie dass ma mit pälzisch bei de amisch weit kummt? oder denken se dass ma do kä chanc hatt? (translated: do you think speaking pfälzisch will get you anywhere when talking to amish?)
Yes, just try it! I live in Ewing NJ and there is an Amish butcher at the Trenton Farmers Market. I recently said to one of the girls who waited on me Mei Namaa Michael. She replied in English you said your name is Michael. I then replied Was iss die Namaa? She replied in English you asked what my name is. My name is Lynn. We both said its nice to meet you, and went on our separate ways with big smiles on our faces.
I was at an Amish restaurant and gift shop in Sarasota…I was outside and two Amish ladies stopped on their bicycles next to where I was sitting, and be an to conversation in PA Dutch. I speak fluent High German and so I walked up to them and greeted them in German, and told them I could understand their conversation perfectly. They both looked like they were about to faint. LOL
I agree. I am learning to speak because I do business with many in Lancaster. Even one Amish man was teaching me how to day a few things. When I see him I also ways ask how he is in PA dutch and he replies back in PA Dutch.
That drawing of you next to the phone is pretty great
My daughter has a really good eye for caricatures.....
I used to live in Knox county Ohio, a large Amish & Mennonite community there, and thanks to your videos i used what you taught me with them, i can honestly say they were excited to see a modern guy speak their language and would engage with me smiling. I also used to take elderly groups to Hope, Charm and Berlin Ohio to shop and would have a ball talking to the locals there, some would get iffy with me but most were very please i knew something of the language. Now i live in west central Ohio and again there's a good sized community around me so i find it helpful to break the ice with them on the job sites.
Thank you for another thoughtful video. Language opens doors--plus we get to practice! Always a good idea!
I work for a mennonite and one morning I answered the phone with guder mariya and he replied with Buenos dias haha apparently he felt like Spanish that day
John Hicks Es mejor hablar en alemán Pensilvania con los Amish y las menonitas
Spandutch
Marvin Martin here. I am a mennonite in Reinholds PA and would gladly speak PA Dutch with anyone who would like.
Sell gleich ich zu heere!
Hello from Berks!
Wie bish du? ☺️
Gut! Leider schwetze ich nur Hochdeutsch!
I totally agree :) Just be open-minded and friendly. Even if they talk to you in English, do not take that as an insult. In my experience, people often just want to be polite when they notice that you have an accent. In case you go to the same store pretty frequently you could explain your situation: "My grandpa spoke PA Dutch and I'm doing my best to learn the language etc."
My (Amish) boyfriend always says "Why speak Dutch to an Englisher when we learned English for that reason?" Lol
Your boyfriend should not forget that other people have a heritage, too.
I think sometimes people get kind of stuck if a person speaks a language different from what they expected. I even think that they may not even understand you because you do not speak the language they expected .... so you may get a funny look until they realize it was in deed PA Dutch (or any other language). I speak multiple languages and sometimes a person approaches me and I have no clue what they are saying because in my mind they were supposed to speak English, so my English brain was listening to someone speaking German...... and my brain did have to switch first ....does this make any sense? So in short, if a person looks at you funny because you say something in a language they did not expect .... keep on going until they switch to the language you are speaking, and not the one they were expecting you to speak.
As with any linguistic community, some want outsiders to speak the language, and some don't. My personal advice is that it really never hurts to ask someone.
As others mentioned here, if your PA Dutch is really good, some Amish might think you're former Amish and maybe shunned/banned from the church. Get that misconception cleared up early and you're good to go. If your PA Dutch is shaky like mine, they will know right away you didn't grow up Amish. I have many Amish friends in Lancaster Co and they appreciate my attempts to speak their language. BTW, they call it "Amish" and there are grammatical and colloquial differences between it and the PA Dutch that Doug teaches us here, but they certainly understand PA Dutch no problem.
I live in ne Iowa and my family has been in business with lots of the Amish in our community and they know us well but I am on the younger side and I’d love to learn how to speak pa Dutch to know what they are saying about the things that we are doing. It would be easier to learn from someone or something that speaks the language but I’m not up there a lot and no one near me knows a word of the language.
I went to Germany a few times in my Air Force career and I always try my Pennsylvania Dutch on them. Some regions can understand me and some cant but I still get my Deutsche and my Pennsilfaanisch-Deitsche mixed up.
Often when I pull in to buy something with my long beard shvetzin’ Die Deitsch, but also mustache and driving, they ask “Bisht du im bann” (Are you expelled [from the Amish church]?). So, if I was, they wouldn’t take money from me. When I say “no”, they want a full report of who I am, whatfer church I’m in, where I live, etc etc
Doug, if you ever get a chance to stop by Burkholders Market just outside Milheim there are a couple of Amish girls id like to introduce you to. I show them your videos and they giggle and laugh!
I stop there often! Might be swinging on in this Saturday actually!
Learning a language - it is all about speaking.
in my case - unfortunately I do it too rarely
i get mixed results with trying to talk in spanish, german & italian. but you can always try.....
Being a native P.G.speaker, I find the Mennonites in general a bit more likely to engage in P.G. Although it's my native tongue and have complete fluency, many Amish are quite reluctant to respond in P.G. Although initially perplexed, I suspect they are uncertain if I am ex-Amish and don't want to display fraternity with a person potentially in the "Bann". Another reason may be reluctance to appear discourteous in front of English speaking customers. If I remain persistent many will eventually speak P.G.
1:41 Wait, are you a native PA Dutch speaker? I thought you were; Or does this mean you don't look Amish or something?
There are tons of native PD speakers who aren't Amish. The Amish only make up a part of the Pennsylvania Dutch umbrella!
Douglas Madenford cool, thanks for clarifying!!
My grandparents spoke English, and Pa Dutch. They were not Amish or Mennonite. My father told me my great grandpa only spoke Pa Dutch. Again he wasn’t Amish or Mennonite.
@@PADutch101 there are, but the amish and mennonites make up the vast majority.
@@blllllllllllllllllllrlrlrl7059 I'm not saying they don't.
Just another question: I guess a simple form of my „Osthessen-Hochdeutsch“ won’t bring me anywhere near a conversation?
Beim Hochdeitsch hot mer oft Schwierigkeiten. Awwer du kannscht es browiere!
@@PADutch101 That songs so good. Machs gut!
I know many people in my area that can speak it well. But then again I live in Morgantown Pennsylvania. Southern Berks County right next to Chester . I even have the dictionary for my father has The Bible that's quite interesting. But my family name is Good.
denken sie dass ma mit pälzisch bei de amisch weit kummt? oder denken se dass ma do kä chanc hatt? (translated: do you think speaking pfälzisch will get you anywhere when talking to amish?)
Yes, just try it! I live in Ewing NJ and there is an Amish butcher at the Trenton Farmers Market. I recently said to one of the girls who waited on me Mei Namaa Michael. She replied in English you said your name is Michael. I then replied Was iss die Namaa? She replied in English you asked what my name is. My name is Lynn. We both said its nice to meet you, and went on our separate ways with big smiles on our faces.