Cole's Page

Language

In addition to English, most Amish speak a distinctive German dialect called Pennsylvania German or Pennsylvania Dutch, which they call Deitsch ("German"). Pennsylvania German is derived from Palatinate German of the eighteenth century along with words borrowed from English. The English term "Dutch" originally referred to all forms of the German language, whose own name for itself is Deutsch. Deitsch is distinct from Plautdietsch and Hutterite German dialects spoken by other Anabaptist groups.

Now limited primarily to the Amish and Old Order Mennonites, Pennsylvania German was originally spoken by many German-American immigrants in Pennsylvania, especially those who came prior to 1800. The so-called Swiss Amish speak an Alemannic German dialect that they call "Swiss." Beachy Amish, especially those who were born roughly after 1960, tend to speak predominantly in English at home. All other Amish groups use either Pennsylvania German or "Swiss" German as their in-group language of discourse. There are small dialectal variations between communities, such as Lancaster County and Indiana speech varieties. The Amish are aware of regional variation, and occasionally experience difficulty in understanding speakers from outside their own area.