Wisconsin German

The term Wisconsin German refers to dialects of German spoken in Wisconsin,[1] including Pomeranian, Darmstadt, Bavarian, and others.

History

By the mid-19th century, many German immigrants had settled in Wisconsin[2]:26 and by the latter half of the 1800s German speakers had chosen Wisconsin over other American states as their destination.[1]:45 This was partly because of the state’s resources, available land, and the entrepreneurship of land agents,[3] but also because these immigrants were seeking new economic opportunities, and religious or political freedom.[4]

These German speakers were from many different regions and states, such as Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Pomerania, Posen, Rhineland, Westphalia, Switzerland,[5] Bavaria, Luxembourg, Baden, Saxony, Hesse, Württemberg, and Austria.[4] Each group brought its own dialect, which it continued to use in the home, community and even in local Wisconsin businesses.[2]:27–28 In addition, a form of Standard German, or "Wisconsin High German", was used parallel to the community’s dialect, such as in churches, and elementary and secondary schools; this meant that many Wisconsinites were trilingual, speaking their heritage dialect, Wisconsin High German and English.[6]

Documentation

One of the first recordings of Wisconsin German dialects was made in the 1940s by Lester “Smoky” Seifert, a professor of German at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Seifert, an East Low German speaker, recorded over 100 written interviews with Wisconsin German speakers, in which he included both linguistic and cultural questions.[1]:55

References

  1. 1 2 3 Eichoff, Jürgen (1971). The German Language in America: A Symposium. Austin: University of Texas Press. pp. 43–57.
  2. 1 2 Lucht, Felecia (2013). "Older Immigrant Languages". In Purnell, Thomas; Raimy, Eric; Salmons, Joseph. Wisconsin Talk: Linguistic Diversity in the Badger State. Madison, Wisconsin: The University of Wisconsin Press. pp. 26–36. ISBN 978-0-299-29334-5.
  3. ↑ Johannes Strohschank and William G. Thiel. The Wisconsin Office of Emigration 1852-1855 and Its Impact on German Immigration to the State. Madison: Max Kade Institute, 2006.
  4. 1 2 Everest Levi, Kate (1898). "Geographical Origin of German Immigration to Wisconsin". In Thwaites, Reuben Gold. Collections of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin XIV. Madison, Wis.: Democrat Printing Company. pp. 341–393.
  5. ↑ Lewis, Brian A. (1973-01-01). "Swiss German in Wisconsin: The Impact of English". American Speech 48 (3/4): 211–228. doi:10.2307/3087829.
  6. ↑ Center for the Study of Upper Midwestern Cultures. "Wisconsin High German". American Languages: Our Nation's Many Voices Online.

Further reading

External links

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