Pennsylvania Dutch not Greek to the Amish
Most likely you are familiar with the fact that the Amish speak Dutch as their mother tongue and have English as their secondary language.
If you would hear me speak, then you might notice that I have a slightly different accent. There have been times English-speaking people have told me that I have a different accent, while others told me they never would have noticed. At any rate, our primary language is what is called Pennsylvania Dutch. We also read in High German, but we don’t speak that language fluently.
A common question: “What age do your children learn to speak English?”
Even though the Dutch is our primary language we are constantly exposed to English, such as going to town to do our shopping or interacting with our nonAmish neighbors. It varies a bit from one child to the next on how much he or she is exposed to their second language. Most Amish children by the time they go to first grade are able to understand and speak it quite well. At school they will then speak English at all times. This gives them the opportunity to be more fluent with it at a young age. Julia, at age 5, can understand a lot of English words and can speak it but not fluently. It sounds hilarious when our 2 year-old, Austin, tries to speak English. He uses a lot of Dutch words and adds English syllables here and there. He importantly tries to sound like the big boys.
It is not unusual when we go to our town that someone will stop and talk to the children, asking them questions. I then translate for the children, explaining to the English-speaking person that the children don’t speak English well.
I marvel at how fast young children can learn new languages such as Julia’s 3-yearold friend who went with her parents to Argentina to do mission work. After a few weeks of playing with her new friends she was beginning to speak Plat Dietch (Low German) like other little children there. It was amazing how swiftly she began using new words, some of which her parents had not even learned yet. Spanish is the native language of Argentina. I found it interesting how a few families from Argentina spoke Spanish and Plat Dietch and moved to Canada, where they learned to speak English as well as Dutch and German like the Amish people. This added to an astounding total of five languages. I do appreciate the opportunity to know several languages but what would it be like to actually be able to speak five different ones? My younger sister, Mary Grace, is learning the Spanish language in hopes of communicating better with those in Spanish speaking countries with the thought of perhaps spending time in some of those countries in the future with hopes of spreading God’s love with others. Julia always has a keen interest in Spanish words as Mary Grace tells her new words every now and then. Julia always eagerly comes home telling me the new word she has learned.
Another dimension of children and languages that I marvel about is how they simply don’t have language barriers at all. Julia and Austin can play with their nonAmish friends for hours and not be hindered by the different language. They simply talk the language they know and get along just fine.
Interestingly enough even the Pennsylvania Dutch varies dramatically from one Amish community to the next. Take for example my sister-in-law Regina. When she moved from Allen County, Ind., I immediately felt drawn to her. We were close friends from the start yet the Dutch she grew up with contrasted enough with mine that we simply talked English to one another.
After some time I was thrilled when my brother Javin told me his plans to ask her for a date. After they began their courtship she talked more and more Dutch, which by this time we could understand quite well because she had heard some much of our Dutch over the years. Today her Dutch sounds just like ours, though I still do like the “Allen County slang” and even miss not hearing it more.
Now for a good Dutch recipe. We all know recipes can’t speak languages, yet as you bit into this Dutch apple pie you will be able to taste the goodness that has been handed down generation after generation of our Dutch heritage.
GLORIA’S GLAZED DUTCH APPLE PIE INGREDIENTS INSTRUCTIONS
1. Mix sugar and cinnamon into apples.
2. Spoon into unbaked crust.
3. Cut butter into slivers and place on top.
4. Transfer top pastry to top of pie. 5. Trim off excess dough. 6. Lightly press outer edges together and flute rim.
7. Cut decorative slits on top to allow team to escape.
8. Spread desired amount of beaten egg white onto top crust, forming little peaks.
9. Bake on bottom rack at 425 for 15 minutes.
10. Turn oven to 350 for 30 minutes.
11. Spread glaze onto cooled pie and enjoy.
Make this easy dinner for mom on Mother’s Day or for anytime. No cooking necessary. Just chop the vegetables all about the same size, add some low-sodium deli roast beef and serve with warm focaccia bread. Ask the deli to slice the roast beef in one thick slice about ½-inch thick. You can then cut the slice into cubes for the salad.
Cubed roast chicken breast can be used instead of roast beef.
Any type of salad greens or vegetables can be used. The secret is to cut them all about the same size.
The salad can be made a day ahead and stored in the refrigerator.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees to warm the bread. Prepare all ingredients. Assemble the salad and serve with the warm bread.
Here are the ingredients you’ll need for tonight’s Quick Fix dinner. To buy: 1 focaccia bread, 1 bunch celery, 1 green bell pepper, 1 head romaine lettuce. 1 bunch peeled carrots, 1 large tomato, ¾ pound low-sodium deli roast beef (cut in ½-inch slice), 1 package frozen corn kernels and 1 bunch scallions.
Stapes: olive oil, Reducedfat oil and vinegar dressing.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place focaccia bread in oven to warm. Cut all vegetables about the same size. Cut sliced roast beef into 1/2-inch pieces. Place celery, green bell pepper, lettuce, carrot and tomato in a large bowl. Add the dressing and toss. Add scallion, roast beef and corn. Toss again. Remove bread from oven, drizzle with olive oil and serve with salad.