Syntax.
The confusion of forms in the declension of German articles, pronouns, and adjectives, as given in print, is avoided in dialects, and on the upper Rhine all classes use the masculine nominative der for the accusative den, thus making a step towards rational grammar—the feminine die and the neuter das being equally nominative and accusative. According to Radlof, from Swisserland to Holland, on both sides of the Rhine, there is scarcely a locality where the nominative is distinguished from the accusative and the dative, and he cites as examples—"ich trinke rother Wein" (for rothen); "ich habe der Esel gesehen" (for den Esel); "ich sitze auf der Baum" (for dem Baum).[37] In PG. this rother for rothen is sometimes cut down to "root" the common PG. neuter form, particularly with the definite article, as in—
Ich trink d'r root wei˛. I drink the red wine. Was f'r wei˛ wit [willst du] trinke? What kind of wine willst drink? Ich trink tschenǝrli rooter wei˛.[36] I 'generally' drink red wine.
| Ich trink d'r root wei˛. | I drink the red wine. |
| Was f'r wei˛ wit [willst du] trinke? | What kind of wine willst drink? |
| Ich trink tschenǝrli rooter wei˛.[36] | I 'generally' drink red wine. |
G. Wir geben guten Lohn. PG. M'r gewwǝ guutǝr loo˛. We give good wages.
ǝn guutǝr freind (n guuti fraa, n guut haus) is n guut ding. A good friend (masc.), wife (fem.), house (neut.) is a good thing (neut.).
Sellǝr mann hǝt mei, huut allǝs ufgebrǝchǝ. That man has broken (meinen) my hat (alles auf) all up.
Ich bin naus in dǝr hoof un bin unsǝrǝr kats uf dǝr schwants getrettǝ, selli hǝt mich gekratst. (Nsp.) I went (hinaus) out, in (G. den Hof, m.) the yard, and trod on (G. den Schwanz) the tail of our cat, she scratched me.
... weil ich mich geschämmt hab, bin ich uf dǝr schpeichǝr geschniikt oone ǝn wǝrt tsu saaghǝ. (Nsp.) While I shamed myself, I 'sneaked' up to (den) the loft without a word to say.
G. Das Wetter ist den ganzen Tag schön gewesen. PG. s wettǝr iss d'r gants (or gans) daak schee˛ gwest. The weather has been fine the entire day.
G. Ich gehe in den Keller. PG. Ich gee in dǝr kellǝr. I am going into the cellar.
In the next, Stuhl being masculine, the nominative der is used for the dative dem, but the accusative ihn ('n) is preserved—
ær hǝt uf d'r schtuul k'hǝkt, un hǝt n f'rbrǝchǝ. He sat on the chair and has broken it.
G. Liebe deinen Nächsten, als dich selbst. Love thy neighbor as thyself. PG. Liib dei˛ nochbǝr ass wii dich selwer.
G. Lēgĕ das Buch auf dēn Tisch. Lay the book on the table. PG. Leeg s buch uf d'r tisch.
Here, if 'den tisch' were used in PG. it would rather mean 'this table,' because there is a tendency to use articles as demonstratives, saying 'dær' for G. dieser, and 'sellǝr' (G. selbiger) for G. jener,—'sel' (G. selbiges) being its neuter, and 'selli' (G. selbige) its feminine and plural. This 'sel' is found in Swisserland, and other parts of the Rhine region. Its Alsatian form tsel, with initial t, shows that it is akin to G. dasselbe. Notwithstanding its resemblance in form and function to Provensal sel or cel, French celui, celle, they are without etymologic relation. See Ch. VII., §2. p. 43, and §4, p. 45; and Ellis, Early English Pronunciation, p. 662, note 15.
'Das' (the) and 'es' (it) have a tendency to confusion under the short form 's used for both. 'Dass' (that) remains, and the neuter nominative article is changed from G. das to PG. 'des' as in 'des buch' (the book)—but as 'des buch' may mean this book, the function of the article is performed by reducing this 'des' to 's, as in—
's buch iss mei˛ the book is mine—des buch iss mei˛ THIS book is mine.
"Donn hab ich gedenkt [not gedacht], des is doch now ordlich plain deitsch," ... (Rauch.[38]) Then I thought, This is at-any-rate 'now' tolerably 'plain' Dutch.
Dær mann iss krankǝr (not kränker) wie d'r annǝr. This man is sicker than the other. (G. als der andere.)
G. Ein Mann und eine Frau waren hier diesen Morgen. A man and a woman were here this morning. PG. Es war ǝn mann un ǝn fraa hiir den márighǝ. There was a man and a woman here this morning.
G. Ich wünsche dass er komme. I wish that he come. PG. Ich wǝtt (or wott, for wollte) dass ær deet [G. thät] kummǝ. I would that he would come. Swiss—I wett, asz er chäm. Stalder, 1, 112.
Swiss asz for dass is often used in PG., as in—
Wann ich geglaabt hätt 'ass er mich net betsaalt (or betsaalǝ deet), so hätt ich 'm gar net gebárikt (or gebaricht). If I had believed that he would not pay me, I would (gar nicht) not at all have (geborgt) trusted him.
Wann ich gedenkt [not G. gedacht] hätt 'ass es net woor wæær, dann hätt ich 's net geglaabt. If I had not supposed it to be true, I would not have (geglaubt) believed it.
G. Wäre er reich, er würde nicht betteln. Were he rich he would not beg. G. Wenn er reich wäre, so würde er nicht betteln. PG. Wann ær reich wæær, deet ær net bettǝln. If he were rich, he would not beg.
PG., like Swiss,[39] dislikes the imperfect tense, and prefers G. Ich habe gedacht (I have thought), to G. Ich dachte (I thought), which gives forms like—
Wii ich n gesee˛ hab, hab ich gedenkt ær wært k'sund. As I saw him (having seen him) I thought he would get well.
Ich bin gangǝ I have gone; not G. Ich gieng I went, nor gegangen ygone.
Whan myn houſbond is fro the world i-gon,—Chaucer, (Wright's ed.) l. 5629.
With menſtralcy and noyſe that was (y-)maked, l. 2526.Bet is to be (y-)weddid than to brynne. l. 5634.
PG. has also 'kummǝ' (has come) for G. gekommen, showing a tendency to follow a law which caused ge-(y-, i-) to be dropped in English. The practice seems to have started with gekommen and gegangen, because they are much used, and their initial guttural absorbs the guttural g- or k- of the prefix. In an Austrian dialect,[40] ge- disappears before b, p, d, t, z, as in "Ih bin kumma" (I have come), PG. Ich bin kummǝ.
PG. Ich hab s [G. gekauft] kaaft im schtoor. I bought it at the 'store.' Hǝscht mei˛ briif krikt? Hast (G. gekriegt) received my letter? Ich schreib n briif. I write a letter.
"Der Charle hat jung geheiert un hat e fleiszige Fra krickt," Wollenweber, p. 78. D'r 'Tschærli' hǝt jung k'eiǝrt un hǝt ǝ fleissighǝ fraa krikt. 'Charley' married young and got an industrious wife.
G. Es regne. It may rain. PG. s maak (G. mag) reeghǝrǝ.
G. Es regnete. It might rain. PG. s kennt (G. könnt) reeghǝrǝ.
G. Es habe geregnet. It may have rained. PG. s kennt reeghǝ hawwǝ.
| "Der Charle hat jung geheiert un hat e fleiszige Fra krickt," Wollenweber, p. 78. | D'r 'Tschærli' hǝt jung k'eiǝrt un hǝt ǝ fleissighǝ fraa krikt. |
PG. has the Swiss als (hitherto, formerly, always), a form in which it is not shortened into a's, as in—
ær hǝt als ksaat ær wær (or wæær) miir niks schuldich. (Ziegler). He has hitherto said he is to-me nothing indebted.
Mr. Rauch, in his partly English spelling, has—
"Er hut aw behawpt das mer set sich net rula lussa bi seiner fraw, un das de weiver nix wissa fun denna sacha, un das es kens fun eara bisness is we an monn vote odder we oft er als drinkt." .ær hǝt aa behaapt dass mǝr set sich net 'ruulǝ' lǝssǝ bei seinǝr fraa, un dass dii weiwǝr niks wissǝ fun dennǝ sachǝ, un dass es kens fun eerǝ 'bissnǝss' iss wii ǝn mann 'woot,' ǝdǝr wii ǝft ær als drinkt. He (has) maintained that one should not (lassen) let (sich) one's-self be 'ruled' by one's wife, and that the (weiber nichts wissen) women know nothing of such things, and that it is (keines von ihre) none of their 'business' how a man 'votes,' or how oft he (als) ALWAYS drinks.
| "Er hut aw behawpt das mer set sich net rula lussa bi seiner fraw, un das de weiver nix wissa fun denna sacha, un das es kens fun eara bisness is we an monn vote odder we oft er als drinkt." | .ær hǝt aa behaapt dass mǝr set sich net 'ruulǝ' lǝssǝ bei seinǝr fraa, un dass dii weiwǝr niks wissǝ fun dennǝ sachǝ, un dass es kens fun eerǝ 'bissnǝss' iss wii ǝn mann 'woot,' ǝdǝr wii ǝft ær als drinkt. |
In the following Suabian example (Radlof 2, 17) als is a form of G. alles (all), and schmieren is used as in PG. for to pay off, to trick.
Kurz! i will olls eba macha
Daſz oim 's Herz im Leib mu'ſz lacha;
I will au de Tuifel ſchmiera,
Daſz er Niemâ kan verführa,
Hack' ihm boyde Hörner o,
Daſz er nimma ſtecha ka-.In short, I will make all so even
that the heart in one's body must laugh;
I will also trick [den] the devil
that he none can lead astray—
chop for him both his horns off
that he cannot thrust again.
|
Kurz! i will olls eba macha Daſz oim 's Herz im Leib mu'ſz lacha; I will au de Tuifel ſchmiera, Daſz er Niemâ kan verführa, Hack' ihm boyde Hörner o, Daſz er nimma ſtecha ka-. |
In short, I will make all so even that the heart in one's body must laugh; I will also trick [den] the devil that he none can lead astray— chop for him both his horns off that he cannot thrust again. |
PG. 'dass' for als (with the sense of as), and 'dass wan' G. als wenn (South German of Breisgau as wenn) for as if, seems peculiar. The German adverbial particles admit of a wide range of meaning, and in Low Austrian certain inversions occur, as aussa (aus-her) for G. heraus; aussi (aus-hin), also in old Bavarian, for G. hinaus, which would allow PG. 'dass' to be referred to als dasz or da(r)als.[41] But independently of this surmise, the cutting down of the pronouns des (G. das) and es to 's and als to ass, makes it as easy to accept dass for als, as 'd of English 'I'd rather,' for had instead of would. Farther, as da has als for one of its meanings, this dass may be da with the adverbial suffix -s.[42]
"des land is aw frei for mich so goot das for dich."—Rauch, p. 32 ... des land is aa frei f'r mich soo guut dass f'r dich. This (not the) country is (auch) also free for me as well as for thee.
"net wennicher dos sivva hunnert for dich un mich"....—Rauch, 1869. ... net wennichǝr dass siwǝ hunǝrt f'r dich un mich. Not less than seven hundred for thee and me.
"Er will hawa dos ich bei eam aw roof in Filldelfy, un dut dos wanns tsu meiner advantage wær wann ich kumm."—Rauch, Aug. 16, '69. 'ær will hawǝ dass ich bei iim aa˛ruuf in Fildelfi, un duut dass wann s tsu meinǝr 'atfæntitsch' wær wann ich kumm. He will have that I (bei) at-the-house-of him [G. anrufen, perverted to an English idiom] call-on in Phildelphi [the common pronunciation] and (he) does as if it (were) would be to my 'advantage' if I come.[43]
"Selly froke hut mich awer sheer gorly schwitza macha, un ich hob g'feeld yusht grawd das wann ich mich full heaser hulder tæ g'suffa het un g'mixd mit tansy, katzakraut un bebbermint."—Rauch, Aug. 9, 1869. Selli frook hǝt mich schĭr gaarli schwitsǝ machǝ, und ich hab kfiilt juscht graad dass wann ich mich fǝl heesǝr huldǝr tee ksǝffǝ het un 'gmikst' mit 'tænsi' [s not as z] katsǝkraut un 'bebbǝrmint.' [Dieselbe Frage] That question however almost [G. gar] quite made me sweat, and I felt just exactly as if I had (G. gesoffen) drunk myself full of hot (G. Holder) elder tea, and 'mixed' with 'tansy' catnip and 'peppermint'.
"'s scheint m'r wærklich as wann du im sinn hätscht in deinǝ altǝ daaghǝ noch n Dichter tsu gewǝ (tsu wærrǝ). Awǝr ich færricht 's iss tsu schpot; du hätscht ǝ paar joor friiǝr aa˛fange sollǝ, dann wær viileicht ebbǝs draus [G. worden] warrǝ."[44] It appears to me really as if you intended in your old days yet to become a poet. But I fear it is too late; you should have commenced a few years earlier, then perhaps something might have come of it.
| "des land is aw frei for mich so goot das for dich."—Rauch, p. 32 | ... des land is aa frei f'r mich soo guut dass f'r dich. |
| "net wennicher dos sivva hunnert for dich un mich"....—Rauch, 1869. | ... net wennichǝr dass siwǝ hunǝrt f'r dich un mich. |
| "Er will hawa dos ich bei eam aw roof in Filldelfy, un dut dos wanns tsu meiner advantage wær wann ich kumm."—Rauch, Aug. 16, '69. | 'ær will hawǝ dass ich bei iim aa˛ruuf in Fildelfi, un duut dass wann s tsu meinǝr 'atfæntitsch' wær wann ich kumm. |
| "Selly froke hut mich awer sheer gorly schwitza macha, un ich hob g'feeld yusht grawd das wann ich mich full heaser hulder tæ g'suffa het un g'mixd mit tansy, katzakraut un bebbermint."—Rauch, Aug. 9, 1869. | Selli frook hǝt mich schĭr gaarli schwitsǝ machǝ, und ich hab kfiilt juscht graad dass wann ich mich fǝl heesǝr huldǝr tee ksǝffǝ het un 'gmikst' mit 'tænsi' [s not as z] katsǝkraut un 'bebbǝrmint.' |
The next is from the description of a willow-tree with the 'nesht' (pl. of G. nast[45]) branches broken by ice.[46]
"Er guckt net gans so stattlich meh, Er guckt net gans so gross un' schoe Das wie er hut die anner woch Wu'r all sei nesht hut katte noch." .ær gukt net gans soo schtattlich mee ær gukt net gans soo gross un schee, dass wii ær hǝt dii anǝr woch wuu 'r all sei˛ nescht hǝt kattǝ noch. It (nicht mehr) no more looks quite so stately, it looks not (ganz) quite so large and fine, AS THAT it did the (andere) other week, (wo er where he) when it (hat gehabt) has had all its boughs.
| "Er guckt net gans so stattlich meh, Er guckt net gans so gross un' schoe Das wie er hut die anner woch Wu'r all sei nesht hut katte noch." | .ær gukt net gans soo schtattlich mee ær gukt net gans soo gross un schee, dass wii ær hǝt dii anǝr woch wuu 'r all sei˛ nescht hǝt kattǝ noch. |
At present PG. is exhibiting a tendency to drop G. zu (to), the sign of the so-called infinitive, altho in the following examples perhaps most speakers would use it.
Wann fangscht aa˛ [tsu] schaffǝ? When do you begin [to] work?
Ich hab aa˛fangǝ schaffǝ. I have begun (to) work.
... fiil annǝri hen hart prowiirt sich farnǝ naus schaffǝ. (Rauch.)
Many others (have) tried hard (to) work themselves (G. vorn) forward.
"De mæd ... hen kea so kleany bonnets g'hat di nix sin for hitz odder kelt; es wara rechtshaffene bonnets, das mer aw sea hut kenne ohna de brill uf du."—Nsp. Dii meed hen kee˛ soo klee˛ni 'bannǝts' katt dii niks sin f'r hits ǝd'r kelt; ǝs waarǝ rechtschaffǝnǝ 'bannǝts,' dass m'r aa seeǝ hǝt kennǝ, oone dii brill uf [tsu] duu˛. The girls (haben gehabt) had no such small 'bonnets' (die) which are nothing for heat or (kälte) cold; there were honest 'bonnets' that (mir) one (auch) also could see without putting the spectacles on.
| "De mæd ... hen kea so kleany bonnets g'hat di nix sin for hitz odder kelt; es wara rechtshaffene bonnets, das mer aw sea hut kenne ohna de brill uf du."—Nsp. | Dii meed hen kee˛ soo klee˛ni 'bannǝts' katt dii niks sin f'r hits ǝd'r kelt; ǝs waarǝ rechtschaffǝnǝ 'bannǝts,' dass m'r aa seeǝ hǝt kennǝ, oone dii brill uf [tsu] duu˛. |
PG. Sometimes distinguishes between the present tense and the aorist, as in Swiss—"er thuot choh" (he does come)—
Sellǝr hund knarrt. That dog growls (has a habit of growling).
Sellǝr hund tuut (G. thut) knarrǝ. That dog is now growling.
D'r mann tuut essa—ær iss am essǝ. The man is eating—he is at eating.
PG. does not use equivalents to neither and nor.
G. Er ist weder reich noch arm. He is neither rich nor poor. PG. ær iss net reich un net aarm.
E. He is either sick or lazy. PG. ær iss krank ǝdǝr faul. (Or, adopting either and its idiom) ǝr iss 'iitǝr' krank ǝdǝr faul.
In a case like the last, no matter how well the speaker knows English, he must not pronounce a word like 'either' in the English mode, because it would be an offense against the natural rhetoric of the dialect.
FOOTNOTES:
[36] ... "Von der Schweiz an zu beiden seiten des Rheines hinab bis an Hollands gränzen, giebt es kaum einige Gegenden, wo man den Koch vom Kellner, den Herrn vom Knechte, den Hammer vom Amboſze, d.i. den Werfall (Nominativ) vom Wenfalle (Accusativ) und dem Wemfalle (Dativ) richtig zu unterscheiden vermöchte. Bald hört man nehmlich: "ich trinke rother Wein" bald: "ich habe der Esel gesehen" bald: "ich sitze auf der Baum." s.f."—Dr. Joh. Gottl. Radlof, Mustersaal aller teutschen Mundarten, ... Bonn, 1822; 2, 90.
Stalder (Schweiz. Idiotikon, 1812) gives the accusatives of der and ein as agreeing with the nominative, and under ein (1, 37) he has—Acc. wie der Nom., welches überhaupt zu bemerken ist.
When I read extracts from this Treatise before the Philological Society on 3 June, 1870, Prof. Goldstücker and Dr. E. Mall, the latter an Alsatian, both considered that this presumed substitution of the nominative for the accusative or dative case must be a misapprehension. Dr. Mall declared himself totally unaware of it. Both considered that it must have resulted from the disappearance of the inflectional -m, -n (the latter of which is the rule certainly in the Rhine region), and the degradation of the preceding e vowel into [e]. This would account for "ich trinke rother Wein," considering rother to mean 'rootǝ,' but would not account for "ich habe der Esel gesehen," in which the r must be taken as trilled, unless we consider that first den was made into 'dǝ,' and then the 'r' evolved as in the Cockney's 'idea-r of things.' Hence the original passages on which the assertions in the text are founded, have been added.—Alex. J. Ellis.
[37] "Dii Jarik Kaunti leit, wann sii furn rootǝ wei, schwätzǝ, saaghǝ g'weenlich—"Ich trink rootǝr wei." Wann sii awǝr kee rootǝr hen, dann trinkǝ sii weisser wann sii n kriighǝ kennǝ." The Rev. D. Ziegler, letter of Jan. 15, 1870 (literatim).
[38] In a spelling based upon English, and not fully phonetic. See Ellis, Early English Pronunciation, pp. 654-661.
[39] Stalder (1, 46) says that the imperfects war, hatte, sagte, kam, rufte, kaufte, would be scarcely understood in Swisserland.
[40] Castelli, Wörterbuch, Wien, 1847, p. 30.
[41] Suabian condenses da unten to dunda. The Rev. D. Ziegler suggests that this 'dass' may have arisen from a d, as of 'grad' (G. gerade) before 'as' of als, as in—ær schwätzt grad as wann [G. wenn] ær reich wær. (He speaks just as if he were rich.)
[42] See Hald. Affixes. p. 213.
[43] The present tense ('wann ich kumm') is used here for the G. subjunctive wenn ich käme.
[44] The Rev. D. Ziegler, transliterated by himself.
[45] The usual German is ast, pl. äste. Schmeller (Mundarten Bayerns, art. 610) notices the following examples of this initial n in Bavarian dialects; his phonetical spelling is given in italics, and interpreted into the present in brackets: der Nà'n [Noon] 'Àthen: Nàst [nost] Ast; die Nàſ'n [noozn] 'Àsen; Naſſ·l [nassl] Assel; Nárb [narb] Arb; Neichté [neichte] Eichte; Nuǝrǝ’ [Nuǝrǝ] Urhab; Nueſch [Nuesch] Uesch. In art. 545 he also gives the form ǝ Lueſsch, and in art. 636, the form ẽRàuſ·n, for Uesch, a gutter, and 'A'sen, a beam or joist. Nárb is the staple on the door, which carries the padlock; Eicht is a little while. The following are examples of omitted initial n, (ib. art. 611); dǝr 'Apoleon Napoleon; 'idǝ' nider, 'Ánkinet Nanquinet; 'Impfǝburg Nymphenburg; ganz 'atürli' natürlich; 'ében, 'iǝbm neben; 'achǝr, 'achǝ’ nachher; 'E'st, 'iǝſt Nest. St. Antwein und St. Nantwein, Aventin Chron. Edit. v. 1566, fol. 470.—Compare the English added initial n in nickname (nekename for ekename, see Pr. Parv.), niggot, nugget for ingot; newt for eft, ewt; nawl for awl; nunkle for uncle; Nan, Ned, Noll, for Anne, Edward, Oliver:—and the omitted initial n in adder (old edres and neddres), apron for napron, eyas for nias.—A. J. Ellis.
[46] Poems. By Rachel Bahn. York, Pa. 1869. Containing twenty pages of "Poems in Pennsylvania Dutch." Noticed by me in Trübner's American and Oriental Literary Record, Jan. 24, 1870, p. 634. The following may be consulted also:
Gemälde aus dem Pennsylvanischen Volksleben ... von L. A. Wollenweber. Philadelphia und Leipzig. Schäfer und Konradi, 1869.
Harbaugh's Harfe. Gedichte in Pennsylvanisch-Deutscher Mundart. Philadelphia, Reformed Church Publication Board, 1870.
On the German Vernacular of Pennsylvania. By S. S. Haldeman. Trans. Am. Philological Association, 1869-70.
Lancaster Pa. Weekly Enterprise (newspaper), with a weekly article by Mr. Rauch.
Der Waffenlose Wächter (monthly newspaper). Gap P.O., Lancaster Co. Pa.
Early English Pronunciation, ... by Alexander J. Ellis, F.R.S., F.S.A. London, 1871. Twelve pages (652-65) are devoted to Pennsylvania German.
P'älzische G'schichte' ... von Franz von Kobell. München, 1863. In the main, this little volume of 'Palatinate Stories' comes nearer to Pennsylvania German than any other I have seen.
[CHAPTER VII.]
Comparisons with other Dialects.
§ 1. PG. not Swiss.
PG. is not Swiss, altho it has a number of Swiss characteristics, and the line (Radlof, 2, 68)—
"Was isch säll für e sufere kärli?"
is very near its PG. form—
Was isch sel f'r ǝ saubǝr kærli? What sort of cleanly fellow is that?
PG. has both 'ær iss' and 'ær isch' (he is) according to the locality, of which the latter may be less common. The Rev. D. Ziegler (a native, like myself) refers the 'isch' variety to the Mennonite and Dunker population, and as there were many Dunkers (or Tunkers) where my early years were passed, I heard more of this than of the other.
The indicative mood present tense of haben and sein are, with some variations, as follows (Stalder, 1, 47-50)—
Swiss. PG. Swiss. PG. i hah; ich hab, hap, I have. i bi; ich bin, I am. de hest; du hǝscht, thou hast. de bisch, bist; du bischt, thou art. er hed, hett; ær hat, he has. er isch, ist; ær iss, isch, he is. mer hend; m'r hen, we have. mer sind; m'r sin, we are. der hend; d'r hent, you have. der sind; d'r sint, you are. sj hend; sii hen, they have. sj sind; sii sin, they are.
| Swiss. | PG. | Swiss. | PG. |
| i hah; | ich hab, hap, I have. | i bi; | ich bin, I am. |
| de hest; | du hǝscht, thou hast. | de bisch, bist; | du bischt, thou art. |
| er hed, hett; | ær hat, he has. | er isch, ist; | ær iss, isch, he is. |
| mer hend; | m'r hen, we have. | mer sind; | m'r sin, we are. |
| der hend; | d'r hent, you have. | der sind; | d'r sint, you are. |
| sj hend; | sii hen, they have. | sj sind; | sii sin, they are. |
Here the dative singular mir (to me) is used in the nominative plural instead of wir (we), and also in impersonal expressions; and the dative singular dir (to thee) is similarly used for Ihr (you), as in 'd'r sint' for G. Ihr seid (you are). G. Ihr habet (you have) has forced its t upon the first and third persons plural of the Swiss forms; and in PG. the second person is sometimes forced upon the third, as in the following, from the Wollenweber's Gemälde (in the German character), 1869, p. 124,—
For äbout 32 Johr z'rick, do hent unsre ... Schaffleut ... im Stenbruch geschafft, un sten gebroche, for de grosze Damm zu fixe. 'Fr ǝbaut' tswee-un-dreissich joor tsrik, do hent unsre ... schaffleit ... im schtee˛bruch geschafft, un schtee˛ gebrǝchǝ f'r di grosse 'damm' tsu fixǝ. 'For about' thirty-two years back, here have our laborers worked in the quarry, and quarried stone to 'fix' the big 'dam.' (Here the English fix and dam are used, instead of G. fixîren, and der damm.)
| For äbout 32 Johr z'rick, do hent unsre ... Schaffleut ... im Stenbruch geschafft, un sten gebroche, for de grosze Damm zu fixe. | 'Fr ǝbaut' tswee-un-dreissich joor tsrik, do hent unsre ... schaffleit ... im schtee˛bruch geschafft, un schtee˛ gebrǝchǝ f'r di grosse 'damm' tsu fixǝ. |
Here the first for may be regarded as English, but the second occurs in the Palatinate—"for den Herr Ring sehr ungünschtig" (Kobell), for Mr. Ring very unfavorable—"for sei Lügerei,"—for his truthlessness.
The next is extracted from a poem by Tobias Witmer, dated from the State of New York, June 1, 1869, printed in the 'Father Abraham' English newspaper, in roman type, and reprinted Feb. 18, 1870. The original spelling is that of Mr. Rauch, and is not reproduced. Dialectic words are spaced, and English words are here put in italics. The translation is rather free.
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Geburts-Daak—An mei˛ Alti. Oo wass is schennǝr uf dǝr welt dass blimlin, root un weiss? un bloo un geel,[47] im ærblǝ[48] felt wass sin sii doch so neis! Ich wees noch guut, in seller tseit hab ich niks liiwǝrs duu˛[49] dass in dii wissǝ—lang un breit so blimlin ksuucht wii duu. Doch iss ǝs schun ǝ lang-i tseit sid'r ích dart ín dem felt, dii blimlin ksuucht, uf lang un breit, un uf dei˛ bussǝm kschpellt. D'r hent ǝmool ǝ gærtl kat— mei˛ schwestǝrli un duu; ich hab s pripeerd mit hak un schpaat dii blummǝ nei˛ tsu duu˛; un wuu ich hab im grossi schweel, dii kii dart hinnǝ ksuucht, dii leedi-schlippǝrss, weiss un geel, hab ich mit, heem gebracht, un hab sii in sel gærtl plantst bei nacht, in muundǝs licht: d'r hent s net gwist, bis juscht æt wantst[51] hent diir s gegest s war mich. |
Birthday—To my Wife. Oh what is finer in the world than flowrets red and white? and blue and yellow in the field how beautiful and bright. I know yet well that in that time, nought would I rather do, than in the meadows long and wide such flowrets seek as you. Yet it is quite a lengthened time, since I in yonder field, sought out the flowers far and wide, and on thy bosom pinned. You also had a garden bed— you and my sister fair, which I prepared with hoe and spade to set the flowers there; and where I in the ample vale[50] the cattle there had sought, the lady-slippers, gold, and pale, with me I homeward brought, and in that garden bed at night I set them when the moon was light. You did not know who it could be, but all at once you thought of me. |
§ 2. PG. not Bavarian.
PG., Bavarian, Austrian and Suabian have the vowel of fall, and nasal vowels. In Pangkofer's Gedichte in Altbayerischer Mundart, are the PG. words 'aa' also; 'bissel' a little; 'ebbas,' G. etwas something; 'do is' there is; 'glei' (also Austrian) soon; 'sunst,' G. sonst besides; 'frumm,' G. fromm kind; 'kloo' claw; 'kumma,' G. gekommen come; Ohg. 'coman' and 'cuman' to come; 'mir' we, for G. wir; 'sel' G. dasselbe that-same; but PG. has not 'mi' me; 'di' thee; 'hoarn' horn; 'hout' has; 'thuan' to do; 'g'spoasz,' sport; 'oamal' once; 'zwoa' two, G. zwei, PG. 'tswee'; wei, PG. 'weip' wife; zon, PG. 'tsum' to the.
The following example of upper Bavarian is given by Klein,[52] beside which a PG. version is placed for comparison.
"Schau, nachbe', wàs mei' freud' is,—
In suntàe', in der frûe,
Gern lûs' i' in mei'n gâârt'l
'n kircheläut'n zue.
"Dà is 's so still und hâemli',
Kâe' lärm, kâe g'schrâe kimmt 'nei':
In'n himmi kà's nit schöner
W' as in mei'n gâârt'l sei'."Sii nochbǝr wass mei, freet iss!
Am sundaak marrghǝ frii,
Gærn hæær[53] ich in mei˛m gærtli
Dii kærchǝ-bellǝ hii˛.[54]
Do 's iss so schtill un heemlich,
Kee˛ jacht, kee˛ kschrei kummt nei˛;
Im himml kann s net schee˛nǝr
Wii s in mei˛m gærtl sei.See neighbor, what my joy is, on Sunday in the morn; I listen in my garden, to the church-bell ring. Here it is so still and calm, no turmoil, no strife comes within; in heaven (kann es nicht) it cannot be fairer than (es) it is in my little garden.
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"Schau, nachbe', wàs mei' freud' is,— In suntàe', in der frûe, Gern lûs' i' in mei'n gâârt'l 'n kircheläut'n zue. "Dà is 's so still und hâemli', Kâe' lärm, kâe g'schrâe kimmt 'nei': In'n himmi kà's nit schöner W' as in mei'n gâârt'l sei'." |
Sii nochbǝr wass mei, freet iss! Am sundaak marrghǝ frii, Gærn hæær[53] ich in mei˛m gærtli Dii kærchǝ-bellǝ hii˛.[54] Do 's iss so schtill un heemlich, Kee˛ jacht, kee˛ kschrei kummt nei˛; Im himml kann s net schee˛nǝr Wii s in mei˛m gærtl sei. |
§ 3. PG. not Suabian.
The Pennsylvania Germans have traditional stories against the Suabians, although their population is in part derived from the upper (Pfalz) Palatinate; and some Suabians settled in Northumberland County, Pa., the evidence of which remains in the name of a stream, Schwaben (or Swope) Creek.
PG. resembles Suabian in using 'e, eǝ' for ö, and 'ii' for ü—in the loss of infinitive -n,—in turning final -n into a nasal vowel (as in sei˛ for seyn), and in saying 'du bischt,' 'du kannscht,' etc. (for G. du bist), 'du witt' for du willst; 'nimme' for nicht mehr; 'glei' for gleich in the sense of soon—but the adjective 'gleich' (similar) remains. PG. does not turn o into au, as in Suabian 'braut,' 'hauch,' for brot, hoch; nor cut down G. ich habe to 'i ha'; it does not add elements, as in 'bois' for G. bös, PG. 'bees,' 'bluat' for G. blut, 'reacht' for recht, 'kuine' for keine, and 'stuinige fealder' for steinige felder, a peculiarity of Suabian, Alsatian, Swiss, Bavarian and its kin Austrian. PG. has archaic 'hees' (hot) for G. heisz, but nothing like Bavarian haǝs.
Difference of pronunciation causes confusion of speech between speakers of different dialects, as shown by Dr. Rapp in his Physiolōgie der Sprache, 4, 131. In the 'Fliegende Blätter' (13, 158) there is a dialogue called 'Ein Deutsch-Böhme' (a German Bohemian), between a Bauer and a Städter—but a Swiss speaker is now added, with the rejoinder to his remark.
Bauer. Wie is de Suppe so hāsz! Städter. Man sagt ja nicht hāsz, sondern heisz. Has [G. hase, PG. haas hare] nennt man das Thier.... Bauer. Dös hāszt bei uns Hōs! Städter. Das ist wieder falsch. Hōs bedeutet jenes Kleidungsstück, womit Eure langen Beine bedeckt sind. Bauer. Dös hāszt Hus! Schweitzer. Aber mer sind jets im Huus. Bauer. Dös iss 'n Haus!
| Bauer. | Wie is de Suppe so hāsz! |
| Städter. | Man sagt ja nicht hāsz, sondern heisz. Has [G. hase, PG. haas hare] nennt man das Thier.... |
| Bauer. | Dös hāszt bei uns Hōs! |
| Städter. | Das ist wieder falsch. Hōs bedeutet jenes Kleidungsstück, womit Eure langen Beine bedeckt sind. |
| Bauer. | Dös hāszt Hus! |
| Schweitzer. | Aber mer sind jets im Huus. |
| Bauer. | Dös iss 'n Haus! |
Diminutives in PG. and Suabian are made with-li; both use 'des' for das, 'uffm' for auf dem, 'biirǝ' for birnen, 'g'hat' or 'kat' for gehabt, 'suu˛' for sohn, 'schoof' for schâf, 'Schwop' for Schwâbe, 'als' for alles, and 'as' for als.
§ 4. PG. not Alsatian.
In the very German county of Berks there is an Elsass township, which indicates an Alsatian influence. As a German province of France,[55] two languages are in use, and are taught in the schools, but the French is Germanised in pronunciation, as may be verified among the Alsatian and German servants of Paris. Being akin to Swiss and Suabian, PG. has some points in common with this dialect, without being influenced by French.
Alsatian differs from PG. in having i haa for 'ich hab,' tsel for 'sei' (G. derselbe), bluǝt for 'bluut,' ūss for 'aus,' hūs for 'haus,' tsiit for 'tseit,' bisch for 'bischt,' biim for 'bei'm,' morje for 'marrghǝ.'
PG. and Alsatian turn some b-s to w, they have the vowels of fall, what, up, and have 'prowiirǝ' for probiren, 'ass' for als, 'do' for da, 'joo' for ja, 'joor' for jahr, 'hoor' for haar, 'fun' for von, 'isch' for ist, 'jets' for jetzt, 'uff' for auf, 'druff' for dorauf, 'uff'm' for auf dem, 'raus' for daraus, 'draan' for daran, 'iwwǝr' for über, 'dno' for darnach; PG. 'ǝffǝ,' Alsat. 'offǝ,' G. ofen; 'bal' for bald, 'm'r' for wir, 'm'r muss' for man musz, 'mee' for mehr, 'welli' for welche; 'was batt s' (what boots it).
The following lines (Radlof, 2, 110) are extracted from a piece of Alsatian which well illustrates the concurrent use of two languages. The French should be read in the German mode. Other French words occur in Radlof's examples, such as allong allons, tur tour, schalu jaloux, anterpoo entrepôt, bangenet baïonnette. The original of the following is in German (gothic) and French (roman) print according to the language, here imitated by roman and italic types. The speaker is telling a friend how she was addressed by a stranger:
So kummt ä Wälscher her, und macht mit Kumblemente,
Und redt mich gradzu an.—Mach er kein Spargemente,[56]
Hab i glich zu ihm g'sait. Losz Er, was ich 'ne bitt,
Mich mine Waih fortgehn; ich kenn de Herre nit.
»Sans avoir, frout er mich, l'honneur de vous connaître,
Vous êtes seule ici, voulez-vous me permettre
De vous offrir mon bras pour vous accompagner?«
Allez, Mousié, sa ich, allez-vous promener,
Und spar Er sich die müh; Er musz sich nit trumpire,
Ich bin von dene nit die mer am Arm kann führe.[57]
»Vous êtes bien cruelle, arrêtez un moment,«
Sait er, und kummt soglich mit sine Santimang....
Zu diene, hab i g'sait; losz Er mich aber gehn,
Min Ehr erlaubt mir nit noch länger do zu stehn.
»Je n'insisterai pas, mais veuillez bien m'apprendre,
Si demain en ces lieux vous daignerez vous rendre.«
Behüt mich Gott davor! i gib kein rendez-vus.
Adié, mousié, adié, je ne vus [sic] verrai plus.Translation.—Thus comes a Frenchman up and proceeds with compliments, and (an-redet) accosts me (gerade zu) directly. Make no formalities,[56] I said to him at once. Let me, what I beg ('ne, G. ihn) him, continue (meinen weg) my way—I know not the (herren) gentlemen. "Without having," he (frägt) asked me, "the honor of knowing you, you are alone here, will you permit me to offer you my arm to accompany you?" Go, sir, (sagte) said I, Proceed with your walk—and spare himself the trouble; he must not deceive himself, I am not of those who can be conducted on the arm.[57] "You are very cruel, stay a moment," says he—and comes at once with his sentiment.... At your service, I said, he should let me go, my honor would not allow me to stand there longer. "I do not insist, but will you kindly inform me, if to-morrow in these places you will deign to return." Preserve me heaven from it! I give no rendez-vous; adieu, sir, adieu, I will not see you more.
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So kummt ä Wälscher her, und macht mit Kumblemente, Und redt mich gradzu an.—Mach er kein Spargemente,[56] Hab i glich zu ihm g'sait. Losz Er, was ich 'ne bitt, Mich mine Waih fortgehn; ich kenn de Herre nit. »Sans avoir, frout er mich, l'honneur de vous connaître, Vous êtes seule ici, voulez-vous me permettre De vous offrir mon bras pour vous accompagner?« Allez, Mousié, sa ich, allez-vous promener, Und spar Er sich die müh; Er musz sich nit trumpire, Ich bin von dene nit die mer am Arm kann führe.[57] »Vous êtes bien cruelle, arrêtez un moment,« Sait er, und kummt soglich mit sine Santimang.... Zu diene, hab i g'sait; losz Er mich aber gehn, Min Ehr erlaubt mir nit noch länger do zu stehn. »Je n'insisterai pas, mais veuillez bien m'apprendre, Si demain en ces lieux vous daignerez vous rendre.« Behüt mich Gott davor! i gib kein rendez-vus. Adié, mousié, adié, je ne vus [sic] verrai plus. |
§ 5. PG. is akin to several South German Dialects.
Like Suabia, the name of Pfalz has disappeared from the map of Europe, and what was once the Lower Palatinate, is now to be looked for chiefly in Baden, Bavaria, and Darmstadt.
It was partly bounded by Alsatia, Baden, and Würtemberg, and Manheim was the chief city. A few examples, condensed from Kobel, will show the nearness of its dialect to PG.
So nehmt er dann desz Album desz uff 'm Tisch gelege is. So takes he then the album that is laid on the table. So is 'm glei' ei'gfalle'. So it soon happened to him. Guck emol, do is er, mer kennt 'n. Look once, here he is, one knows him. Wei is er dann do drzu kumme? How then has he come? Desz will ich Ihne sage. That I will tell you. Mer hot nix mehr vun 'm g'hört. Nothing more has been heard of him. Mir habe [PG. mr hen] alls minanner 'gesse. We ate all together. Juscht am selle Tag is e' Gascht a'kumme. Precisely on that day a guest arrived. Mit eme finschtre' Gesicht. With a dark face. Sacha macha for die Leut. To make things for people. Bsunners especially; ghat had; drbei thereby; schun already; sunscht nix besides nothing; drvun thereof; eens one; zwee two; keens none; unner under; druff on; johr year; wohr true; kummt rei [PG. rei] come in; ne no; jetz' now; gedenkt supposed; fraa woman; kopp head; weesz knows; meeschter master; e' gut' kind a good child.
The South German dialect of Breisgau has G. er hilft (he helps, PG. ær helft), g'seit (as in Alsatia) for gesagt, PG. 'ksaat,' us for G. and PG. 'aus,' i for ich, herrli for herrlich, (PG. hærrlich), wön for wollen, zît (as in Alsatia) for zeit, aue for augen (eyes, PG. aughǝ, Alsat. auǝ), de for du, gen for gegeben (given, PG. gewwǝ, sometimes suppressing ge-, to which attention has been called). Besides gen, the following Allemanic example (Radlof, 2, 99) contains wore for geworden, and uskratzt for ausgekratzt—
"Se han kurzwilt un Narrethei triebe, un am End isch der Hirt keck wore, un het em Mümmele e Schmützle gen, un se het em seldrum d'Aue nit uskratzt."
They trifled and fooled, and finally the shepherd (ist keck geworden) became bold, and (hat gegeben) gave (dem) to the water nymph a kiss, and she did not (dasselbe darum) on-that-account ('em' for ihm) scratch out his eyes.
In the following examples, the Breisgauish and PG. are probably more nearly allied than might be supposed from a comparison of the spelling. The Alsatian and PG. are in the same alphabet.
In the next three lines of Breisgauish (Radlof, 2, 95) words which agree more or less with PG. are in italic—
"Do isch au kei Plätzle meh, Here is also no spot more, Wu i könnt mi Haupt[58] hinlege, where I might my head repose, Wenn i vun der Arbet geh." when I from my work depart.
| "Do isch au kei Plätzle meh, | Here is also no spot more, | |
| Wu i könnt mi Haupt[58] hinlege, | where I might my head repose, | |
| Wenn i vun der Arbet geh." | when I from my work depart. |
The following (Radlof, 2, 92) is also in the Breisgau dialect:
Siehsch de, Kind, de Regeboge,...
Gel, das isch e Pracht vun Farbe,...
Noeh het jetz mit de Sine
E Johannisfirle g'macht,
Un in Herrlikeit un Pracht
Isch der Herr debi erschine,
Un zum Noeh het er g'sproche:
Guck, e Zeiche setz i fest,
Wil de Fride mit mer hest,
's Wort des hab i niemol broche
Un de Herr het's Wort au g'halte,
Den der Regeboge steht,
Wenn Gott au im Wetter geht,
Un er loszt de Zorn nit walte.Seest thou child the rainbow,...
truly it is a glory of color,...
Noah has now with (the) his [people]
made a (midsummer) Johannes-fire[59]
and in splendor and glory
the Lord (dabei) thereat appeared,
and to Noah has he spoken:
Behold, a sign I firmly set
whilst thou (hast) keepst peace with me,
the word—that have I never broken
and the Lord has the word also kept,
for the rainbow stands
whenever God goes in the tempest,
and he (läszt) allows not (den) the anger to rule.
| Siehsch de, Kind, de Regeboge,... Gel, das isch e Pracht vun Farbe,... Noeh het jetz mit de Sine E Johannisfirle g'macht, Un in Herrlikeit un Pracht Isch der Herr debi erschine, Un zum Noeh het er g'sproche: Guck, e Zeiche setz i fest, Wil de Fride mit mer hest, 's Wort des hab i niemol broche Un de Herr het's Wort au g'halte, Den der Regeboge steht, Wenn Gott au im Wetter geht, Un er loszt de Zorn nit walte. | Seest thou child the rainbow,... truly it is a glory of color,... Noah has now with (the) his [people] made a (midsummer) Johannes-fire[59] and in splendor and glory the Lord (dabei) thereat appeared, and to Noah has he spoken: Behold, a sign I firmly set whilst thou (hast) keepst peace with me, the word—that have I never broken and the Lord has the word also kept, for the rainbow stands whenever God goes in the tempest, and he (läszt) allows not (den) the anger to rule. |
FOOTNOTES:
[47] G. gelb, Ohg. gelo, Swiss, etc., gäl yellow.
[48] Not PG. ærpsǝ, G. erbsen (peas), but a form of erdbeere (strawberry).
[49] G. Ich habe nichts lieber gethan. (G. adj. and adv. lieber, adverbialised with -s.) Nothing would I rather have done.
[50] The word is "schwœhl" in the original—probably borrowed from the local English word swale. Wuu, G. wo, where. The author was born in 1816, at Niagara, in a small colony which had emigrated from Lancaster county, Pennsylvania—his father in 1811. The colony received additions about the year 1830.
[51] = at once. Dr. Jones, 1701, gives 'wæns, wænst' as the English pronunciation in Shropshire and some parts of Wales. Buchanan, 1766, gives 'wæns' as correct English.—A. J. Ellis.
[52] Die Sprache der Luxemburger. Luxemburg, 1855.
[53] This word varies to heer, and horch may be used.
[54] Here hii˛ is given for the rhyme, the proper word being G. da, PG. 'doo.' On this account the Rev. D. Ziegler makes the following variation on my version—
Sii noochbǝr was mei, freet iss,
Wann ich im gærtli schtee,
Gærn heer ich frii am sundaak
Dii kærchǝbellǝ geh.
[55] This was written before the Franco-German war which re-annexed Alsatia to Germany. When I read out the first example in Chapter VIII. (Wiidǝr aa˛geschmiirt), to the Philological Society, on communicating this paper, 3 June, 1870, Dr. E. Mall, an Alsatian, who was present, remarked that it reminded him throughout of his native dialect, of which he thoroughly recognized the pronunciation. I may remark that I have never heard PG. pronounced, although I have heard Austrian, Saxon, Rhenish, Bavarian, and Swiss dialects, and read solely by the phonetic orthography here given.—A. J. Ellis.
[56] F. E. Petri (Handbuch der Fremdwörter, 1845) explains Spargimént or Spargemént as "ein ausgestreutes Gerücht, Ausgesprenge, Geträtsch oder Gerede; Aussprengsel," in short, gossip or idle talk, evidently from Latin spargere.—A. J. Ellis.
[57] Compare Goethe's Faust—
Faust. Mein schönes Fräulein, darf ich wagen,
Meinen Arm und Geleit Ihr anzutragen?
Margarete. Bin weder Fräulein, weder schön,
Kann ungeleitet nach Hause gehn.—A. J. E.
[58] Scarcely PG., 'kǝp' (G. kopf) being used.
[59] See Pulleyn's Etym. Compendium, 1853, at BONE-FIRES. [See also, Jacob Grimm, Deutsche Mythologie, pp. 567-597, for fires generally, and pp. 583-593, for these Midsummer fires in particular.—A. J. Ellis.]
[CHAPTER VIII.]
Examples.
§ 1. Wiidǝr aa˛geschmiirt.
¶ 1. Dass dii meed ǝn wunnǝrbaarǝr schtǝff sin, wen [wann?] sii f'r mennǝ ausgrukǝ, wærd iir aa schun ausgefunnǝ hawǝ. Sii sin so schlippǝrich wii ǝn fisch, un wan m'r meent m'r hätt eens fescht, dan knabbǝrt 's schun an nǝr annǝrǝ ang'l.
Tricked again.—That the maidens are a wondrous matter if they (ausgucken) look out for husbands (werdet Ihr) will you (auch) also have (schon) already discovered. They are as slippery as a fish, and when one supposes (subjunctive er hätte) he might have one fast, (it nibbles) there is already nibbling at (einer andern) another hook.
¶ 2. Ich hab eich do schun foor 'sǝm' tseit tsrik f'rtseelt, wii ich mit d'r 'Hænnǝ' ei˛kummǝ bin, un was f'r 'kælkǝleesch'nss' dass ich gemacht hab f'r n 'schtoor' úftsusétsǝ an dem alti Schniipikl seinǝr kreits-schtross.
I have recounted (euch) to you here 'some' time ago, how I paid attentions to 'Hannah,' and the 'calculations' that I made to set up [an English idiom] a 'store' at old Schniepickel's Crossroads.
¶ 3. 'Well,' selli tseit hab ich mich bei d'r 'Hænnǝ' wiischt aa˛geschmiirt gefunnǝ (kfunnǝ), f'r ich hab gemeent, dass sii niimand sunscht 'gleichǝ,' un liiwǝr drei moonat lang gebrootǝnǝ rattǝ fressǝ deet, wii an eenighǝr annǝrǝr kærl tsu denkǝ—
'Well,' that time I found myself badly[60] tricked with 'Hannah,' for I believed that she 'liked' nobody else, and (thät lieber fressen) would rather devour fried rats three months long, than to think on any other fellow;
¶ 4. un dii 'seem' tseit hat sii dem 'Sæm' Hinnǝrbee˛ 'kumpanii' gewwǝ, un tsu annǝri ksaat, sii wǝtt sich liiwǝr ufhenkǝ un d'r hals mit d'r hǝls-seeg apschneidǝ, as so ǝn alt 'griinharn' wii mich heiǝrǝ.
and the 'same' time she gave 'Sam' Hinterbein 'company' and said to others, she would rather hang herself and cut off the neck with the wood-saw (als) than to marry such an old greenhorn as me.
¶ 5. Du kannscht diir denkǝ, dass mich sel f'rtsernt hǝt un dass ich mei˛ 'plæns' weeghǝ schtoorhaltǝ an dem kreitsweek pletslich ge-ennǝrt hab.
You can imagine to yourself that that (verzürnt) angered me, and that (plötzlich) suddenly I (habe geändert) changed my plans about storekeeping at the Crossway.
¶ 6. Ich hab mich dann ǝn bissl rúmgegúkt un gefúnnǝ dass drǝwǝ an d'r 'Passǝm krik' ǝn 'neisi opning' f'r n tíchtighǝr 'schmærtǝr' kærl wii ich eenǝr bin, wær.
I then looked me (ein biszchen herum) a little round and (gefunden) found that (droben) up on 'Possum creek' was a 'nice opening' for a (tüchtig tight) capable 'smart' fellow, as I am one.
¶ 7. Dart am ek wuunt d'r alt 'Eeb' Windbeissǝr uf m groosi schtik land; dem sei˛ 'Meeri' hǝt m'r 'ǝbaut' aa˛kschtannǝ, un allǝs sunscht dart rum hǝt m'r recht guut gefállǝ (kfallǝ), juscht hǝt dii 'Meeri' so gaar eewich fiil schweschtǝr un briidǝr, dass als kee˛ plats f'r uns tswee im haus waar, un in dii scheir geeǝ musstǝ, wann m'r mit ǝn-annǝr schwetsǝ wǝttǝ.
There on the corner lives old 'Abe' Windbeisser on a large piece (of) land; whose 'Mary about' pleased me, and all (sonst dort herum) besides there-about pleased me right well, only Mary had (gar ewig so viel) quite ever so many sisters and brothers, that (there) was always no place for us two in the house, and (we) must go in the barn when we would speak with oneanother.
¶ 8. Sell hǝt m'r 'ǝf-koors' net so árik aa˛kschtannǝ, awǝr (aawǝr) dii Meeri hǝt gemeent des wær niks, m'r misst sich ewwǝ tsu helfǝ wissǝ.
That 'of-course' was not so very agreeable to me, but Mary considered that to be nothing; one must know (eben) exactly how to help one's self.
¶ 9. En tseit lang iss 'nau' allǝs guut gangǝ, meini 'kælkǝleeschǝnss' waarǝ wiidǝr 'reddi' un dii Meeri hǝt mir tsu f'rschteeǝ gewwǝ, dass ich eenichǝ tseit mit iirǝm daadi schwetsǝ un dann d'r parrǝr [and parrǝ] beschtéllǝ kennt.
(For) some time 'now' all went well, my 'calculations' were again 'ready,' and Mary had given me to understand that any time I could speak with her (Swiss dädi) father, and then engage the minister.
¶ 10. 'Well,' d'r neekscht sundaak, ich hab iim ksaat dass ich un sei˛ Meeri unsǝr meind ufgemacht hättǝ tsu heiǝrǝ, un froog iin ep ær eenich eppǝs [or ebbǝs] dageeghǝ hätt. Nee˛, secht ær, ich hab niks dageeghǝ, aawǝr hǝscht du dann dii 'Mændǝ' heit kseene?
'Well' the next Sunday I told him that I and his Mary had (English idiom) made up our 'mind' to marry, and asked him (ob) if he had (einiges etwas) any(some)thing there-against. No, (sägt, for G. sagte) said he, I have nothing against it—but have you seen 'Amanda' to-day?
¶ 11. "Iir hen mich lets f'rschtannǝ," saag ich, "ich will dii Meeri heiǝrǝ, net dii Mændǝ." (Du muscht wissǝ, dii Mændǝ iss 'ǝbaut' seks joor eltǝr wii dii Meeri un net neekscht soo guutgukich.)
"You have understood me [Swiss and SG. letz] wrongly," say I, "I wish to marry 'Mary' and not 'Amanda'." (You must know, 'Amanda' is 'about' six years older than 'Mary,' and not (next) near so goodlooking.)
¶ 12. "Joo, ich hab dich recht guut f'rschtannǝ, aawǝr du bischt noch net 'ufgepooscht.' Geschtǝr marighǝ iss dii Mændǝ nooch 'Hen' Greifdaalǝrs 'schtoor' un hǝt sich eppǝs kaaft—'Griischǝn' Bendǝr glaab ich heescht sii des ding.
"Yes, I have understood you right well, but you are not yet 'posted' up. Yesterday morning 'Amanda' went to 'Hen.' Gripedollar's 'store' and bought herself something—'Grecian' Bend (pun on bend and bänder, ribbons,) I believe she calls the thing.
¶ 13. "Wii dii Meeri sel geseenǝ (or kseenǝ) hat, wærd sii gans (or gants) närrisch dofoor, un fangt aa˛ mit d'r Mændǝ tsu handlǝ, weil d'r 'schtoorkiipǝr' juscht dii eéntsighǝ maschiin katt hǝt.
When Mary saw it she becomes quite silly (dafür) for it, and begins to bargain with Amanda, as the 'storekeeper' (hat gehabt) had but the single machine.
¶ 14. "Well, sii sin net eenich [geworden] warrǝ bis geeghǝ oowǝt, un dann hen sii 'ǝgriid,' das dii Meeri dich tsu d'r Mændǝ ufgept, un dii Meeri dii Griischǝn Bendǝr kriikt!"
"Well, they were not (einig) in accord till (gegen abend) towards evening, and then they 'agreed' that Mary would give you up to Amanda, and she should get the Grecian Bend."
¶ 15. F'rschwappt? Mich uf den 'Griischǝn', Bendǝr 'f'rschwappt,' oone mich ærscht tsu frooghǝ?!
'Swapped'! Me 'swapped' on the Grecian Bend, (ohne mich erst zu fragen) without first asking me?!
¶ 16. "So schteet s 'nau,' dii Mændǝ is drunnǝ im kuuschtall, wann du fĭleicht ærscht mit iir dǝrweeghǝ schwetsǝ witt."
"So stands it 'now,' Amanda is (darunter) down there at the stable, if you perhaps (willst) will first speak with her about it."
¶ 17. Ich? mit iir dǝrweeghǝ schwetsǝ? Iss gaar net nootwennich! Wann mich deini meed kaafǝ, f'rkaafǝ un f'rschwappǝ kennǝ, dann sollǝ sii aa seenǝ, dass sii mich kriighǝ. 'Guutbei.'
I? speak with her about it? (It) is quite unnecessary. If your girls (können kaufen) can buy, sell, and 'swap' me, then (sollen sie auch sehen) shall they also see that they get me. 'Goodby.'
¶ 18. Ich wees net was dii Windbeissǝr meed[61] mit un oone Griischǝn Bendǝr fun miir denkǝ, aawǝr was ich fun iinǝ denk wees ich, wærd diir s aawǝr 'ennihau' net saaghǝ.
I know not what the Windbeisser girls with and without Grecian Bend think of me, (aber ich weiss) but I know what I think of them—but will 'anyhow' not tell it to you.
¶ 19. 'Nau' hab ich im sinn noch eé˛mool[62] tsu prowiirǝ, sobál ich n 'tschænss' ausfinn, un wann m'r s aa dann net glikt, geb ich s uf un wærd ǝn altǝr 'bætschǝlǝr.'[63]
I now have in mind (zu probîren) to try yet (einmal) once, as soon as I find out a 'chance,' and if it also prospers not then with me, I will give it up and be an old 'bachelor.'
§ 2. Wii kummt ǝs?
¶ 1. Ich lees eiǝr tseitung 'reglǝr' alli woch, un weil ich alsfart so fiil nei-ichkeit'n drin lees, do bin ich schun oft (ǝft) uf dii 'nosch'n' [gekommen] kummǝ iir [müsset] misst allǝs wissǝ.
How comes it? I read (euer) your journal 'regular' every week, and as I constantly read so many novelties in it, (da then) have I indeed often come to the 'notion' you must know everything.
¶ 2. Wann epper sich ufhengt, ǝdǝr heiǝrt, ǝdǝr eppǝs schteelt, ǝdǝr gærn ǝn guuti 'affis' hätt, ǝdǝr in dii 'tscheel' kummt, ǝdǝr sich n fing-er apschneidt, ǝdǝr sei˛ 'plats' f'rkaaft, ǝdǝr n hinkl schteelt, ǝdǝr 'guuf'rniir´' wærrǝ will, ǝdǝr im 'gǝttǝr' kfunnǝ wært, ǝdǝr seini tseitung net betsaalt, dann kann m'r sich druf f'rlassǝn, dass ǝs in dii tseitung kummt.
If (Swiss epper, masc. of G. etwas,) anyone hangs himself, or marries, or steals (G. etwas) anything, or would like to have a good 'office,' or gets into 'jail,' or cuts himself a finger off, or sells his 'place' (or farm), or steals a chicken, or wishes to become 'governor,' or is [gefunden] found in the 'gutter,' or does not pay for his journal, then one can depend upon it that it gets into the newspaper.
¶ 3. Ich bin ǝn altǝr bauǝr un f'rschtee net fiil, un weil iir alles tsu wissǝ scheint, doo will ich eich ǝmoól ǝn paar sachǝ frooghǝ, dii ich gærn wissǝ deet.
I am an old farmer and do not understand much, and as you seem to understand everything, I will here ask you once several things, which I would like to know.
¶ 4. Wii kummt ǝs, dass dii jung-i bauǝrǝbuuwǝ graad brillǝn un schtǝk traaghǝ missǝ, wann sii in dii 'kallitsch' [geschickt werden] kschikt wærrǝ? Ich hab als gemeent ich wollt mei˛ 'Sæm' aa in dii 'kallitsch' schikǝ, aawǝr wann dii leit graad schlechti aaghǝ kriighǝ un laam wærrǝ, dann behalt ich mei˛ 'Sæm' liiwǝr dǝheem un lærn iin selwǝr als oowǝts.
How comes it, that the young farmer-boys must immediately carry spectacles and (stöcke) sticks when they are sent to 'college'? I have hitherto thought I would send my 'Sam' to 'college,' but if people immediately get bad eyes and become lame, I will rather keep him at home and teach him myself of evenings.
¶ 5. Wii kummt ǝs, dass deel weipsleit in eirǝm iistan (Easton) soo aarm [sein wollen] sei˛ wellǝ un doch soo lang-i frackschwents uf 'm 'peefmǝnt' noochschleefǝ? [Werden] wærre[64] selli weipsleit betsaalt f'r s 'peefmǝnt' [sauber] sauwǝr tsu haltǝ, ǝdǝr wii [können] kennǝ sii 'affoordǝ' soo aa˛tsugeeǝ?
How comes it, that (theil) part (of the) women in your Easton (sein wollen) pretend to be so poor, and yet (nach-schleifen) drag along such long frock (schwänze) tails on the 'pavement'? Will those women be paid for keeping the 'pavement' clean, else how can they 'afford' to proceed thus?
¶ 6. Wii kummt ǝs, dass dii jung-i buuwǝ selli meed, woo reichi daadis [Swiss dädi] hen, liiwǝr noochschpringǝ als dii aarmi? Gukt sel net als wii wann sii meer uum s geld gewwǝ [thäten] deetǝ als wii uum dii meed? Wann ich ǝn meedl wær un hätt so ǝn 'boo,' dann deet ich iin mit d'r feiǝrtsang fartschtéwǝrǝ.
How comes it, that the young men (lieber nachspringen) sooner run after those girls who have rich [the plural -s is English] fathers, than the poor ones? Looks it not just as if they would give more for the money than for the maid? If I were a girl and had such a 'beau,' (then) I would [stöbern, ö long] drive him forth with the fire-tongs.
¶ 7. Wii kummt ǝs, dass n deel jung-i leit nimmi deitsch leesǝ un schwetsǝ kennǝ, wann sii mool 'jes' un 'noo' saaghǝ kennǝ? Meim [dative for genitive] nochbǝr, dem Maardi Halsbendl sei˛ eltǝst'r [sohn] suu˛, dær so deitsch waar wii saurkraut des schun siwwǝ mool ufgwærmt iss, waar kærtslich ǝmool in d'r schtatt, un wii ær wiid'r heem kummǝ iss, do waar ær so eng-lisch, dass ær schiir gaar nimmi mit seim daadi un mammi schwetsǝ kann. Sii sin 'nau' arik im 'truwl' un sei˛ daadi meent, sii misst'n iin naus nooch Kniphaus'n schikkǝ, f'r iin wiid'r (widr) deitsch tsu machǝ.
How comes it that some young people are no longer able to read and speak German if they only know how to say 'yes' and 'no'? The eldest son of my neighbor Martin Neckband, who was as Dutch as sourcrout which has been warmed up seven times, was once recently a week in town, and when he had returned home again, there was he so English that he could scarcely speak anymore with his father and mother. They are 'now' greatly in 'trouble,' and his father thinks they must send him out to Kniphausen to make him German again.
¶ 8. Wie kummt ǝs, dass dii aarmi leit geweenlich dii meerschtǝn hund un katsǝ hen? Do bei uns wuunt n famíljǝ, dii als bettǝlǝ muss, un dii fiir groosǝ hund un siwwǝ katsǝ hǝt. Sii selwǝr saaghǝ, sii misst'n so fiil hund hawǝ f'r dii diib aptsuhaltǝ.[65]
How comes it, that poor people (gewöhnlich haben) commonly have the most dogs and cats? Here near us lives a family which must always beg, and which has four large dogs and seven cats. They themselves say, they (müszten haben) were obliged to have so many dogs to keep away the thieves.