Pennsylvania Dutch: A Dialect of South German With an Infusion of English

by Samuel Stehman Haldeman

¶ 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.