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jakeXT

(10,575 posts) Sat May 18, 2013, 03:10 AM May 2013

German dialect in Texas is one of a kind, and dying out

The first German settlers arrived in Texas over 150 years ago and successfully passed on their native language throughout the generations - until now.

German was the main language used in schools, churches and businesses around the hill country between Austin and San Antonio. But two world wars and the resulting drop in the standing of German meant that the fifth and sixth generation of immigrants did not pass it on to their children.

Still the biggest ancestry group in the US, according to Census data, a large majority of German-Americans never learned the language of their ancestors.

Hans Boas, a linguistic and German professor at the University of Texas, has made it his mission to record as many speakers of German in the Lone Star State as he can before the last generation of Texas Germans passes away.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22490560

4 replies

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German dialect in Texas is one of a kind, and dying out (Original Post) jakeXT May 2013 OP

There are still charming towns that started out as German communities in Texas: Mr_Jefferson_24 May 2013 #1

I grew up in close proximity Cirque du So-What May 2013 #2

" . . . uber das Fence gejumpt." hatrack May 2013 #3

My cousin married a man descended from those German settlers....their house was a CTyankee May 2013 #4

Mr_Jefferson_24

(8,559 posts)

1. There are still charming towns that started out as German communities in Texas:

Reply to jakeXT (Original post)

Sat May 18, 2013, 06:09 AM

May 2013

Fredericksburg is one of them:

Cirque du So-What

(25,984 posts)

2. I grew up in close proximity

Reply to jakeXT (Original post)

Sat May 18, 2013, 09:28 AM

May 2013

to a community founded by Swiss colonists, some of whom spoke German, some French, and even a few spoke Italian. A very unusual dialect developed and was passed along to successive generations. I've heard recently that the dialect is nearly extinct, but when I was much younger and had friends from these families, I had the opportunity to talk with some of the old-timers. With English thrown in for good measure, it's definitely an eclectic mix of words and idioms.

hatrack

(59,592 posts)

3. " . . . uber das Fence gejumpt."

Reply to jakeXT (Original post)

Sun May 19, 2013, 10:09 PM

May 2013

Love it!

Thanks for the post.

CTyankee

(63,912 posts)

4. My cousin married a man descended from those German settlers....their house was a

Reply to jakeXT (Original post)

Mon May 20, 2013, 07:39 PM

May 2013

marvel of 19th century artifacts from the Old Country. Their oldest son is now a Ph. D. teaching at U. of Texas, Austin, in mathematics. Lovely, lovely people...

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