Reply #31: Hell, my grandmother could have told you that [View All]

My great-great-grandfather emigrated from Germany to Wisconsin in the 1880's. My great-grandfather still spoke predominantly German when he moved to Minnesota around 1910, as did most of his neighbors in the predominantly German and Swedish community. My grandfather was raised speaking German first, English second, and still spoke with a slight German accent until the day he died 5 years ago (he would always call me Nicklaus instead of the American pronouncement of Nicholas).

Early immigrants didn't learn the English language; they learned enough phrases and words from the English language to get by when they had to venture outside of their immigrant communities. It was the same then as we see now.