§ 1. THE ENGLISH INFUSION.
Pennsylvania German has long been recognised as a dialect with certain
English words, which are sometimes inflected in the German manner.
Sportive examples were quoted in the last century, and one is
occasionally cited as characteristic, which occurs in Joh. Dav. Schöpf's
Travels (1783-4) published at Erlangen, in 1788, and thus quoted by
Radlof,[29] but in German characters:--
"Mein Stallion ist über die Fehnsz getscheumpt, und hat dem Nachbor
sein whiet abscheulich gedämatscht." (My _stallion jumped_ over the
_fence_ and horribly _damaged_ my neighbor's _wheat_.)
This example is probably spurious and a joke, because PG. 'hengscht' and
'weetsǝ' (instead of _stallion_ and _wheat_) are in common use--for
the Pennsylvania farmer uses German terms for introduced European
objects, and if he calls _rye_ 'karn' (G. korn), instead of _roggen_,
this itself is a German name for what is in some localities regarded as
corn by excellence. Another example of Schöpf has 'geklaret land'
(cleared land), and 'barghen' (bargain), which are correct.
The German brings with him a vocabulary which is not quite adapted to
the objects around him, and he improves his language by dropping such of
his words as have an indefinite meaning, replacing them with terms which
have an exact and scientific value, where High German is weak and
indefinite--having failed to Latinise its vocabulary at the revival of
learning. The Pennsylvanian uses 'fenss' or 'fents' (not "fehnsz") for
the English _fence_, because the German _zaun_ is equally a _hedge_; he
uses 'flaur' (or 'flauer' Eng. flour) as well as the German _mehl_,
because the latter is equivalent to English meal; he seizes upon
_bargain_ as better than anything in his vernacular; and he restricts
G. _wagen_ (with the sound of 'waghǝ') to _wagon_, adopting a
variation like "bändwagen" for a vehicle used by a musical band, using
'kerritsch' ("carriagemacher") for the English _carriage_, altho
'kutsch' (G. kutsche) is also in use. He adopts English expressions for
clearing land and speaks of a _clearing_ (which he makes feminine)
because the destruction of forests by chopping and burning is not a
European practice. Railroads were probably built in America before they
were in use in Germany, and in Pennsylvania, our English name was
imitated in 'reelroot' ('Plankenroad' is in print) or, as in many other
cases, the word was translated into "riegelweg." At a later date the
foreign name "eisenbahn" was brought in by later immigrants--and
"riegel-bahn" is in use.
§ 2. _Newspapers._
The Pennsylvania German appreciates humor, and to avoid the humorous and
often illegitimate use of English words, the first examples in these
pages will be selected from the advertisements of about a dozen
different newspapers, all printed in the barbarous German character, and
published at distant points in Pennsylvania. In such compositions, the
attention of the public is called to common objects in a vocabulary
which can be accepted without hesitation, and in a style somewhat above
the colloquial, in which a horse is called 'gaul' and not _pferd_
('pfært') as usual in print. The spelling is sometimes English and
sometimes more or less Germanised, without much affecting the
pronunciation, as in "store" (a retail shop[30]) or "stohr" (buchstore,
storehalter, stohrhaus), which are equally 'schtoor'; "frame," (främe,
främ, frähm), are equally the English _frame_; "schap" (shap, schop,
schopp, shop, pl. schöp); "township" (townschip, taunschip); "county"
and "caunty"; "turnpike" and "turnpeik"; "cash" and "casch."
In some localities, English names of streets like _King_, _Queen_,
_High_, _Water_, _Chesnut Street_, are used in German speech and print,
and in others, _Königstrasze_, _Quienstrasze_, _Highstrasze_,
_Wasserstrasze_ and _Chesnutstrasze_, are preferred.
As parenthetic words like (Dry Goods) occur in the originals,
explanations will be [in brackets], and attention will be called to
strictly English words by putting them in _italics_.
The "Pennsylvanische Staats-Zeitung" (published at Harrisburg, the State
Capital) claims a larger circulation than any English journal of that
city, and the number for Nov. 25, 1869, will be quoted here in the
original spelling. Here, where English introduced words might be
expected throughout, certain French words are adopted from the German
dictionaries, such as _reparaturen, delikatessen_, lagerbier _salon_
(also _saloon_),[31] _etablissement, engagiren, quotiren, instruiren,
autorisiren, ordonnanz_. Others are rather English than French, as
_pavements, arrangements, publikationspreisen, textbücher, jury, city,
controle_ ( ... so wie dasz die City alleinige Controle über denselben
Committee....), _connektion_, _construktion, order, governör,
provisionen, groceries_.
Beste Familien-Mehl, in Fässern [in another journal--Roggen_flauer
per bärrel--preim flaur_] _superfine per Bärrel; Prime_ weitzen;
Roggen [rye] _per Buschel_. Korn [maize or indian corn, properly
called Welschkorn in the same column under the quoted Lancaster
prices, where "Korn" means rye.] Hafer; _Middlings; Shorts_.
In the Price-current we find--
Fische ... _Rock_ [Labrax lineatus]; _Pike_ [for Hecht, pl. Hechte,
a known term]; _Halibut; Haddock; Sturgeon; Trout; White Perch_
[Labrax albus, vel mucronatus]; Weisze Fische [Coregonus albus];
Härringe; _Cat_fische [Pimelodus, more commonly called
'katsǝfisch'].
Fleische ... _Roast Beef per_ Pfund; _Rump Steaks; Surloin;_
Hammelfleisch; Schweinfleisch; Gedörrtes _Beef_ [Getrocknetes
Rindsfleisch is quoted from Pittsburg]; _Beef_ Schinken; ... _Mess
Pork_; ... Schmalz in _kegs; Lard_-Oel; Butter (roll ... print)
[with 'roll' and 'print' in Roman type]; Molasses [commonly called
mǝlássich]; Süszkartoffeln [a translation of sweet-potatoes,
instead of bataten]; _Schellbarks_ [nuts of the shell-bark
hickory]; Aepfelbutter (Latwerg) [G. Latwerge, PG. látwærik,
translated from E. apple-butter].
In the humorous department we find--
Ein ähnliches Räthsel wie sell eine, war scho [schon] früher im
_Päper_; ... Sie sind ge_muvt?_[32] _Very well_, ... Sell isch e
guat's[33] Plätzel ... sellem Joseph am Eck[34] lasse mer nix
[lassen wir nichts] zu leids thun; ...
The next examples are condensed from journals of various localities,
all printed in the German character. The spelling and use of italics as
before.
Der Grosze Wohlfeile _Dry Goods Store_. Jetzt eröffnet: Direkt von
New York; _Bärgens_ in Weiszgütern und Ellenwaaren (Dry Goods),
Gemischte _Mohairs;_ Schöne Dress _Ginghams; Long Cloth_ [another
has Langes Tuch].
_Country Orders_ werden mit _prompt_heit ausgeführt ...
Groszhandels oder _Wholesäle_ Preisen zu _Retail_en oder einzelnen
[others have "im groszen und kleinen," "Groz und Klein-Verkauf"]
... _Ingrain_ oder Blumiger _Kärpet_; ... _Entry_ und Treppen
[stair] _Carpets; Cottage-Carpets; Floor_ Oel-Tücher [another has
Boden-Oeltücher]; Marseilles und _Honeycomb Quilts; Matting_,
weisz und bunt.
Allgemeine _Stohr_güter; Tücher fur _Ladies Cloaks_ [another has
Damen _Cloak_stoffe.] ... _Lädies Dress-Goods_ [others have
_Dresz_güter, _Dresz_-Anzüge, _Dresz_waaren]; _Fäncy_-Waaren;
Ueberdecken; _Quilts_ und Tisch-_Diapers; Napkins; Ticking_ beim
Stück; _Carriage Trimmings;_ Extra grosze ge_quilte comfortables;
Blänkets_; _Counter Paints_ [counterpanes]; _Dry Goods_ für
Frühjahr und Sommer. Kein _Humbug_.
_Millinery_ Waaren; _Ladies-, Misses-_, und Kinder Stroh und
_Fäncy Bonnets_ und _Flats;_ Corsetten; _Hoops_ [others have
_Hoops_röcke, and _Hoopskirts_ in neuer _Shapes_]; Haar Zöpfen;
Rollen; _Braids; Puffs; Dress-Trimmings_. Unsere "Fits" sind
vollkommen. _Yankee-Notions_ [another has _Notion_en]. _Shelfing_
und _Counter_ für einen _Stohr_.
Pelzwaaren jeder Art, ... Zobel; _Chinchilla; Ermin;_
Siberien-_Squirrel_; _Fitch;_ Wasser-_Mink_.
_Wholesale_ und _Retail_ Händler in Aechten _Rye Whiskeys_ von
verschiedenen _Bränd_en, Ausländischen und Einheimischen
_Brändies_, Weinen, _Gin_ [G. Wachholderbranntwein], feiner
Claret, _Scotch Ale, Fancy Liquors, Pine_ Apfel Syrup, _Cherry_
Wein und Kirschen _Brandy, Demijohns_ und _Bottel_n von allen
Gröszen.
Neue _Scale_ Pianoes, mit eisernen Gestellen, _overstrung Base_
und Agraffe _Bridge_. Ein schönes _Second Hand_ Piano.
Instrumenten zu groszen _Bärgen_ ... _Rotary Valve_[1] und _Side
Action_[35] Instrumente [wind instruments].
Eisen-_Store_ [Eisen-_Stohr_, Hartewaaren, _Hard_waaren,
Eisenwaaren] Küchen _Ränges;_ Extra _Grätes; Furnäces;
Bar-Room_-Oefen; _Air-Tight_ und alle Sorten _Parlor_ Oefen;
_Heating_-Oefen [also Heiz-Oefen]; _Brilliant_ Gas _Burner;_
tragbare _Heaters_, und Gasbrenner; Feuer-_bricks;_ Springs;
ge_forged_ und gerolltes eisen; _Schäfting; Safes;_ Meisel
[properly meiszeln] in _Setts; Razor Straps_ und _Hones; pullys;
Carving_messer, _Butscher_messer_; Varnisch_ [for Firniss]; Neues
Kohlen_screen; Boiler_ von allen Sorten; _Brasz_arbeit;
Kaffeemühlen ... verschiedene Haushaltgeräthschaften ... welche
_Retail_ oder _Wholesale_ zu den billigsten Preisen verkauft
werden ... Sie garantiren völlige Satisfaction.
Porzellan-Waaren _Stohr: Queens_waaren; _Dinner Sets; Toilet Sets;
Toy_ Thee _Sets; Chamber Sets;_ Schüszeln mit Deckel; _Bowl_en
(Bowls) aller Arten; _Pitchers_ aller Arten; Suppen _Tureens_ ...
all die letzten _Styles_ [Styl is also in use]. Ein groszer
Vorrath _Waiters_ und Thee-_Trays_ ... Haus-_Furnisching_ Waaren
... Vasen ... _Chimney Tops_.
Schuh_store_: _India-Rubber, Lasting_ und _Button_ Schuhe; hoch
_polisch Gaiters_ für frauen ... _Kid_ Schuhe ... _Schlippers_.
Juwellen, _Watsch_en und Uhren auf Hand [also 'an Hand' for
vorräthig]; _Watsch_en in goldenen und silbernen _Cäs_en [another
has _Repeating_-Taschenuhr, for Repetiruhr]; _Watsch_en-ketten;
Damen goldene _Bräcelet Setts; Studs; Sleeve_knöpfe; Messern [for
Messer].
Möbel-Waarenlager: Auswahl aller Arten Möbel ... _Bureaus_ [also
Burös, Buros, Büros]; _Sideboards_ [_Seidbord, Desk_];
_Dining_-Tische; _Lounges; Settees;_ [also _Setties_]; _Wardrobes_
[also Garderobe-Artikel, and Kleiderschrank, the proper term].
_Cäne_sitz Stühle; Fenster-blenden [and _Blinds_]; _What-Nots;_
Spiegel mit Gold-_Främs; Spring_betten ... _Parlor, Chamber,_ und
Küchen Möbeln ... und alle andern Artikel welche in Möbel-_Stohrs_
zu finden sind.
Bauholzhof [others have _Lumber-yard_ and Bretterhof] ... Alle
Sorten von Bauholz wohl ge_seasonet_ [also vollkommen
ausgetrocknet]; Wetter_boarding;_ Weisz_pein_ [for Fichte] und
_Hemlock_ [for Tanne] _Joists_ und _Scäntling_ [another has
_Hardwood Skäntling_] jeder Grösze; _Bill-Stuffs; Fenz_stoffen
[for pl. stoffe, others have _Fensing_ and _Fens_pfosten];
_Flooring_ [also Flurbretter]; _Panel Lumber; Poplarboards_ [also
Pappel]; _Pickets_ [also _Pälings,_ both for Pfähle] von allen
längen.
Buchdruckerei ... _Job_ Schriften; Programms; Circulars;
_Tickets;_ Karten; _Blänks; Handbills;_ Pamphlete; _Billheads;_
... an seinem alten _Ständ_.
Oeffentliche _Vendu_ [and Vendue--"_Vendue Creier_ und
Auktionär."] ... Eine Bauerie [also _Farm_, and _Plantasche_] zu
verkaufen ... 110 Acker, 70 ge_klart_ [and ge_klärt_] gelegen in
_Londonderry Taunschip, Lebanon_ [often Libanon] _County,_ an der
Strasze führend vom Palmyra _Landing_-Platze nach der _Jonestaun
Road_, grenzend an den _Lebanon Valley_ Riegelweg [and Rigelweg--a
verbal translation of Railway. Others have--"Es grenzt an die
Libanon Valley _Rail Road_," and "Libanon Thal Eisenbahn."] 2
meilen vom _Stockyard_ [location for cattle]. Die Verbesserungen
sind ein groszes _wedder_ge_bordet_es [Eng. weather-boarded;
another has "_Främ_ Haus wettergebordet"] _Främ_haus
[_Frähm_scheuer, _Bank_scheuer, _Frame_-Arbeit_shop_] neu tapezirt
[papered] ... mit fünf Stuben auf dem zweiten _Floor; Garret_
[others have Dachstube, and Dachzimmer] Küche und Keller. Eine
Cisterne [also _Cistern_] mit 33 _Hogsheads;_ Kohlen_bin_ unter
dem _pävement_ ... Eine Bau_lotte_ [building lot of ground] 50
Fusz _front_ [also--die _Fronte_, and _front_irend.]
Schmied_schap_ [Wagen_schopp_en]; Wagen_sched_ [zwei
Wagen_schäd_e] mit _Cribs_ [and Krippen, Welschkorn_krieb_,
Korn_kribbe_, Korn_kribb_]; _Log_scheuer [also Block-Wohnhaus,
_Logfräme_haus, blöckernes Haus]; mit Stein _Basement_ [another
has "Stallhoch Steinmauer"--the height of the stables of stone].
Das Land ist vom besten _Gravel_ [also _Gravel_-Land, _Flint_,
Kalkstein, Kalchstein, Feuerstein], und unter guten _Fenz_en [and
_Fens_en, alles unter _Fenz_, gut einge_fenzt_].--Laufendes Wasser
geht durch den Scheuerhof [also Scheuer_yard_]. Es ist bequem zu
Post_office_n, Kirchen, Schulen, Mühlen, _Stohr_es, und
Handwerkern.
Ein 6-jähriger brauner Gaul; ... ein junges _Bay_pferd; ein
_Sorrel_pferd; ein _Fallingtop-Buggy;_ ein _Rockaway;_ ein
_Spring_wagen [_huckster_wagen]; ein _Stohr_wagen mit drei
_Springs;_ eine _Sweep Power_ Dreschmaschine; eine _Set
Stäge_geschirr; _Yankie_geschirr; _Front_geschirre [for horses in
front]. Welschkorn_scheller_ [also Welschkornschäler,
Welschkorn_scräper_, Welschkornausmacher, hand_scheller_];
Schneid_box_; Wagen_box_ [and Wagen_body_]; _Molasses-Faktry;_
Mückengeschirre [Fliegen-Geschirre, Fliegennetze]; 1 _Lot Hausen's_
[housings for horses]; Windmühle, [translation of windmill, for
Kornschwinge]; 1 _Sink_ [kitchen sink-bench]; _Martingales_;
_Check_leinen; Cirkel-Säge [another has _Circular_säge] mit _Främ_
und _Sträp_.
Einige Pflanzgrundbeeren von _Prince Alberts_ Sorte.
FOOTNOTES:
[29] Mustersaal aller teutschen Mundarten, ... Bonn, 1822, vol.
2, p. 361. By a type error, _m_ of getscheumpt was omitted. See also Dr.
Mombert's History of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, 1869, p. 373.
[30] See note 1 on next page.
[31] Any place where liquor is retailed is called a saloon, and
in a certain town a cabin with a single room is labeled DON JUAN
WALLING'S SIGN EMPORIUM.
[32] 'You have _removed_' (your residence), but the third
person plural is not thus used in PG.
[33] G. ein gutes, but the Austrian extension _gūăt_ is
not PG.
[34] Neuter for feminine, as in Bavarian and Austrian.
[35] These four words are printed in Roman type.