|
The Pennsylvania Dutch (''Pennsilfaanisch Deitsch'') are a cultural group formed by early German-speaking immigrants to Pennsylvania and their descendants. This early wave of settlers, which would eventually coalesce to form the Pennsylvania Dutch, began in the late 17th century and concluded in the late 18th century. The majority of these immigrants originated in what is today southwestern Germany, i.e., Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Württemberg; other prominent groups were Alsatians, Swiss, and Huguenots (French Protestants). Historically they have spoken the dialect of German known as Pennsylvania German or Pennsylvania Dutch. In this context, the word "Dutch" does not refer to the Dutch people or their descendants, but to ''Deutsch'' (German). The first major emigration of Germans to America resulted in the founding of the Borough of Germantown in northwest Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania on October 6, 1683. Mass emigration of Palatines began out of Germany in the early 18th century from areas along the Rhine River. The Pennsylvania Dutch maintained numerous religious affiliations, with the greatest number being Lutheran or Reformed, but many Anabaptists as well. The Anabaptist religions promoted a simple lifestyle and their adherents were known as Plain people or Plain Dutch. This was in contrast to the Fancy Dutch, who tended to assimilate more easily into the American mainstream. Over time, the various dialects spoken by these immigrants fused into a unique dialect known as Pennsylvania German or Pennsylvania "Dutch" (Deutsch). At one time, more than one-third of Pennsylvania's population spoke this language, which also had an effect on the local dialect of English. After the Second World War, use of Pennsylvania German died out in favor of English, except among the more insular and tradition-bound Anabaptists, such as the Old Order Mennonite and Old Order Amish. A number of German cultural practices continue to this day, and German Americans remain the largest ancestry group claimed in Pennsylvania by people in the census. ==Etymology== Pennsylvania Dutch is most likely a corruption of the endonym ''Deitsch'', which is a local variant of the modern German endonym ''Deutsch'', meaning ''German''. The word "Dutch" and "Deutsch" share the same origin and similar pronunciation.〔The Pennsylvania Dutch Country, by I. Richman, 2004: "Taking the name Pennsylvania Dutch from a corruption of their own word for themselves, "Deutsch," the first German settlers arrived in Pennsylvania in 1683. By the time of the American Revolution, their influence was such that Benjamin Franklin, among others, worried that German would become the commonwealth's official language."〕〔Moon Spotlight Pennsylvania Dutch Country, by A. Dubrovsk, 2004.〕〔Pennsylvania Dutch Alphabet, by C. Williamson. 〕〔Pennsylvania Dutch: A Dialect of South German with an Infusion of English, by S. Stehman, 1872.〕〔Powwowing Among the Pennsylvania Dutch, by David W. Kriebe, 2007.〕〔The Pennsylvania Journey, by J.A. Davis, 2005.〕 During the Middle Ages the use of "Dutch" in English referred to West Germanic speakers of continental Europe in general. From c. 1600 onward it was mainly restricted to the inhabitants of the Low Countries.〔(Etymology of Pennsylvania Dutch )〕〔(www.etymonline.com ) (English) and ''Etymologisch Woordenboek van het Nederlands'' (Dutch) entries "''Dutch''" and ''"Diets"''.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Pennsylvania Dutch」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|