The approach of this paper is it to present the Mennonite Low German dialect and to develop an easily intelligible orthography for the mentioned dialect. In the first point the roots of the Low German dialect under examination are highlighted and it is shown that it belongs to the same family as the English language. Both varieties belong to the Indo-European languages or, more precisely, to its West-Germanic branch. Then, point two explains where the term Mennonite Low German comes from by unrolling the history of the Mennonites, their moves and their linguistic history. In terms of definition there is a further question that has to be tackled, namely whether Mennonite Low German is a language or a dialect. This question will be discussed in point three, bearing in mind the four criteria Petyt names to decide whether a variety is a language or a dialect.
After having explained and linguistically discussed the term Mennonite Low German, I present my grandmother’s short story and use it to develop Mennonite Low German orthography, which will be expounded in the fifth paragraph. The mentioned paragraph is subdivided into four points, of which the first one discusses Mennonite Low German orthography, its tries and problems. As most of the Mennonite Low German speakers are familiar with High German (but not with other Low German dialects), the Mennonite Low German orthography presented in this paper will follow several characteristics of German orthography, when considered as useful. Moreover, a short sketch of Mennonite Low German phonology and morphology will be provided in the following subparagraph in order to round off the topic. A short overview of the variations of the dialect under examination can be found in point 5.3; namely the Molotschna and the Old Colony accents. The last subparagraph deals with Mennonite Low German loan words and recent word formation. This variety contains several loan words that come from Dutch, Russian or German, for example. Paragraph number six explains the death of a former Lingua Franca, which Low German had been at the time of the Hanseatic League. The decline of Low German might also explain the underestimation of its dialect Mennonite Low German.
Table of Contents
I Introduction
II A Mennonite Low German Short Story
1. Mennonite Low German and English: Members of the Same Family
2. Who are the Mennonites and what is Mennonite Low German?
3. Language or dialect?
4. A Short Story from my Grandmother
5. Mennonite Low German Orthography
5.1 Discussing Mennonite Low German Orthography, its Tries and Problems
5.2 Phonology & Morphology
5.3 Varieties of Mennonite Low German
5.4 Loan Words
6. The Death of a Former Lingua Franca
Research Objective and Core Topics
The primary objective of this paper is to explore the linguistic identity of the Mennonite Low German (MenLG) dialect and to propose a practical, easily intelligible orthography for a language that has historically remained largely oral. The study addresses the challenges of standardizing a vernacular that lacks formal documentation and investigates its complex classification relative to other Low German varieties.
- Linguistic roots and the historical kinship between Low German and English.
- The migration history of Mennonites and the development of "Plautdietsch".
- Evaluation of criteria defining MenLG as either a distinct language or a dialect.
- Development of phonetic spelling guidelines based on existing Mennonite usage and High German influences.
- Phonological and morphological analysis of MenLG, including the impact of loan words.
Excerpt from the Book
4. A Short Story from my Grandmother
Due to the fact that MenLG used to be only a spoken but not a written ‘language’, stories or tales were usually transmitted orally from one generation to the next. More often than not was story-telling the job of grandmothers, hence my grandmother agreed to tell a story that was recorded and will now be presented in this paper. Before doing so, two more characteristics of MenLG stories – beside the oral criterion – have to be mentioned. As it also becomes evident in my grandmother’s story, MenLG tales are in the majority of cases highly influenced, or by Mennonite everyday life or/ and religion. The announced, now following story is based on true facts of my grandmother’s life.
Jo mine Schonje, etj woa di eune Jeschicht vetale von ‘n ölet poa Lied, doi ohl nich moja om lewen sent. Det sen mine Elaren. Min Vuda deu we vone 1902 en mine Mama vane 1909. Deu haben sich soja lieb jehot en gonzet Lewen, ema euna fem ondren dajewesen en acht Tjinja gröt jemoakt. Doatö sitj sö dankboa, dot wi söne scheune Femilje haben, kon etj goa nich jenuch fea danken.
Summary of Chapters
I Introduction: This chapter outlines the motivation for the study, focusing on the lack of a standardized orthography for the Mennonite Low German dialect.
II A Mennonite Low German Short Story: This section covers the linguistic roots of MenLG, its relationship to other Germanic languages, and the history of the Mennonites.
1. Mennonite Low German and English: Members of the Same Family: This chapter establishes the West-Germanic lineage shared by Low German and English.
2. Who are the Mennonites and what is Mennonite Low German?: This chapter traces the religious origins of the Mennonites and describes the emergence of "Plautdietsch" as an ethno-religious vernacular.
3. Language or dialect?: This chapter applies dialectological criteria to discuss whether MenLG qualifies as a distinct language or a dialect of Low German.
4. A Short Story from my Grandmother: This chapter presents an oral account from the author's grandmother to serve as a practical basis for orthographic analysis.
5. Mennonite Low German Orthography: This chapter details the author's proposal for an intuitive, phonetic writing system for the dialect.
5.1 Discussing Mennonite Low German Orthography, its Tries and Problems: This chapter addresses the specific challenges faced when documenting a language without established writing standards.
5.2 Phonology & Morphology: This chapter provides a structural sketch of the MenLG sound system and word formation patterns.
5.3 Varieties of Mennonite Low German: This chapter distinguishes between different accents such as Old Colony and Molotschna.
5.4 Loan Words: This chapter examines how MenLG incorporates vocabulary from Russian, Dutch, and German.
6. The Death of a Former Lingua Franca: This chapter analyzes the historical decline of Low German following the decline of the Hanseatic League.
III Conclusion: This chapter summarizes the findings and highlights the role of community in preserving the language despite its lack of a formal home.
Keywords
Mennonite Low German, Plautdietsch, Orthography, Dialectology, West-Germanic, Linguistic identity, Hanseatic League, Phonology, Morphology, Language documentation, Mennonites, Loan words, Cultural identity, Language preservation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The work primarily focuses on the linguistic analysis of the Mennonite Low German dialect and the development of an accessible, phonetic orthography for its speakers.
Which central themes are discussed?
The paper covers the historical roots of the dialect, the migration patterns of Mennonites, the linguistic classification of the language, and the influence of other contact languages like Russian and High German.
What is the primary research question?
The research seeks to solve the lack of a practical writing system for Mennonite Low German, considering it as a vernacular that has traditionally relied on oral tradition.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The author uses a descriptive linguistic approach, drawing on historical records, dialectology criteria (specifically Petyt's), and a case study based on an oral story recorded from her grandmother.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body examines the genealogy of the language, the history of the Mennonite people, the structural characteristics of the dialect, and the historical loss of status of Low German in Europe.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include "Mennonite Low German," "Plautdietsch," "orthography," "dialectology," and "language preservation."
Why is an official orthography currently missing for MenLG?
Historically, the Mennonites were a peripatetic group focused on survival and agricultural life, which prioritized oral tradition over written literature; additionally, the dialect was not formally institutionalized.
How does the author categorize MenLG in terms of its classification?
The author concludes, based on the academic consensus cited, that MenLG is best defined as a dialect of Low German, despite the strong sentiment among speakers that it functions as a distinct language.
What significance does the "grandmother’s story" have?
It serves as a primary source document, providing a tangible example of the dialect in practice, which allowed the author to test her proposed phonetic spelling guidelines.
- Quote paper
- Swetlana Braun (Author), 2007, A Mennonite Low German Short Story, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/91792
