Our Amish Language
The Evolution of Our Amish Tongue
By Eythana Miller
Even after leaving the fold, there are specific linguistic fingerprints—small habits and vocal tics—that immediately identify someone as formerly Amish.
For instance, I recall the conscious effort I made to shift my pronunciation of the word "seven." I had to train myself to say s e ven instead of the traditional s a ven. Even now, the memory of that word lingers; it once felt slow and sloping on my tongue, a stark contrast to the quick and peaked delivery used by the hooche Leit (the non-Amish).
These phonetic quirks, along with specific vocabulary, remain as "tells" long after a person's accent has blended into a general American tone and their traditional garb has been replaced by plain bonnets and suspenders jeans and T-shirts.
Beyond the Voice
The markers of identity aren't limited to speech; they exist in the very way a person carries themselves.
"I could be at a bus station anywhere in the United States and I can pick out an Amish person who’s not wearing Amish clothing," remarked Benjamin, my first cousin once removed's husband.
The Libby Community: A Study in Transition
The journey of my family began in the mid-18th century when my ancestor, Samuel Mueller, moved to Pennsylvania. Fast forward to 1992, and my father's side of the family established a new settlement in Libby, located in Northwest Montana.
While the primary language remained Pennsylvania Dutch, the Libby community was designed to be a hybrid: traditionally Amish in structure, but spiritually flexible. This openness allowed for:
- Prophesying
- Speaking in tongues
- Dancing during worship services
The Path to Modernization
Initially, the community intended to maintain its strict traditionalism. However, as theological views evolved, the link between outward appearance and the state of one's soul began to weaken. It became increasingly difficult to justify the rejection of:
- Modern Conveniences:
- Contemporary Clothing:
Because the entire community was modernizing at various speeds, the usual threats of public rebuke or total ostracization were largely absent. This led to a fragmented evolution:
The Shift in Attire
The transition in dress happened incrementally. For men, the change was subtle—switching to jeans and different button-down shirts. For women, the process was more complex:
| Group | Clothing Evolution |
|---|---|
| Traditionalists | Continued sewing dresses but added color or new silhouettes. |
| Moderates | Adopted store-bought blouses with floor-length skirts. |
| The Author |
The Linguistic Fade
By the time I was born in 2000, English was becoming a staple in Libby. Our interaction with the hooche Leit increased through:
- Faith: Local non-Amish religious leaders provided spiritual guidance.
- Commerce: Running the family grocery store forced us to communicate with English-only customers.
- Media: A VCR and a small collection of DVDs were passed secretly between families. (I remember the terror of watching The Passion of the Christ from behind a couch).
Consequently, I became bilingual, acquiring English naturally before I even realized I was learning.
The Impact of Intermarriage
In 2008, the first youth in Libby married a non-Pennsylvania Dutch speaker. My own brother married his non-Amish partner in 2016. During family gatherings, the conversation would often accelerate into Deitsch (the native name for our language), leaving the non-Amish spouses on the periphery. I often acted as a bridge, whispering translations to help them navigate the social tone.
Today, English is the dominant language in most of our family spaces.
Preserving the Legacy
While studying at UC Berkeley in California, I became captivated by this transition. I realized that traditional Amish beliefs—which forbid "graven images" (photography and video)—mean there are very few recordings of native speakers.
To combat this loss, I applied for a grant to launch an oral history project.
Project Goals:
- Interview approximately 30 community members.
- Record video testimonies of the linguistic shift.
- Create a repository of evolving culture and language.
{
"project": "Libby Oral History",
"subject": "Pennsylvania Dutch Transition",
"method": "Video Interviews",
"goal": "Cultural Preservation"
}
The time elapsed since Samuel Mueller's arrival can be expressed as:
