When I was a kid growing up in Reading, Pennsylvania, my parents used to say things like "outen the lights" and "redd up your room" and "quit "rootchin' around." I never thought anything of it; we all said stuff like that. I learned later those were "Pennsylvania Dutch" sayings--not everyone in the world knew what they meant!
The "Dutch" is actually "Deutsch" meaning a form of German used by the Amish and Mennonites who came to Pennsylvania from Switzerland and Germany back in the 1600s to avoid religious persecution. I'll save the history for another blog post.
Back to the Pennsylvania Dutch sayings, which are a far cry from the pure form of the language used by the Amish of Lancaster County. Many of the people who reside in Lancaster, Lebanon, Berks, and Adams Counties in Pennsylvania use distinct phrases to some extent--some more than others. And if you travel to that area of the country, you'll notice the more often you hear those strange phrases, the more often you'll hear a strong "Pennsylvania Dutch" accent. I'll share a few of my favorites from a little gem of a booklet I own titled My English is Ferhoodled Yet.
First, let me translate: "outen the lights" means to turn off the lights. Isn't it obvious? :) "redd up your room" means to clean your room. And "quit rootchin' around" is just to tell us kids to quit our squirming. My family used only a few of the "Dutch" sayings--some of my friends said many more. Here are some examples from the booklet: "The pie is all but the cake is yet." - "Make with a smile for onc't." - "Aunt Sadies corns ouch her something wonderful." - "Look the window out, und see who's coming the lane in." - Yonnie go out and spritz the flowers onc't." - "We've no time to dopple."
I'll be back later with more about Pennsylvania and the PA Dutch. May all your bridges be covered ones!
Comments