Low German
Low German has no connection to the Mennonite belief system, but plays a tremendous role in identity and sense of belonging. It is a prominent skill which opens doors to being seen as a true Mennonite by others on the inside of Mennonite circles. Although Low German is not taught in schools today, and has no firm and fast grammatical rules as a result, it is still spoken by an estimated seven million people worldwide. Naturally, this includes many variations of Low German, but they all originate from the original Low German. The original Low German was once spoken throughout the greatest industrial centers of Europe. Numerous peoples of the Netherlands and Northern Germany still speak a variation of Low German today.
The English, German, and Low German languages all originate out of the same ancient Saxon language, the roots of which begin in the North Sea regions of Germany. Many Anglo and Saxon people spoke Old Saxon in the fifth century. They overtook the areas of Great Britain that we know as England today, which influenced the Old Saxon language, developing it into Old English, Middle English and Modern English in the next few centuries. On the Germanic continent, Old Saxon developed in similar ways to become Old Low German, Middle Low German and Modern Low German. As a result, Low German and English are sister languages, with Low German being the elder of the two.
The use of Low German climaxed in the days of the Hanseatic League, a united commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds in the major cities of northern Europe. The Hanseatic League was established in the 12th century. Low German was the most important and well known international language of Europe during this era. The League even stationed a Low German workforce in cities such as London, Bergen and Novgorod for the benefit of company interests, resulting in Low German being the language of commerce and industry in foreign cities as well as at home. The German Hanse was so powerful that Low German became the standardized language of all business throughout Hanseatic cities. In fact, even their written city laws and historical and religious documentation was recorded in Low German. In the mid 14th century Low German had ousted Latin in regards to its usage throughout large cities of northern Europe.
Most Mennonites originally came from Northern Europe. Many of them spoke not only Low German, but also Dutch. In the 16th century, when the Mennonites resettled from the Dreier Friesland regions to the Vistula river delta in Prussia, the Prussians spoke a Low German dialect that was very similar to that of the Mennonites. Thus, they adopted much of their neighbours’ Low German and mixed it with their own, which is why the Mennonites’ Low German dialect varies from that of any other people group.
The English, German, and Low German languages all originate out of the same ancient Saxon language, the roots of which begin in the North Sea regions of Germany. Many Anglo and Saxon people spoke Old Saxon in the fifth century. They overtook the areas of Great Britain that we know as England today, which influenced the Old Saxon language, developing it into Old English, Middle English and Modern English in the next few centuries. On the Germanic continent, Old Saxon developed in similar ways to become Old Low German, Middle Low German and Modern Low German. As a result, Low German and English are sister languages, with Low German being the elder of the two.
The use of Low German climaxed in the days of the Hanseatic League, a united commercial and defensive confederation of merchant guilds in the major cities of northern Europe. The Hanseatic League was established in the 12th century. Low German was the most important and well known international language of Europe during this era. The League even stationed a Low German workforce in cities such as London, Bergen and Novgorod for the benefit of company interests, resulting in Low German being the language of commerce and industry in foreign cities as well as at home. The German Hanse was so powerful that Low German became the standardized language of all business throughout Hanseatic cities. In fact, even their written city laws and historical and religious documentation was recorded in Low German. In the mid 14th century Low German had ousted Latin in regards to its usage throughout large cities of northern Europe.
Most Mennonites originally came from Northern Europe. Many of them spoke not only Low German, but also Dutch. In the 16th century, when the Mennonites resettled from the Dreier Friesland regions to the Vistula river delta in Prussia, the Prussians spoke a Low German dialect that was very similar to that of the Mennonites. Thus, they adopted much of their neighbours’ Low German and mixed it with their own, which is why the Mennonites’ Low German dialect varies from that of any other people group.
Mighty as it was, the Hanseatic League collapsed in the 15th century under political and military threat. Southern Germany gained more and more influence upon German speaking Europe as a result, which helped to usher in standard German. Northern Germany lost its independence, pride and identity with the loss of its industrial success. Standard German advanced to the extent of northern Germans no longer being able to attain good positions in the work world without knowledge thereof. Although many people continued to speak their own dialects at home, the need of it in the work world resulted in the widespread adoption of standard German. The Reformation also contributed to the ease with which Low German was replaced. What is now known as standard German originated as a dialect in Germany. It was quite widely used in the time of Martin Luther, but translating the Bible into this particular dialect proved to be a clincher. A large percent of the European population were converted and joined Luther’s Reformation. With recognition of the new Bible, and the language in which it was written, occurring hand in hand, German came to be esteemed almost as highly as the Bible itself.
Luther encouraged Low German pastors to be stationed in Low German churches, but theology was taught in standard German and there was no Low German Bible, so services were increasingly preached in standard German. Since Low German, as a written language, was lost in the 15th century, standard German was adopted by the Mennonites as their written language. It took until the 18th century, however, before the majority of Mennonite churches had fully adopted standard German for their services. By the time the migration to Russia had begun between 1788 and 1789, the Dutch language was forgotten by most and only Low German and standard German were used. Although the Mennonites did not consider themselves to be German colonists, they called themselves “Germans” because of the language they spoke.
In the 1860’s, the Russian government demanded that the Mennonites teach their children Russian in school. They complied but German remained the main language of their education. Because the Mennonites wished to retain their own teachers in their schools, teachers were sent to teacher training institutions and universities in Russian and Western Europe. Although they learned German and Russian in school, the Mennonites continued to speak Low German in most other situations. This same mentality seems to prevail even today throughout the Low German communities, regardless of whether they live in Paraguay, Belize, Mexico or Canada. Seeing as how Low German has only recently been revived as a written language, most conservative Low German Mennonite churches continue to have their church services in the standard German language today. It is still the language that is taught in traditional (non-Canadian) Mennonite schools as well.
As the Mennonites migrated to various countries through the centuries, they always adopted bits of the languages they were exposed to and integrated them into their Low German vocabulary. Many Low German words are a spinoff of standard German. Others include Russian, Spanish and English. An estimated 300,000 people continue to speak Mennonite Low German today.
Luther encouraged Low German pastors to be stationed in Low German churches, but theology was taught in standard German and there was no Low German Bible, so services were increasingly preached in standard German. Since Low German, as a written language, was lost in the 15th century, standard German was adopted by the Mennonites as their written language. It took until the 18th century, however, before the majority of Mennonite churches had fully adopted standard German for their services. By the time the migration to Russia had begun between 1788 and 1789, the Dutch language was forgotten by most and only Low German and standard German were used. Although the Mennonites did not consider themselves to be German colonists, they called themselves “Germans” because of the language they spoke.
In the 1860’s, the Russian government demanded that the Mennonites teach their children Russian in school. They complied but German remained the main language of their education. Because the Mennonites wished to retain their own teachers in their schools, teachers were sent to teacher training institutions and universities in Russian and Western Europe. Although they learned German and Russian in school, the Mennonites continued to speak Low German in most other situations. This same mentality seems to prevail even today throughout the Low German communities, regardless of whether they live in Paraguay, Belize, Mexico or Canada. Seeing as how Low German has only recently been revived as a written language, most conservative Low German Mennonite churches continue to have their church services in the standard German language today. It is still the language that is taught in traditional (non-Canadian) Mennonite schools as well.
As the Mennonites migrated to various countries through the centuries, they always adopted bits of the languages they were exposed to and integrated them into their Low German vocabulary. Many Low German words are a spinoff of standard German. Others include Russian, Spanish and English. An estimated 300,000 people continue to speak Mennonite Low German today.
Language Similarities
Given their shared Saxon origin, English, German and Low German sometimes have profound similarities, although this occurs much less frequently with English. As an example of how similar, yet different, standard German and Low German are, I have written the 23rd Psalm in both languages below.
Standard German:
“Der HERR ist mein Hirte; mir wird nichts mangeln. Er weidet mich auf einer grünen Aue und führet mich zum frischen Wasser. Er erquicket meine Seele; er führet mich auf rechter Straβe um seines Namens willen. Und ob ich schon wanderte im finstern Tal, fürchte ich kein Unglück; denn du bist bei mir, dein Stecken und Stab trösten mich. Du bereitest vor mir einen Tisch im Angesicht meiner Feinde. Du salbest mein Haupt mit Ӧl und schenkest mir voll ein. Gutes und Barmherzigkeit werden mir folgen mein Leben lang, und ich werde bleiben im Hause des HERRN immerdar.“ Ubiläums Bibel, nach der Übersetzung Martin Luthers, (Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1981).
Low German:
„De HAR es mien Hoad; mie woat daut aun nuscht fälen. Hee brinjt mie opp de jreene Weid un lat mie bie freschet Wota reiwen. Hee jeft miene Seel niee Krauft. Hee leit mie opp jerajchte Wäaj om sien Nomen sient haulwen. Un wan ekj uk derch een diestret Tol go, fercht ekj kjeen Ojjlekj, wiels du best bie mie. Dien Stock un diene Stett sent mien Troost. Du moakst ver mie eenen Desch reed, soo daut miene Fiend daut seenen. Du jitst mie Eelj opp däm Kopp; mien Kuffel rant äwa. Secha woat diene truhoatje Leew met mie sennen soolang aus ekj läw, un ekj woa en dän HARN sien Hus bliewen fa emma.“ De Bibel, Plautdietsch, (Winnipeg: Kindred Productions, 2003).
A list of similar words in English, Low German and German:
English Low German German
alone* auleen* allein
bed* Bad* das Bett
butter* Botta* die Butter
cold* kolt* kalt
drink* drinkjen* trinken
earth* Ead* die Erde
finger* Finja* der Finger
good* goot gut
harvest* Hoawst* der Herbst
knee* Kjnee* das Knie
man* Maun* der Man
name* Nome* der Name
rust* Rost* der Rost
summer* Somma* der Sommer
thick* dickj* dick
young* jung* jung
An asterisks (*) indicates that the words were taken from: Epp, The Story of Low German & Plautdietsch, 42- 46.
Given their shared Saxon origin, English, German and Low German sometimes have profound similarities, although this occurs much less frequently with English. As an example of how similar, yet different, standard German and Low German are, I have written the 23rd Psalm in both languages below.
Standard German:
“Der HERR ist mein Hirte; mir wird nichts mangeln. Er weidet mich auf einer grünen Aue und führet mich zum frischen Wasser. Er erquicket meine Seele; er führet mich auf rechter Straβe um seines Namens willen. Und ob ich schon wanderte im finstern Tal, fürchte ich kein Unglück; denn du bist bei mir, dein Stecken und Stab trösten mich. Du bereitest vor mir einen Tisch im Angesicht meiner Feinde. Du salbest mein Haupt mit Ӧl und schenkest mir voll ein. Gutes und Barmherzigkeit werden mir folgen mein Leben lang, und ich werde bleiben im Hause des HERRN immerdar.“ Ubiläums Bibel, nach der Übersetzung Martin Luthers, (Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, 1981).
Low German:
„De HAR es mien Hoad; mie woat daut aun nuscht fälen. Hee brinjt mie opp de jreene Weid un lat mie bie freschet Wota reiwen. Hee jeft miene Seel niee Krauft. Hee leit mie opp jerajchte Wäaj om sien Nomen sient haulwen. Un wan ekj uk derch een diestret Tol go, fercht ekj kjeen Ojjlekj, wiels du best bie mie. Dien Stock un diene Stett sent mien Troost. Du moakst ver mie eenen Desch reed, soo daut miene Fiend daut seenen. Du jitst mie Eelj opp däm Kopp; mien Kuffel rant äwa. Secha woat diene truhoatje Leew met mie sennen soolang aus ekj läw, un ekj woa en dän HARN sien Hus bliewen fa emma.“ De Bibel, Plautdietsch, (Winnipeg: Kindred Productions, 2003).
A list of similar words in English, Low German and German:
English Low German German
alone* auleen* allein
bed* Bad* das Bett
butter* Botta* die Butter
cold* kolt* kalt
drink* drinkjen* trinken
earth* Ead* die Erde
finger* Finja* der Finger
good* goot gut
harvest* Hoawst* der Herbst
knee* Kjnee* das Knie
man* Maun* der Man
name* Nome* der Name
rust* Rost* der Rost
summer* Somma* der Sommer
thick* dickj* dick
young* jung* jung
An asterisks (*) indicates that the words were taken from: Epp, The Story of Low German & Plautdietsch, 42- 46.
Resources:
Reuben Epp, The Story of Low German & Plautdietsch (Hillsboro, KS: The Reader’s Press, 1993), xii, 2, 5-10, 17, 20-29, 40, 47, 73- 76, 86, 87, 93, 96, 104, 105.
Photos retrieved from:
https://www.facebook.com/EkjgleichPlautdietsch
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Extent_of_the_Hansa.jpg
Reuben Epp, The Story of Low German & Plautdietsch (Hillsboro, KS: The Reader’s Press, 1993), xii, 2, 5-10, 17, 20-29, 40, 47, 73- 76, 86, 87, 93, 96, 104, 105.
Photos retrieved from:
https://www.facebook.com/EkjgleichPlautdietsch
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Extent_of_the_Hansa.jpg