Language Variation: Monroe County, PA

Language Variation: Language Variation: Monroe County, PAMonroe County, PA


HistoryHistory


HistoryHistory– Monroe County was formed in 1834 Monroe County was formed in 1834

from a region of Northampton County. from a region of Northampton County. It was largely geographically isolated It was largely geographically isolated until the 1960’s with the completion until the 1960’s with the completion of Route 80.of Route 80.


HistoryHistory– Monroe County was formed in 1834 Monroe County was formed in 1834

from a region of Northampton County. from a region of Northampton County. It was largely geographically isolated It was largely geographically isolated until the 1960’s with the completion until the 1960’s with the completion of Route 80.of Route 80.

– From the mid 19th century until appx From the mid 19th century until appx 1970, the population remained 1970, the population remained constant, around 30,000constant, around 30,000


EthnographyEthnography


EthnographyEthnography– Monroe County was orginally settled Monroe County was orginally settled

largely by Dutch, French, English and largely by Dutch, French, English and Germans. The Dutch left little or no Germans. The Dutch left little or no impact on the area, aside from family impact on the area, aside from family names, the French likewise. The area names, the French likewise. The area was mostly divided between English was mostly divided between English Quakers who lived in the main towns, Quakers who lived in the main towns, and German farmers in the countryside and German farmers in the countryside and small villages. and small villages.


EthnographyEthnography– Pennsylvanischer Duit and English Pennsylvanischer Duit and English

were the two main languages, divided were the two main languages, divided mostly along town and country lines.mostly along town and country lines.

– Today, there are still appx. 2,000-Today, there are still appx. 2,000-3,000 speakers of Pennsylvanischer 3,000 speakers of Pennsylvanischer Duit in the county. Duit in the county.


SociologySociology


SociologySociology– English was associated with town and English was associated with town and

skilled tradesmen, and with money skilled tradesmen, and with money and social mobilityand social mobility




– Duit was associated with rural life and Duit was associated with rural life and a lack of educationa lack of education




– Duit was associated with rural life and Duit was associated with rural life and a lack of educationa lack of education

– However, the English variation was However, the English variation was not “standard”not “standard”


Linguistic notesLinguistic notes


Linguistic notesLinguistic notes– Phonetics: little variation from Phonetics: little variation from

standard or other rural American standard or other rural American vernaculars of the Mid-Atlantic.vernaculars of the Mid-Atlantic.


Linguistic notesLinguistic notes– Phonetics: little variation from Phonetics: little variation from

standard or other rural American standard or other rural American vernaculars of the Mid-Atlantic.vernaculars of the Mid-Atlantic.

– Morphology: no special morphological Morphology: no special morphological traits, beyond “ing” being rendered traits, beyond “ing” being rendered “in’”“in’”


Linguistic notesLinguistic notes– Phonetics: little variation from standard Phonetics: little variation from standard

or other rural American vernaculars of or other rural American vernaculars of the Mid-Atlantic.the Mid-Atlantic.

– Morphology: no special morphological Morphology: no special morphological traits, beyong “ing” being rendered “in’”traits, beyong “ing” being rendered “in’”

– Syntax: some important archaic traits, Syntax: some important archaic traits, such as the archaic past participle: It such as the archaic past participle: It got stole, It was froze, etc.got stole, It was froze, etc.


Linguistic notesLinguistic notes– Syntax con’t.: ain’t is common Syntax con’t.: ain’t is common

contraction, and the verbs “be” and contraction, and the verbs “be” and “do” are simplified generally to the third “do” are simplified generally to the third person singular:person singular:

I amI am we arewe are I was I was we waswe was

you areyou are you wasyou was he ishe is they’s they’s he was he was

they wasthey was


Linguistic notesLinguistic notes– SemanticsSemantics


Linguistic notesLinguistic notes– Semantics - significant variation from Semantics - significant variation from

“standard”.“standard”.



“standard”.“standard”.– Ethnographic: corner-cupboard, crumb Ethnographic: corner-cupboard, crumb

pie, flagstone, overtown, on the pie, flagstone, overtown, on the Mountain, sticky buns, pigbearsMountain, sticky buns, pigbears



“standard”.“standard”.– Ethnographic: corner-cupboard, crumb Ethnographic: corner-cupboard, crumb

pie, flagstone, overtown, on the pie, flagstone, overtown, on the Mountain, sticky buns, pigbearsMountain, sticky buns, pigbears

– archaicism: icebox, sweeper, overalls, archaicism: icebox, sweeper, overalls, lightbill, davenportlightbill, davenport



“standard”.“standard”.– Social: cutterman, hardy (vernacular Social: cutterman, hardy (vernacular

is particularly punctuated with is particularly punctuated with expletives, esp. among men)expletives, esp. among men)



“standard”.“standard”.– Social: cutterman, hardy (vernacular Social: cutterman, hardy (vernacular

is particularly punctuated with is particularly punctuated with expletives, esp. among men)expletives, esp. among men)

– Idiomatic: visit my aunt, fried farts Idiomatic: visit my aunt, fried farts and pickled assholes.and pickled assholes.



“standard”.“standard”.– Social: cutterman, hardy (vernacular is Social: cutterman, hardy (vernacular is

particularly punctuated with expletives, particularly punctuated with expletives, esp. among men)esp. among men)

– Idiomatic: visit my aunt, fried farts and Idiomatic: visit my aunt, fried farts and pickled assholes.pickled assholes.

– Borrowing: fassnacht, allBorrowing: fassnacht, all



“standard”.“standard”.– Social: cutterman, hardy (vernacular is Social: cutterman, hardy (vernacular is

particularly punctuated with expletives, esp. particularly punctuated with expletives, esp. among men)among men)

– Idiomatic: visit my aunt, fried farts and Idiomatic: visit my aunt, fried farts and pickled assholes.pickled assholes.

– Borrowing: fassnacht, allBorrowing: fassnacht, all– Restriction: “go” is very limited in use.Restriction: “go” is very limited in use.

Documents

Language Variation: Monroe County, PA