PA German Dialect

Es Neinuhr Schtick

7-03-03

Ihr liewe Leit:

   Marrige feiere mer der Viert Yuli. In seim Buch Pennsylvania German Stories, kann mer en Reed lese ass der Salli Holsbock mol gewwe hot. Do sin en paar Linye:


   "Fellow Citizens: Des iss der groos Daag, der peedriadick Daag, der laut, leermisch, haerlich Viert Yuli. Hurree! Loss der Aadler greische. Heit, en hunnert un dreissich Yaahr zerrick, hen unser Vorgenger der aerscht aernschtlich Schritt genumme fer Freiheet in Amerigaa. Sie hen Notis gewwe ass alle Mann gebore iss mit etliche Recht, un debei sin Lewe, Freiheet un Haerlichkeet. Un sie hen's aa erhalde.

   "Wie die Englische ihre Recht unnerdricke hen welle, hen die alde Continentals em englishce Leeb sei batzich Schwensel schier vum Rickschtrang geroppt. Er hot geraast un gebrummt, awwer sie hen die Declaration of Independence iwwer sei tiroonisch Gfress neigschlaage dass er hinnersich uff der Batzel gschtatzt iss."

   Ya, do kennt mer denke ass em Holsbock sei Schpietsch graad wie en zimmlich nadierlichi Reed fer der Viert Yuli scheint, gell? Lest mol weider!

   "Freiheets Land! Wu die groosse Fisch die gleene Fisch fresse un die gleene Fisch gleiche der Gschpass. Wu die groosse 'Tschentelleit' ihre lange Finger in der pablick Drescherri duhn un gehne frei. Wu mer en Certificate fer en guder Karrackder grickt wann mer par Millyon Daaler vun annre Leit ihre Geld nemmt, un grickt drei Yaahr im ' Jug" fer Hinkel schtehle. Wu en hunnert dausent-dausent Acker goldner Weeze, Hawwer un Kann der Schpeckeleeders ihre Aage schier verblenne, un en hunnert dausent hilflos aarreme Leit verhungere fer Brot. Wu der Bauer schwitzt in der Hitz en rechtschaffe Lewe zu fiehre un sei Take bezaahle, un die mechdiche Corporations schinne der Landsmann wuewwer sie kenne, schweere falsch zu ihre Taxe un bezaahle kenni wann sie net misse.

   "Wu, o wu, sin die Peedriats heit? Wu sin die schtandhafde Menner wie die unschtarrebliche Vorvedder wu des Land gegrindt hen. Sin sell die Peedriats wu net aehrlich sei kenne in public Office? Sin sell Peedriats wu en Eid nemme vor Gott fer ihre Flicht aehrlich un uffrichdich zu duh, un schtehle schier alles ass sie lange kenne vor Sunn-unner? Sin sell Peedriats wu darrich alle Drick, bei grumme Wege un verschtohlneweis es Vordeel un Iwwerhand nemme in Bisness?

   "Los yeder Mann antwadde fer sich selwer, doch iss es schicklich dass uff en Daag wie des sett mer die Sache aernstlich bedenke. Unsere liewe Voreldre hen uns en gross, reich Land vermacht. Los uns uff ken Weg so en grooss, so en lieb, so en siess Aerbschaft misbrauche. Loss uns menschlich sei, luschdich un haerlich, awwer immer peedriatick."

Macht's gut,
Der Alt Professer

Dear people:

   Tomorrow we will be celebrating the Fourth of July. In his book Pennsylvania German Stories, one can read a speech that Solly Hulsbuck once gave. Here are a few lines:

   "Fellow citizens: This is the great day, the patriotic day, the loud, noisy, glorious July Fourth. Hurray! Let the eagle scream. Today, a hundred and thirty years ago (many more today, of course/ed.) our forefathers took the first earnest steps for freedom in America. They gave notice that all people are born with various rights, and among them are life, freedom and happiness/jollity. And they preserved it.

   "When the English wanted to suppress their rights, the old continentals almost tore the English lion's saucy tail from his spine. He raved and ranted, but they slammed the Declaration of Independence into his tyrannical ugly face so that he fell backwards onto his backside."

   Yes, one could think that Hulsbuck's speech seems to be just like the rather natural oration for the Fourth of July, right? Just read on!

   "Freedom's land! Where the big fish eat the little fish and the little fish like the fun. Where the 'gentlepeople' put their long fingers into the public treasury and go free. Where one gets a certificate for having good character when you take a few millions of dollars of other people's money, but you get three years in the 'jug' for stealing chickens. Where a hundred thousand thousand acres of golden wheat, oats and rye almost blind the speculators' eyes, and a hundred thousand helpless poor people are starving for lack of bread. Where the farmer sweats in the heat to lead an honest life an pay his taxes, and the mighty corporations oppress their fellow countryman wherever they can, swear falsely about their taxes and don't pay any at all if they don't have to.

   "Where, oh where are the patriots today? Where are the steadfast people like the immortal forefathers that founded this land. Are they patriots who can't be honest in public office? Are they patriots who take an oath before God to do their duty honestly and uprightly, and then steal almost everything they can get their hands on before sundown? Are they patriots who be means of all kinds of tricks, by crooked means clandestinely take advantage and the upper hand in business?

   "Let every person answer for himself, but it is suitable that on a day such as this we should consider these things earnestly. Our forefathers bequeathed to us a large, rich country. Let us in no way misuse such a large, such a dear, such a sweet inheritance. Let us be humane, happy and jolly, but always patriotic.

Take care,
The Old Professor

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updated 3-15-2007 paf