Language Resources

Curious about Pennsylvania Dutch and Amish Swiss German?

Pennsylvania Dutch

Learning Pennsylvania Dutch

  • PA Dutch 101 - beginner-friendly lessons and explanations for Pennsylvania Dutch learners.
  • Berks History Center PA Dutch classes - online and community-based Pennsylvania Dutch classes.
  • Deitsh Books - books, teaching materials, and language resources for readers and learners of Pennsylvania Dutch.
  • learn-dutch.org - lessons and learning materials for Pennsylvania Dutch, including vocabulary and grammar support.

Textbooks

These use a German-based writing system.

Amish Swiss German

  • Who Are the Swiss Amish? - an overview of Swiss Amish history, settlement, and distinct customs.
  • Swiss Amish overview - a quick reference point for the Swiss Amish as a group, including settlement history and cultural distinctions.
  • Bernese German overview - useful context for one of the Swiss German dialect areas connected to some Swiss Amish language traditions.