Barossa German
Encyclopedia
Barossa German refers to a dialect
of German
, which was once common in South Australia
. The prominent South Australian writer, Colin Thiele
(1920–2006), whose grandparents were German immigrants, referred to "Barossa Deutsch" as: "that quaintly inbred and hybrid language evolved from a century of linguistic isolation". It takes its name from the Barossa Valley
, where many German people settled during the 19th century. Some words from Barossa German have entered South Australian English
.
began in 1838. German was first spoken in the Barossa Valley in the 1840s, when German Lutheran settlers from Prussia
arrived in the area.
Use of the German language in Australia declined as a result of World War I
. Even though many German Australian
s enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force
and fought against Germany, many others were interned
, and immigration by German people was officially banned between 1914 and 1925. In addition, the German language was actively suppressed by the Australian government during the war. For example, many placenames with German origins were changed
. Lutheran schools were closed and were re-opened as state schools teaching in English.http://www.southaustralianhistory.com.au/lutheran.htm
There is some evidence that Barossa German was the first language
of some people in South Australia until the late 20th century. For example, Colin Thiele claimed to have spoken nothing but German until he went to school.
and Silesia
, Barossa German is classifiable as a Central German
dialect – a sub-group of the High German
(German: Hochdeutsch)' ' dialects.
It is closer to standard German than analogous dialects spoken by German diaspora communities around the world, such as the Pennsylvania Dutch
German-language dialect spoken in the United States
.
The vocabulary of Barossa German includes some words from South Australian English, which is a local variant of Australian English
.
One such local word with German origins is "butcher", the name given to a 200 ml
(7 fl.oz.
) beer glass, which is believed to be derived from the German becher, meaning a cup or mug.
The Barossa is also home to kegel
, a variety of nine-pin bowling
, which takes place on indoor lanes (Kegelbahn), and is based on traditional German games similar to alley skittles
. The Barossa town of Tanunda
still features the Tanunda Kegel Club, founded in 1858.
Dialect
The term dialect is used in two distinct ways, even by linguists. One usage refers to a variety of a language that is a characteristic of a particular group of the language's speakers. The term is applied most often to regional speech patterns, but a dialect may also be defined by other factors,...
of German
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
, which was once common in South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. The prominent South Australian writer, Colin Thiele
Colin Thiele
Colin Milton Thiele, AC was an Australian author and educator. He was renowned for his award-winning children's fiction, most notably the novels Storm Boy, Blue Fin, the Sun on the Stubble series, and February Dragon.- Biography :Thiele was born in Eudunda in South Australia to a Barossa German...
(1920–2006), whose grandparents were German immigrants, referred to "Barossa Deutsch" as: "that quaintly inbred and hybrid language evolved from a century of linguistic isolation". It takes its name from the Barossa Valley
Barossa Valley
The Barossa Valley is a major wine-producing region and tourist destination of South Australia, located 60 km northeast of Adelaide. It is the valley formed by the North Para River, and the Barossa Valley Way is the main road through the valley, connecting the main towns on the valley floor of...
, where many German people settled during the 19th century. Some words from Barossa German have entered South Australian English
South Australian English
South Australian English is the collective name given to the varieties of English spoken in the Australian state of South Australia. As with the other regional varieties within Australian English, these have distinctive vocabularies...
.
History
The first wave of German settlement in AustraliaGerman settlement in Australia
German settlement in Australia began in large numbers in 1838, with the arrival of immigrants from Prussia to Adelaide, South Australia. German immigrants became prominent in settling South Australia and Queensland...
began in 1838. German was first spoken in the Barossa Valley in the 1840s, when German Lutheran settlers from Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
arrived in the area.
Use of the German language in Australia declined as a result of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Even though many German Australian
German Australian
German religious refugees represented the first major wave of German settlement in Australia, arriving in South Australia in 1838. Some were active as missionaries and explorers in Australia from early in the 19th century, and German prospectors were well-represented in the 1850s gold rushes...
s enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force
First Australian Imperial Force
The First Australian Imperial Force was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during World War I. It was formed from 15 August 1914, following Britain's declaration of war on Germany. Generally known at the time as the AIF, it is today referred to as the 1st AIF to distinguish from...
and fought against Germany, many others were interned
Internment
Internment is the imprisonment or confinement of people, commonly in large groups, without trial. The Oxford English Dictionary gives the meaning as: "The action of 'interning'; confinement within the limits of a country or place." Most modern usage is about individuals, and there is a distinction...
, and immigration by German people was officially banned between 1914 and 1925. In addition, the German language was actively suppressed by the Australian government during the war. For example, many placenames with German origins were changed
Australian place names changed from German names
During World War I, many German-sounding place names in Australia were changed because of Anti-German sentiment. The new names were often Anglicized , given Aboriginal names , names of famous people , or battlefields . This was done through an Act of Parliament, as well as by petition...
. Lutheran schools were closed and were re-opened as state schools teaching in English.http://www.southaustralianhistory.com.au/lutheran.htm
There is some evidence that Barossa German was the first language
First language
A first language is the language a person has learned from birth or within the critical period, or that a person speaks the best and so is often the basis for sociolinguistic identity...
of some people in South Australia until the late 20th century. For example, Colin Thiele claimed to have spoken nothing but German until he went to school.
Classification
Because most Germans immigrants to the Barossa were from PrussiaPrussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
and Silesia
Silesia
Silesia is a historical region of Central Europe located mostly in Poland, with smaller parts also in the Czech Republic, and Germany.Silesia is rich in mineral and natural resources, and includes several important industrial areas. Silesia's largest city and historical capital is Wrocław...
, Barossa German is classifiable as a Central German
Central German
Central German is a group of High German dialects spoken from the Rhineland in the west to the former eastern territories of Germany.-History:...
dialect – a sub-group of the High German
High German languages
The High German languages or the High German dialects are any of the varieties of standard German, Luxembourgish and Yiddish, as well as the local German dialects spoken in central and southern Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Luxembourg and in neighboring portions of Belgium and the...
(German: Hochdeutsch)' ' dialects.
It is closer to standard German than analogous dialects spoken by German diaspora communities around the world, such as the Pennsylvania Dutch
Pennsylvania Dutch
Pennsylvania Dutch refers to immigrants and their descendants from southwestern Germany and Switzerland who settled in Pennsylvania in the 17th and 18th centuries...
German-language dialect spoken in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
The vocabulary of Barossa German includes some words from South Australian English, which is a local variant of Australian English
Australian English
Australian English is the name given to the group of dialects spoken in Australia that form a major variety of the English language....
.
Vocabulary and culture
The best-known examples of Barossa German vocabulary are words which have been adopted by South Australian English.One such local word with German origins is "butcher", the name given to a 200 ml
Litre
pic|200px|right|thumb|One litre is equivalent to this cubeEach side is 10 cm1 litre water = 1 kilogram water The litre is a metric system unit of volume equal to 1 cubic decimetre , to 1,000 cubic centimetres , and to 1/1,000 cubic metre...
(7 fl.oz.
Fluid ounce
A fluid ounce is a unit of volume equal to about 28.4 mL in the imperial system or about 29.6 mL in the US system. The fluid ounce is distinct from the ounce, which measures mass...
) beer glass, which is believed to be derived from the German becher, meaning a cup or mug.
The Barossa is also home to kegel
Kegel (bowling)
Also spelled Kegeln.Kegel is an Australian bowling game, in which a player rolls a wooden or plastic ball along a smooth, hard indoor lane . The object of the game is to knock down the nine kegels at the other end of the lane. Kegel is based on traditional German games and is therefore closely...
, a variety of nine-pin bowling
Bowling
Bowling Bowling Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule...
, which takes place on indoor lanes (Kegelbahn), and is based on traditional German games similar to alley skittles
Skittles
Skittles may refer to:*Skittles , a small candy made in many flavors*Skittles , the game from which bowling originated*Skittles , a casual chess game in chess jargon...
. The Barossa town of Tanunda
Tanunda, South Australia
Tanunda is a town situated in the Barossa Valley region of South Australia, 70 kilometres north east of the state capital, Adelaide. The town derives its name from an Aboriginal word meaning water hole. Town population is approximately 3500.-Settlement:...
still features the Tanunda Kegel Club, founded in 1858.