How to Learn Pennsylvania Dutch
Pennsylvania Dutch is a misnomer, since the language is actually derived from German rather than Dutch, which is why it is also known as Pennsylvania German. And while it is found in Pennsylvania, it is also found in many other locations along the east coast, reaching as far south as North Carolina. If you would like to learn Pennsylvania Dutch, there are several avenues you might follow.
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Get reference works like dictionaries and a simple grammar reader. Some that you might want to consider include: Pennsylvania German Words in Context, C. Richard Beam, Millersville University, 1997; A Simple Grammar of Pennsylvania Dutch, J William Frey, Brookshire Publications, Inc., 1985; and Introduction to Pennsylvania German, Elizabeth Wengerd, Millersville University, 1993.
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Go to the various online sites that are devoted to the language. You could start with the most basic, such as The Pennsylvania German Language site, which has a series of simple lesson about pronunciation and grammar. Another good one is the Pennsylvania Dutch Dialect Project, which has a number of pages covering both the language and the history of the people who use it. It also has an excellent resource page.
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Consider taking some courses or even getting a degree related to the language. Kutztown University, a midsized university in Pennsylvania, offers a minor in Pennsylvania German Studies, with many courses about the culture and language. The University of Wisconsin at Madison offers a seminar called German Linguistics: Pennsylvania German Language and Culture. And Millersville University has a Center for PA German Studies, and has many resources available.
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