Der Haus : Evidence of Change in Gender and Number Agreement in One Pennsylvania Dutch Variety

Abstract

Abstract This article investigates gender and number agreement on definite articles, adjectives, and pronouns in one Pennsylvania Dutch variety spoken by the Amish of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The findings, based on eight speakers, suggest that the nominal system in this variety is undergoing change. In this study, gender and number are inconsistently marked. The historical neuter definite article es has become quite rare. The feminine and plural definite articles are frequently indistinguishable from the masculine. Gender and number marking on adjective inflections is better preserved although variation occurs. Finally, pronominal reference is less conditioned by grammatical gender agreement and more conditioned by semantic features than might be expected based on the German heritage of Pennsylvania Dutch. We conclude that these changes are impacted both by language-internal developments and influence from English.