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__Amish Culture __ Language All people of the Amish culture speak in a Pennsylvania German dialect, more commonly known as Pennsylvania Dutch. In some communities, a Swiss dialect is spoken instead. English, which is a second language, is taught to children in school. The Amish are usually fluent in both English and the Pennsylvania Dutch dialect, although they rarely are able to speak German. Many people of this culture choose to learn how to read old German in order to have the ability to read religious texts (Amish). Despite all of this, nonverbal forms of conveying information are widely used. For example, members of these communities think comprehensively for the greater good of the whole (Hostetler).

Beliefs The Amish community strictly follows Bible teachings and the Ordnung, which is a set of rules for living life that they follow. The basis of the Ordnung is to teach Amish society to live by the teachings of the Bible. It also outlines the qualities of things that are sinful and worldly, which the Amish are taught to avoid. An Amish individual would feel lost living in a society which is devoted to the Bible but does not follow the rules and traditions that the Ordnung has to teach. The longing to be different from the rest of the world is a strong quality of the Amish, and it causes them to not be perturbed by minor differences in rules between their communities (Hostetler).

Values The Amish have a strong dedication to family and friends. They are happy with the belongings that they have and do no strive to obtain earthly possessions that would lead them away from God (Miller). In fact, a major concern for two particular Amish parents of sending their young daughter to a public school was their fear of “worldly things” that might exist in schools different from their own (Fisher). This culture believes in displaying humility over pride and love over alienation. Knowledge results from pride, and in their world, knowledge leads them away from God’s purpose. Also, according to the Amish, alienation leads to a life away from spiritual enlightenment (Hostetler).

Behaviors Within an Amish family exists a strong work ethic (Miller). Both parents work hard to support their family with little income, and they involve the children by having them do chores starting at a very early age. For the most part, life in an Amish community revolves around working in groups. Even children in school work together as much as they can, where one schoolgirl describes herself and her peers as a “big casual sort of family” (Fisher). The Amish use traditional methods for doing daily activities - methods that have been used for generations. This is evidence of a strong belief in simplicity, which also is supported by the fact that the Amish desire no affiliation with the most modern styles, items, or forms of entertainment (Miller).

Impact of Cultural Change Cultural change is not having a large impact on Amish society. Since their lives revolve around the same old traditions that have been used for years, they try not to be affected in the least bit by modernization and new technology. The cultures that surround them do in fact try to shape their daily activities around the Amish. For example, as in the picture below, many signs have been created that warn automobile drivers of the possibility of seeing horses and buggies traveling on the road. Despite the fact that the Amish are usually the minority, outside communities are more willing to change factors of their own society to be of more convenience to Amish life by doing things such as creating these signs. This is evidence of the dedication that the Amish have to their own lives and the methods they’ve been using for generations.  

Works Cited

"Amish Studies Frequently Asked Questions." <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Etown.edu <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. Young Center for Anabaptist & Pietist Studies. Web. 26 <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Jan. 2011. <http://www2.etown.edu/amishstudies/FAQ.asp>. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This secondary source is helpful in learning more about the Amish language. Unlike many other sources, it goes into detail about the different dialects spoken.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Fisher, Sara E., and Rachel K. Stahl. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Amish School <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. Intercourse, PA: Good, 1986. Print. (Diary of an <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">anonymous Amish schoolgirl within the book) <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Serving as to gain a great understanding of Amish daily life. It not only outlines life at home with the young girl’s family, but also relationships with peers at school.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Hostetler, John A. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Amish Society <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins UP, 1993. Print. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This book is full of abundant information about the Amish, in the many pages that it has to be read. In particular, the section on religion is very informative about specific religious beliefs and reasons for those beliefs.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Miller, Grace. "Amish Ethics." <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Amish Culture <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> (2006). <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Amish-Heartland.com <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. The-Daily-Record.com, 1 Oct. 2006. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Web. 25 Jan. 2011. <http://www.amish-heartland.com/amish/article/1933391>. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">This is a great journal source for understanding several aspects of the Amish culture. Not only does it discuss daily activities and experiences, but it also delves deep into other aspects such as values and religion.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Schwen, Daniel. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Amish Buggy Sign <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. 2008. Photograph. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Commons.Wikimedia.org <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">. Wikimedia Foundation, 20 Aug. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">2008. Web. 27 Jan. 2011. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The other primary document is a photograph of an Amish horse and buggy in an area populated by the Amish. This photograph is an example of the things that are changed for the benefit of the Amish - in this case to ensure their safety while traveling by buggy.