Sprechen Sie Deutsch? Sprechen Sie Barossa-Deutsch? In fact, what exactly IS Barossa-Deutsch?
When the early settlers came to the Barossa from Prussia and Silesia in the 1800’s, they kept their own language and culture. Often we are critical of people who come to Australia and stay in their own enclaves, “They should assimilate” we declare! But it must be very comforting, in a strange land, to keep what is familiar and to be able to communicate in your native tongue. And for many years, in the Barossa, everybody who settled there was from the same area. So it’s only natural they kept their own language. This resulted in a dialect of German known as Barossa Deutsch. According to Wikipedia, it is classed as a Central German dialect, relatively close to Standard German. Colin Thiele (author of ‘Sun on the Stubble’, and whose grandparents were German immigrants), describes it as “that quaintly inbred and hybrid language evolved from a century of linguistic isolation”.
Linguistic professor Peter Mickan gives the technical term, a “sprachinsel” – a little island in a dominant language group where a language is spoken and maintained over a long period of time. Barossa Deutsch lasted in the Barossa for over 100 years. Right up until the mid-late 20th century, for many in the Barossa it was the main language spoken at home, although the World Wars led to English being used in schools and in public places.
Dr Mickan goes on to explain how language evolves in a sprachinsel. For example, some of the grammar will change, and the language will incorporate some of the dominant language (and vice-versa – some words from Barossa Deutsch are in common use in South Australia). Also, as technologies develop, the language must find new names for it, and these are often particular to the new ‘bubble’ language.
Barossa Deutsch in Light Pass.
In the early days of German settlement, Barossa Deutsch was the main language used in the homes, churches and schools. Many settlers were content to speak only German. However, GJ Rechner, school-teacher and then pastor, recognized the advantages for immigrants of understanding English. “By 1853 he had organised evening classes in English on Monday, Thursday and Saturday evenings… and on Wednesday he went to Angaston to improve his own English”. This fluency allowed him to act as an agent for the German newspaper and as a scribe for the community in both German and English, for remittances home and any kind of official, legal or commercial dealings”. Whilst he – and the community – benefitted from him learning English, it seems not many of his fellow-immigrants took the opportunity to do so.
Pastor Tom Reuther reading an old 1800’s German book from GJ Rechner’s library.
Pastor Tom Reuther, who grew up in Light Pass, says his family moved there from Queensland in 1936, when his father became the pastor of Strait Gate church. He recalls it being a very different social and cultural environment, where everybody spoke German – at church, at social events, in the school, in the home. It was difficult at first for both him and his mother, who did not speak it. He remembers there being 4 church services a year in English (not at all well-attended) – all the rest were in German.
When it came to school, Tom recalls that many children began school having spoken only German at home. As he remembers it, the Lutheran school re-opened a year before he began school (all Lutheran schools having been closed in 1917, due to the war). He said at that time the entire programme was taught in German – later they taught all secular subjects in English and only Scripture Knowledge in German.
This bilingual approach is in line with the early days of schooling in the valley. Professor Peter Mickan writes “in the 19th Century German settlers in the Barossa Valley had the advantage of schooling in both German and English”. And Venetta Leib tells us “In 1856 a resolution was passed by Synod that English be taught in Lutheran schools. During the 1880’s half a day was taught in English and the other half in German. By the 1900’s all lessons were in English with approximately one hour per day of religion in the German language.” (Can anyone clarify this for us? Perhaps, on re-opening the schools in the early 1930’s, there was a move back to teaching only in German for some years??).
The demise of Barossa Deutsch – effects of war and immigration.
The two world wars, and resulting anti-German sentiment, affected the use of Barossa Deutsch. While still spoken in many homes, in public places it was often banned, with schools being required to teach in English. Many people were understandably reluctant to use it in public. Although devotions in the home were often still in German, in public church services during WW2 many ministers decided to change over to English. Tom Reuther says his father, Pastor Bert Reuther at Light Pass, was one of the first to do so. Tom recalls being very amused, as many of the lay-readers struggled to pronounce the English words.
Up until post WW2, the Barossa had remained a stable German population. After the war, more immigrants from other parts of Europe came into the Barossa, and the area became more multi-lingual. This, coupled with people’s reluctance to speak German in public, meant that Barossa Deutsch was used less and less. Today there are not many people left who can still speak it.
The Barossa German Language Association.
It would be a shame to lose this language which has been such a part of the Barossa’s history. Language dies unless it is spoken, and with this in mind, the Barossa German Language Association meets once a month at the Langmeil church in Tanunda to speak German over kaffee and kuchen. They have interesting speakers and run classes and events for adults and children to keep the language alive. They have
Kaffee und Kuchen mornings give people a chance to speak Deutsch.
also set up The Barossa German Language Project, which is concerned with the documentation, maintenance and revival of the German language in the Barossa Valley. You can read more at their website here. If you’re interested in learning more about Barossa Deutsch, or helping keep it alive, definitely get in touch with them.
References:
1/ ABC News article “Keeping South Australia’s’ Barossa Deutsch alive over kaffee und kuchen”
3/ Barossa German Language Group https://barossagerman.com.au/
4/ Mickan, P, 2016 German bilingual schools in the Barossa Valley: Heritage lost
German-bilingual-schools-214702.docx
5/ Leib, V, 1982 “‘Grow up to Christ’ The History of a Lutheran School, Light Pass and Nuriootpa, South Australia 1846-1982”, Redeemer Lutheran School.
6/ Rechner, Peter: “The word and the deed: The life of Gustav Julius and Bertha Rechner” in GJ Rechner and his descendants: by Judy Gale Rechner 2008 (Ed Peter Rechner and Marjorie Shakleton
7/ Pastor Tom Reuther – personal reminiscences December 2024
