A Sackful of Plautdietsch: A Collection of Mennonite Low German Stories and Poems

Plautdietsch is the colloquial language of many Mennonites in Canada and other Mennonites living in South America and some other parts of the world. It is a language rapidly disappearing in most communities but it is preserved here in sketches, stories, and poems that show the language used as a literary vehicle.

A Sackful of Plautdietsch contains a newly devised orthography which will help present-day authors who wish to write in Plautdietsch. The collected pieces are entertaining and amusing and reveal the range and beauty the language is capable of attaining in the hands of skilful and sensitive writers.

This is a book that all Mennonites will want to own not only to read the delightful stories but to keep as a reference and guide to their ethnic language.

Contents:

Humorous Prose

• Mett ohne Schlips no Tiefenbrunn
  Gerd Ewert
• Peeta Lurents enn Berlin
  H.F.W. Raabe (translated by Reuben Epp)
• Taunte Jreeta stoaft
  Jack Thiessen
• Dee Schwoata opp'em Schepp
  Jack Thiessen
• Too dee Tiet
  Elizabeth Peters
• Korneeljes Niefeld enn aundre Menschen
  Victor Peters
• Soagespoon
  Charlotte Kennedy
• Dee Bildung (excerpt)
  Jacob H. Janzen
• Belauschte Gespräche: #38 Abend
  Arnold Dyck
• Dee Millionäa fonn Kosefeld
  Arnold Dyck
• Runde Kuake
  Arnold Dyck

Serious Prose

• Dee easchte Wienachtedn enn Kanada: 1875
  Gerhard Ens
• Merjalles, stallt dee Laump emm Fensta
  Reuben Epp
• Dee Fru aum Gaussentun
  Peter D. Zacharias
• Woo 'et kaum
  Wilhelmine Siefkes (translated by Reuben Epp)
• Gold
  Jack Thiessen

Verse

• Krajit soo aus siene Mutta haud jedonne
  Gerhard Loewen
• Biem Kjleedtjeepe
  Reube Epp
• Dee Supknuste
  Reuben Eppli>
• Tus
  Elisabeth Peters
• Däm Eenen
  Pter Klassen
• Daut framde Grauf
  Anna Baerg
• Hinjano
  J.H. Janzen
• Poggefräd
  Fritz Senn
• Emm Schaute unj'rem Woage
  Fritz Senn
• Wie fuare no Stap
  Fritz Senn
• Wie habe mol 'ne scheene Heimat jehaut
  Fritz Senn
• Dee schwoata Dach
  Fritz Senn

For Children

• Twee Esel
  Karlo
• Max enn Moritz
  Wilhelm Busch (translated by Jack Thiessen)
• Niejoaschwensch
• Ruzhe Petruzhe