Chapter II

THE BRAZILIAN GERMAN DIALECT.

THE UNDERLYING BASIS AND REASONS FOR THE FORMATION OF THE DIALECT.

As may be inferred from chapter I, the German immigration into Brazil antedating the nineteenth century was quite insignificant. Beginning with the early years of that century, however, there was a steady current of new settlers from the German-speaking sections of Europe into the southern part of the country. The people who made up this current settled, particularly during the early years, in small, widely separated colonial nuclei where they found themselves more or less thoroughly cut off from the outside world and its influences. It is not surprising, therefore, to find that these people have developed a new dialect which we may call "Brazilian German."

The Germanic settlers from Europe who had come to Brazil found themselves located in surroundings radically different from the ones to which they had been accustomed in the land of their nativity. Physically they had to adapt themselves to a new climate. From the moment of their arrival on the parcel of land allotted to them they were in contact with many objects for which their mother tongue offered no designation. The animals, plants, insects and even the agricultural implements in the new home land had, to a large extent, names for which the German language offered no equivalent. As a result, many non-germanic words had to be immediately adopted.

In reference to the older colonies, the German-speaking immigrants from any particular section of Germany, Switzerland or Austria would more or less settle in a particular section of Brazil. Thus we have Petropolis in Rio de Janeiro settled by former inhabitants of the Coblenz district and Blumenau in Santa Catharina settled largely by Pomeranians. In a general way it may be stated that the older colonies were in this respect relatively homogenious, while those founded since the middle of the past century drew their settlers to a larger extent from different German-speaking sections of Europe.

The settlers, largely drawn from the agricultural class, naturally brought with them from Europe a variety of German dialects. These were more or less preserved depending on the relative isolation of the colonies. In cases where a considerable and constant influx of settlers either by direct or indirect immigration was kept up after the first years of the history of any particular colony the original dialect largely gave way to a modified form of High German, due primarily to the normalizing influence of the German school and church. Such is the case in the "Stadtplätze"[41] of Dona Francisca, Blumenau, Santa Cruz and São Lourenço.

The preceding statements are intended to present, as it were, the background or basis on which the new dialect was developed. We now come to the most potent influence in the formation of that dialect. It is the Brazilian Portuguese, a language which has no connection with the Germanic group. In this point, therefore, our case differs radically from that of the student of the German dialects which have been developed in North America.

The degree of linguistic influence exerted by the Brazilian Portuguese on the High German or its various dialects as spoken by the immigrants varies again according to the relative isolation of the settlements. We have degrees ranging from that of the old settlements in the Santo Amaro district of São Paulo,[42] where the German language has practically in its entirety given way to the Brazilian Portuguese, to that of some of the sections of the "municipios"[43] of Blumenau in Santa Catharina and São Leopoldo in Rio Grande do Sul where a modified German has not only held its own among the inhabitants of German extraction, but has also become the language of parts of the Luso-Brazilian[44] and negro elements as well.[45] About half way between these two extremes we might range the case of Petropolis in Rio de Janeiro.

BRAZILIAN GERMAN WORD FORMS.

The following general principles are observed in connection with the dialect which has been developed by the German element in Brazil.

Nouns form by far the greatest number of words taken over, followed next in order by verbs, exclamatory words and phrases, adjectives and adverbs. The last two appear relatively rarely.

OBSERVATIONS ON WORDS FROM THE BRAZILIAN PORTUGUESE.

I. Nouns.

A. Masculines.

1) In the case of masculines the vowel ending is as a rule dropped, e.g.,

Brazilian Portuguese. Brazilian German. English.

abatimento abatiment discount.

campo camp field, plain.

facã fac hunting-knife.

intendente intendent administrator.

pasto past pasture.

2) The same holds for words of the following type where there have been further orthographical changes with preserve, however, the same phonetic values.

Brazilian Portuguese. Brazilian German. English.

macaco makak monkey.

trapiche trapisch warehouse (on the wharf).

3) Internal phonetic changes have taken place in such words as:

Brazilian Portuguese. Brazilian German. English.

kaschero kaschör shop.

municipio munizip district.

B. Feminines.

In feminines the final vowel '-a' is as a rule weakened to 'e', e.g.,

Brazilian Portuguese. Brazilian German. English.

capoeira capoeire copse.

carreta carrete cart.

garaffa garaffe bottle.

lancha lanche barge.

larancha laranche orange.

mula mule mule.

persianna persianne Venetian.

picada picade lane (through a forest).

pimenta pimente pepper.

pipa pipe barrel, tun.

roça rosse clearing (of a forest).

sanga sange ditch.

tolda tolde cover, hood (of a wagon).

traça trace track, design.

venda vende inn, store.

C. Change of gender in nouns.

1) Masculine to feminine, e.g.,

Brazilian Portuguese. Brazilian German. English.

barranco m. barranke f. slope.

cabresto m. cabreste f. halter.

cachimbo m. kaschimbe f. tobacco-pipe.

camarote m. camarote f. box (in a theater).

cangalho m. cangalhe f. packsaddle.

charuto m. charute f. cigar.

farelo m. farelle f. bran.

hiate m. jatte f. yacht.

portreiro m. portreere f. pasture-ground.

rio m. rio f. (rarely m.) stream, river.

2) Feminine to masculine, e.g.,

Brazilian Portuguese. Brazilian German. English.

cachaça f. cachass m. gin, brandy (of sugar-cane).

troca f. troc m. change (of money).

3) Masculine to neuter, e.g.,

Brazilian Portuguese. Brazilian German. English.

doce m. doss n. candy, confectionery.

fosforo m. fosforo n. match.

tatú m. tatú n. armadillo.

xarque m... xarque n.. jerked beef.

4) Feminine to neuter, e.g.,

Brazilian Portuguese. Brazilian German. English.

canoa f. kanoe n. monoxylon, dugout.

farinha f. farin n. flour.

From the above examples it will be observed that the gender of the Brazilian German noun is, where there has been a change from that of the original Brazilian Portuguese, as a rule, the same as that of the High German word replaced, e.g.,

Brazilian German. High German.

barranke f. Böschungf.

cachass m. Schnaps m.

camarote f. Theaterloge f.

charute f. Zigarre f.

doss n. Konfekt n.

farelle f. Kleie f.

farin n. Mehl n.

fosforon.n. Streichholzn.

kaschimbe f. Tabakspfeife f.

portreere f. Weide m.

troc m. Wechsel m.

D. Nouns of mixed origin are quite frequent, e.g.,

Brazilian German. English.

aboboramus stewed (and mashed) pumpkin.

korbgarrafão demijohn.

miljekolben cob (of corn).

mesclahosen trousers (striped).

ochsencarrete ox-cart

palhazigarrette cigarette (with cornhusk wrapper).

polizeidelegado inspector of police.

puschochse draught-ox.

rocewirtschaft agriculture, farming.

sellofiskal revenue agent.

vendaschuld drinking-score, debt for drink.

II. Verbs.

Brazilian German verbs are commonly formed by adding a weak ending, '-en' or '-ieren' to the Portuguese stem, e.g.,

Portuguese. Brazilian German. English.

amolar amolieren to grind, sharpen.

capinar capinen to weed.

cobrar cobrieren to cash, take in (money),

laçar lassen to throw the lasso.

puxar puschen, pussen to pull.

repousar posen to rest.

requerer rekerieren to request.

roçar rossieren to clear of weeds.

sellar sellieren to stamp.

tocar tocken to beat, strike.

trocar trocken to change (money etc.).

In pronunciation the Brazilian German differs still more from the Portuguese than the printed forms would indicate. The main additional differences in this case are the following:

1) The noun ending '-ão' has the value of '-ong' instead of the Portuguese sound represented by '-ão.' Thus, by phonetic spelling we would have, e.g.,

Brazilian German. Portuguese.

algodong for algodão.

capong " capão.

garrafong " garrafão.

patakong " patacão.

questong " questão.

sertong " sertão.

violong " violão.

2) The 'j' instead of remaining sonant as in Portuguese, becomes surd.[46] Thus

Brazilian German. Portuguese.

feschong for feijão.

schakaré " jacaré.

Schwong " joão

3) In the case of infinitives the final '-n' is not sounded, particularly in sections influenced by the Hunsrück dialect. These forms are therefore pronounced, e.g.,

Brazilian German. Portuguese.

amoliere for amolieren.

kapine " kapinen.

pusche " puschen.

tocke " tocken.

SURNAMES.

As a general rule German family names are retained in their original form in all sections where the German language held its own among the colonists. This is especially true where such names offer no difficulty in their pronunciation to people having Portuguese as their mother tongue. On the other hand, where such names could not be readily pronounced by Luso-Brazilians,[47] they underwent changes to greater or less extent even in communities where the German element is most strongly represented. Where the German language disappeared the German family name as a rule disappeared with it, or was retained in such a form as to be hardly recognizable.

By way of example a number of modifications in surnames are noted below; first, from a section where the German language has almost entirely given way to Portuguese[48], and second, from one of the strongest German-speaking sections of Brazil.[49]

1)

Emmich became M'. The Portuguese could not pronounce the "-ich" and consequently it dropped off, resulting in the formation of what is probably one of the shortest family names in existence.[50]

Felippoffsky became Felippe, Franz, or Franço. In this instance one branch of the family adopted the first part of the original family name and other branches made surnames out of the Christian name of the first immigrant, i.e., Franz Felippoffsky.

Glaser became Frittenmaku. The first immigrant was Fritz Glaser. One of his characteristics was lameness. The new family name is equivalent in meaning to "der lahme Fritz."

Gottfried became Gottesfried, Gottesfrid or Gottesfritz.

Helfenstein became Helfestein.

Hessel became Essel.

Klein became Cleene. In this instance a German dialect variant of the original became the new family name.

Reinberg became Remberg.

Rochenbach became Rocumbak or Rocumbaque.

Roschel became Rocha.

Toll became Doll or Doro.

Weisshaupt became Sapateiro. In this instance the first Weisshaupt was a shoemaker. The trade name translated into Portuguese became the family name.

Züllich became Sills.

2)

Wächter became Walter.

Werner became Vierne.

From the above examples it will be noticed that the new family names show, as a general rule, an adaptation of the original to Portuguese pronunciation.

BAPTISMAL NAMES.

So far as baptismal names are concerned, the case is quite different from that applying to surnames. While the latter have been modified to a great extent only where the German language gave way to the Portuguese almost entirely, as stated, the former have been replaced by their Portuguese counterparts, as a rule, in all parts of Brazil.[51] Probably the chief reason for this is sentiment, or, to use what is in this case perhaps a more accurate term, patriotism. The Portuguese Christian name in the country in question distinguishes the individual as a Brazilian, not as a German. The people under discussion regard themselves first of all as Brazilians.[52] While, according to their idea the retention and cultivation of their "Deutschthum" makes them better and more valuable Brazilian citizens, they carefully differentiate between "Deutschthum" and (to use their own expression) "Deutschländerthum."

The following are examples of Portuguese baptismal names which are commonly substituted for their German counterparts by Brazilian Germans.

Portuguese form. German form.

Adolfo for Adolf.

Alberto " Albert.

Augusto " August.

Bernardo " Bernard.

Carlos " Karl.

Edmundo " Edmund.

Eduardo " Eduard.

Emilio " Emil.

Ernesto " Ernst.

Estevão " Stephan.

Ewaldo " Ewald.

Francisco " Franz.

Frederico " Friedrich.

Germano " Hermann.

Guilhermo " Wilhelm.

Gustavo " Gustav.

Henrique " Heinrich.

Ignacio " Ignaz.

João " Johann.

Jorge " Georg.

José " Joseph.

Julio " Julius.

Leopoldo " Leopold.

Luiz " Ludwig.

Maximiliano " Maximilian.

Paulo " Paul.

Pedro " Peter.

Ricardo " Richard.

Roberto " Robert.

Rodolfo (Rudolfo) " Rudolf.

Theodoro " Theodor.

TERMS OF FAMILY RELATIONSHIP IN TITLES.

For the terms of family relationship in titles (business, etc.) the Portuguese forms are commonly used where the German forms would naturally be expected (i.e., in exclusively Brazilian German publications, etc.). Among the forms most frequently used in this manner (in full or abbreviated form, singular or plural) are the following:[53]

Portuguese form. German form.

Filho for Sohn.

Irmão " Bruder.

Sobrinho " Neffe.

Viuva " Witwe.

EXAMPLES OF BRAZILIAN GERMAN FROM DOCUMENTS.

The Written Language.

The following is an excerpt made from a short story entitled "Unrecht schlägt seinen eigenen Herrn."[54]

Der reiche Estancieiro[55] João Rodrigues sass eines Tages unter der grossen schattigen Figueira,[56] welche das Wahrzeichen der Estancia[57] São Manoel bildete. Er berechnete eben, wie viel Schlachtvieh er dieses Jahr verkaufen könnte, und fand, dass es mindestens 700 Stück seien. Das gab ein schönes Häufchen Geld; denn die Viehpreise waren dieses Jahr hoch. Unter 60$000[58] sollte ihm kein Stück aus der Invernada[59] fort; das machte rund 42 Contos[60] aus.

... "Compadre,[61] ich habe einen Auftrag, für eine benachbarte Charqueada[62] rund 1000 Stück Schlachtvieh aufzukaufen...."

... Damit war der Handel abgeschlossen, und die beiden Compadres verabschiedeten sich, jeder zufrieden: Der Estancieiro, weil er ein gutes Geschäft gemacht hatte, und der Tropeiro,[63] weil er morgen ein noch besseres zu machen hoffte!

Des anderen Tages stellte sich unser Estancieiro bei guter Zeit im Geschäftshause ein und fand daselbst seinen Compadre Bento schon in angeheiteter Stimmung in der Venda[64] sitzen.

... "Noch für einen Augenblick," stotterte da wieder der betrunkene Tropeiro. "Unter uns beiden braucht's zwar keine Quittung, ich habe dein Vieh und du hast mein Geld; damit ist unsere Sache erledigt. Aber bei den Herren von der Charqueada muss ich etwas Schwarz auf Weiss vorweisen; ..."

... So wollte er gleich heute die ein paar hundert Milréis betragene Vendaschuld begleichen.

... "Einen Moment Gedult, Compadre João, gleich ists prompt."[65] Und wirklich, es dauerte nur einige Minuten, so hatte der Estancieiro seine Rechnung zu Händen, sie betrug 765$000. Er zug 4 von den funkelnagelneuen Zweihunderten heraus und reichte dieselben dem Geschäftsmanne hin. Der beschaute sich die Dinger genau, holte aus seinem Geldschrank einen Schein derselben Estampa[66] heraus, befühlte das Papier, schüttelte nachdenklich den Kopf und sagte nur das eine Wörtchen "falsch"!

EXAMPLES FROM ADVERTISEMENTS.

Advertisements in almanacs, newspapers, etc., appearing in German and intended only for the German reading-public offer a rich source to the student of Brazilian German words and phrases. The following examples are by no means unusual. They set forth the principle which obtains in practically all German publications in Brazil.

1.) FROM ALMANACS. (For meanings of terms V. Glossary.)

Luchsinger E. Co.... Import von Fazendas und Molhados....[67]

Selbach e Cia.... Internationale Verlags- u. Sortiments-Buchhandlung, Buchdruckerei, Buchbinderei und Kartonnagen-Fabrik....[68]

Fraeb e Co.... Export von ... Haar, Wolle, Xarque, Gorduras, etc., etc.[69]

Otto Niemeyer. Seccos e Molhados.... Eigenes Armazem und Trapiche....[70]

... José A. Picoral ... Papier-und Palhazigaretten. ... Leichte und starke Charuten....[71]

Fraeb e Co.... Import: Fazendas, Miudezas, Molhados, Ferragens, Salz u.s.w....[72]

Vva. José Müller e Cia. Geschäftshaus in Fazendas, Louça, Miudezas, Seccos und Molhados, Kolonie-Produkten.[73]

... Sattlerei von Jorge Pedro Grub ... Zuggeschirre für Aranhas, Zäume, Caronas, Peitschen u.s.w. ...[74]

Paulo Grötzner, Biscoutosfabrik "Lucinda." ... Leistungsfähigste Fabrik in Biscontos, Bolachas, Bonbons, Konfitüren und allen besseren Backwaaren. Escriptorio und Verkauf en gros: Alto Cabral.[75]

2.) FROM NEWSPAPERS. (For meanings of terms V. Glossary.)

Comp. Nac. de Navegação Costeira. Der neue Doppelschraubendampfer Itajuba am Trapiche der Costeira ... Befördert Passageire, Frachten, Encommendas, etc.[76]

Antigo Hotel Koch.... Bevorzugtes Haus der Musterreiter. Eigenes Portreiro. Sorgsame Verpflegung der Reittiere. João Spitteler, Eigentümer.[77]

Hotel do Sul von Felippe Werb Filho. Wird dem reisenden Publikum ... empfohlen.... Gute Stallungen.[78]

Kolonisten pflanzt Aipim, Mandioca, Araruta!...[79]

Aranha in bestem Zustande mit vorzüglichem Pferd zu verkaufen.[80]

Lageado. Carlos Genehr, Zahnarzt, empfiehlt sich den Bewohnern dieser Villa und der umliegenden Pikaden....[81]

... zwischen der Eisenbahnstation und der Villa gelegen, für Kolonisation vermessen und in Lotes von 4 bis 25 Alqueires einteilen lassen ... der darauf befindliche Matebestand ein ganz hervorragender.... Der Eigentümer Bernardo Olsen....[82]

2 Pferde zugelaufen (1 Baio und 1 Zaino) Gegen erstattung der Unkosten abzuholen bein Inspektor Jakob Neuhaus, ...[83]

POETRY.

A great deal of excellent poetry has been written by representatives of the German element in Brazil. These writers have, however, primarily used High German as their medium of expression and consequently their works do not come in consideration in this study of a dialect. On the other hand, we frequently come across poems where Brazilian German forms are more or less in evidence. The following, in which the Hunsrück dialect forms the Germanic basis is presented by way of example.[84] (Apologies to Goethe!)

Gutes Geschäft oder eine Pechincha.[85]

THE SPOKEN LANGUAGE.

The dialect under discussion, as spoken in the "pikaden" is practically incomprehensible to the German-speaking person traveling in Brazil for the first time. To the uninitiated it is even harder to understand than the German dialects of North America. The latter developed under the influence of a related language, as has been stated, while the former came into being because of linguistic influences entirely foreign.

In order to give an idea of the spoken Brazilian German the following "Sprachprobe" by Breitenbach[96] is reproduced. While of somewhat peculiar composition, the example below quoted is a good representation of spoken Brazilian German.

Ein Kolonist fährt in seinem mit einer Tolde[97] versehenen Wagen aus, der mit einem Tupiano[98] und einem Zebruno[99] bespannt ist, welche er von einem Tropeiro[100] von der Serra[101] gekauft hat. Er will seinen Compadre[102] besuchen, findet die Porteira[103] zur Pikade[104] verschlossen, öffnet sie und erfährt von der ihm entgegenkommenden Frau seines Compadre, der Mann sei in die Rosse[105] gegangen, um einige Miljekolben[106] für die Mule[107] und einige Bobres[108] für die Schweine zu holen, welche im Poteiro[109] seien. Wenn er den Compadre aufsuchen wolle, so würde er ihn leicht finden, jenseits der Sange,[110] die aber steile Barankas[111] habe, so dass man beim Ueberschreiten derselben vorsichtig sein müsse. Da unser Freund seinen Compadre in der Rosse nicht findet, so geht er in den nahen Wald, aus dem Hundgebell ihm entgegen schallt. Mit seinem Fakong[112] schlägt er einige Taquaras[113] und Zipos[114] nieder, um sich den Weg zu bahnen. Bald trifft er denn auch seinen Compadre, der soeben ein Tatu[115] ausgegraben und mit seinem Fuchs[116] erschlagen hat. Nach den üblichen Begrüssungen begeben sich beide ins Haus und beschliessen, sich am Nachmittag die Carreira[117] anzusehen. Gleichzeitig will der Compadre einige Säcke Farin[118] mitnehmen, um sie dem Vendisten[119] zu verkaufen. Zu diesem Behuf muss eine Mule eingefangen werden was aber nicht ganz leicht ist. Die Mule ist nämlich sehr störrisch und muss gepusst[120] und getockt[121] wereden. Beim Hause angelangt, wird dem Tiere die Cangalje[122] aufgelegt und die Ladung befestigt. Dann geht's fort.

INTRODUCTION TO THE GLOSSARY OF BRAZILIAN GERMAN TERMS.

For reasons previously stated, the language or dialect of the German settlers in Brazil underwent an almost immediate change, not in its syntax, but in its vocabulary. Had the immigrants and their descendants only adopted such words as had no equivalent in their mother-tongue, our case would be much simpler. They went, however, much further, and, as a result even many of the commonest words dealing with the household or farm were replaced at an early date by Brazilian Portuguese terms, or by new formations based on them.

In the following representation of Brazilian German words and phrases an attempt has been made to select only such as have been adopted by German-speaking citizens in all parts of the country in question. In the few cases where words or phrases noted seem characteristic of any particular section of Brazil that fact is indicated. The glossary, moreover, makes no claim to completeness.

The sources[123] of the expressions listed are Brazilian German newspapers, books, almanacs, pamphlets, advertisements, "Festschriften," etc.,[124] as well as conversation with colonists. In the latter instance only such terms as were repeatedly used to the exclusion of the corresponding German terms were noted.[125]

In the glossary is given first the Brazilian German term (in certain cases with variations), followed, by way of comparison as well as definition, by the corresponding High German form. If the Brazilian Portuguese[126] equivalent differs in form or gender it is given in parentheses. If no such parenthetical form appears it signifies that both languages are in the particular instance identical.[127] The German element in mixed compounds being self-evident, such words are treated as the simple Brazilian German forms.

Gender is indicated except in the case of masculine nouns ending in '-o' and feminines ending in '-a.'

Terms dealing with weights, measures and coinage have not been noted except in cases where the Brazilian German form shows a modification of the original and in instances where the terms refer to units no longer current.[128]

Special abbreviations:

R. = Rio de Janeiro. R.G. = Rio Grande do Sul.