Barossa German ( or ) is a dialect of German, predominantly spoken in the Barossa Valley region of South Australia.Atlas of South Australia | Barossa Valley The prominent South Australian writer, Colin Thiele (1920–2006), whose grandparents were German immigrants, referred to "Barossa-Deutsch" as: "that quaintly inbred and hybrid language evolved from a century of linguistic isolation".Stephany Steggall, "Teller of tales that teach" (The Australian, 15 September 2006) . Access date: 7 June 2007. It takes its name from the Barossa Valley, where many German people settled during the 19th century. Some words from Barossa German have entered South Australian English.ABC Radio National, "South Australian Words" (Lingua Franca, 28 February 2004). Access date: 7 June 2007.
History
The first wave of German settlement in Australia began in 1838. German was first spoken in the Barossa Valley in the 1840s, when German Lutheran settlers from Prussia arrived in the area.Dave Nutting, 2001, "Bethany – the first settlement in the Barossa Valley" German Australia (website). Access date: 9 June 2007.
Use of the German language in Australia declined as a result of World War I. Many Germans were interned, and immigration by German people was officially banned between 1914 and 1925. In addition, the German language was actively suppressed by the Australian government during the war. For example, many placenames with German origins were changed. Lutheran schools were closed (mainly in South Australia) and were re-opened as state schools teaching in English.
There is some evidence that Barossa German was the first language of some people in South Australia until the late 20th century. For example, Colin Thiele claimed to have spoken nothing but German until he went to school.
Classification Because most German immigrants to the Barossa were from Prussia and Silesia, Barossa German is classifiable as a Central German dialect. It is therefore relatively close to Standard German, when compared to analogous dialects spoken by German diaspora communities around the world.
According to linguist Peter Mickan, Barossa German has incorporated some elements of South Australian English, including some English vocabulary and grammatical forms.Australia Wide (television program), 'ABC News 24, (broadcast date: 25 March 2017).
Vocabulary and culture The best-known examples of Barossa German vocabulary are words which have been adopted by South Australian English. One such local word with German origins is "butcher", the name given to a 200 ml (7 fl.oz.) beer glass, which is believed to be derived from the German Becher, meaning a cup or mug.
The Barossa is also home to kegel, a variety of nine-pin bowling, which takes place on indoor lanes (Kegelbahn), and is based on traditional German games similar to alley skittles.Skittles, Nine Pins – Online guide The Barossa town of Tanunda still features the Tanunda Kegel Club, founded in 1858.Dave Nutting, 2001, "German Traditions, Influences and Leisure Activities (in Australia)" - Kegeln. German Australia (website). Access date: 10 December 2025.
English influence While Barossa German has itself influenced South Australian English, English has had an even greater influence over Barossa German, with speakers often using words in their speech and even adapting them to German grammar. Common nouns are also uncapitalised, like in English but unlike in Standard German.
An example of a Barossa German sentence compared with a Standard German sentence is shown below.
+ The rabbit jumped over the fence and nibbled the carrots.Derrabbitistüberdenfencegejumptundhatdiecarrotsabgenibbelt.DerHaseistüberdenZaungehüpftundhatdieKarottenabgenagt.Therabbitisoverthefencejumpedandhasthecarrotsnibbled.
See also German settlement in Australia German Australian
References
Sources
Peter Paul, 1965, Das Barossa Deutsche (MA thesis, University of Adelaide) Dorothy Jauncey, 2004, South Australian Words: From Bardi-Grubs to Frog Cakes, Oxford University Press. ()
External links Dave Nutting, 2001–2007, German Australia "German-speakers in Australia from 1788 to the Present" Deutsche Version ABC Radio National, "South Australian Words" (Lingua Franca, 28 February 2004).