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In:Varieties of German in Contact Settings: Studies in honor of William D. Keel
Edited by B. Richard Page and Michael T. Putnam
[Studies in Germanic Linguistics 10] 2025
► pp. 62–92

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Chapter 4
Language change came when our people were ready for it

A sociolinguistic history of the East Frisian community in Grundy County, Iowa

 | Texas Tech University
Published online: 27 November 2025
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https://doi.org/10.1075/sigl.10.04ro
Abstract
This chapter proposes a revised version of Mattheier's language island model in addition to Bousquette's domain-based model of language use and Salmon's verticalization theory to understand language shift in immigrant communities. These frameworks are applied to the East Frisian community in Iowa, giving a detailed account of its sociolinguistic history. The community's diglossic traditions played a pivotal role in shaping language practices. Thus, initially High German (HG) and Low German (LG) were maintained, but English was accepted as the language of education and media. Two intergenerational domain-based shifts led to the decline of HG and LG in favor of English. Despite revitalization efforts, the community is currently developing a postvernacular identity.
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Theoretical framework and literature overview
    • 2.1Mattheier’s language Island life model revised
    • 2.2Language maintenance in diglossic immigrant communities
  • 3.The sociolinguistic history of the East Frisians in and around Grundy County, Iowa
    • 3.1Initial situation and migration
    • 3.2Establishment of settlement: 1856 to 1890
    • 3.3Phase of stability: 1890–1915
    • 3.4Turning point 1915–1925
    • 3.4First phase of language shift: 1925–1945
    • 3.5Second phase of language shift: 1945–current
    • 3.6Conclusion of language shift: Current situation
  • 4.Discussion and conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
References (77)
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