Hugo Schuchardt Archiv

July 16 1884¹
Prof. Dr. Hugo Schuchardt:

Dear sir:

Your esteemed favor of the 25th ult. reached me a day or two ago, and also Dr. Schrader's² "Sprachvergleichung und Urgeschichte"³. I find this work very entertaining, as it presents an excellent review of the labors of scientific linguists in that field. Accept my thanks for it.

With regard to other mixed tongues, compounds of native American and European languages, I would say that several exist, but scarcely any specimens of them have been preserved. What are called the Jarochos, of Mexico, have a Spanish-Nahuatl dialect, but I have applied in vain to my correspondents in that country for examples of it. You have no doubt seen the publications of Mr. Geo. Gibbs on the Chinook Jargon of the North West Coast.⁴ The Lingoa geral of Brazil is in many districts a true mixture of Portuguese and Tupi.

Another class of mixed languages on this |2|continent are the result of a mingling of European idioms. One of the most remarkable is found in the state where I live. It is the so-called "Pennsylvania Dutch". The settlers of several of our interior counties came from the Rhenish Palatinate about 1720, & their dialect has for a hundred and fifty years maintained its footing, though greatly altered. It has been especially studied by Prof. Haldeman,⁵ whose work is probably known to you.

You mention the Spanish in Florida. It is now entirely extinct, but when I lived there in 1857 a dialect of it was still spoken. It was called the Mahonese, and was a corrupted form of the dialect of the Islands of Minorca and Majorca, whence the immigrants had been brought about a century before. I know of only one printed specimen of it, that is, the Fromajardis, or Easter Song, obtained in 1843. I have no copy in my library, but will try to find one for you. ⁶

I do not contemplate publishing Dr. Berendt's MS. on the Spanish of Nicaragua, but should be willing to have it published by any learned society who desired it. ⁷

I cannot now recall any one in this country who is making a study of your branch, but if I think of any, shall put them into relation with you.

I remain, Very truly yours,
D.G. Brinton.