Amerikaens
Amerikaens; also known as Amerikaans is a West Germanic language spoken in New Netherlands, Tussenland, the Amerikaanse Free State, South Tussenland and, to a lesser extent, Mexico and Opdamsland. It evolved from the Dutch vernacular of Holland (Hollandic dialect) spoken by the Dutch settlers in North America, where it gradually began to develop distinguishing characteristics in the course of the 18th century. Hence, it is a daughter language of Dutch, and the youngest of the Germanic languages as well as one of the youngest languages in general.
History
Orthography
Major changes from Hollandic Dutch:
ei -> ey (eenheid -> eenheyd)
k -> ck (boek -> boeck), only when occurring at the end of the syllable
aa -> ae (Amerikaans -> Amerikaens)
ui -> uy (fruit -> fruyt)
ij -> ÿ (vrijheid -> vrÿheyd)
d -> dt (stad -> stadt), only when at end of syllable
In many cases older orthography and spelling is preserved from early modern Dutch.
Grammar
the corruption of -tie into -sie (politie -> polisie)
Vocabulary
Words of Native Origin
- Moes (Moose) from Algonquian
- Wapiti (Elk) from Shawnee/Cree
- Kwaewon (Woodpecker) from Mohawk
Words of French Origin
- Bufaloo (American Bison)
